A Review of Test Methods for Determining Protective Capabilities of Fire Fighter Protective Clothing from Steam

Published

February 5, 2015

Author(s)

Shonali Nazare, Daniel M. Madrzykowski

Abstract

Primary focus of this paper is to review existing test methods that quantify steam burn injuries and to compare bench-scale test methods that use pre-wetted samples as opposed to external steam exposures to evaluate heat and moisture transfer in protective clothing. Detailed discussions are presented on various test methods, with emphasis on the instrumentation, methodology, merits, and limitations of each method. The objective of this paper is to identify the gaps in test methodology in such a manner that improvements in bench scale testing can be made. Ultimately the goal of the project would be the development of a bench scale test method that simulates the thermal/water vapor conditions that fire fighters are exposed to in interior fire fighting.

Citation

Technical Note (NIST TN) - 1861

Report Number

1861

NIST Pub Series

Technical Note (NIST TN)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

DOI Link

Keywords

steam burns, heat and mass transfer, fire fighter’s protective clothing, fire suppression, thermal protective performance.

Citation

Nazare, S. and Madrzykowski, D. (2015), A Review of Test Methods for Determining Protective Capabilities of Fire Fighter Protective Clothing from Steam, Technical Note (NIST TN), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.1861 (Accessed October 9, 2025)