[Integrated] China's firefighters' personal protective equipment industry and technology status

【Abstract】Personal protective equipment for firefighters is a special equipment for firefighters to wear, wear and use during firefighting and rescue operations. It is an indispensable part of the fighting force of firefighting teams. This article analyzes the basic conditions of the production, technology, and market of firefighters' personal protective equipment in China. It also conducts the development trend of domestic and foreign firefighters' personal protective equipment technologies, as well as the requirements of our country's firefighters' personal equipment under the new situation and new tasks. The analysis put forward the requirements and future development directions for the technical innovation of firefighters' personal protective equipment in China.

【Keywords】 firefighters; personal protection; protective equipment; personal protective equipment;

1 Basic information on the production and technology of personal protective equipment for firefighters in China

Personal protective equipment for firefighters is protective equipment or special equipment that must be worn, worn, and used by firefighters during operations such as fire extinguishing and rescue operations. It is an indispensable and important part of the fire brigade equipment.

At present, China's firefighters equipped with personal protective equipment for firefighters has formed two major series of basic protective equipment and special protective equipment, more than 40 kinds of products. These equipments are equipped with firefighting troops according to the principles of priority configuration, safety, reliability, system support, and practicality and effectiveness. In order to effectively resist various disasters or accidents, there are disaster materials and external forces to the firefighters. Protect the personal safety of firefighters. Enhance the combat effectiveness of firefighters. Give full play to the various functions of fire-fighting technology and equipment. Dispose of various disaster accidents in a timely and effective manner. Played an extremely important role.

1.1 The basic pattern of China's firefighters' personal protective equipment industry

In recent years. Large multinational companies use their own technology, capital and market advantages. Actively enter the firefighters' personal protective equipment market in China. The internationally renowned companies currently investing and producing in China include: Messin (China) Security Equipment Co., Ltd., Germany Degege Company, Shanghai Yige Safety Equipment Co., Ltd. and other multinational companies. Fireman personal equipment produced by these companies. Regardless of material, or process and design level. At present, they are generally better than those produced by domestic companies.

The earliest personal protective equipment for firefighters in China was born in the 1950s. Our native company. After years of development. Existing 27 firefighters personal protective equipment manufacturing enterprises. The formation of several large enterprises as a leader. Several small and medium-sized enterprises coexist in the production pattern. There are roughly three types of firefighters' personal protective equipment manufacturers: First, large-scale military enterprises with relatively strong technical strength. For example: Jiangxi Changjiang Chemical Co., Ltd., Guilin Rubber Products Factory, etc.; second, joint-stock companies that were formerly state-owned enterprises restructuring or joint ventures, such as: Beijing Interline Technology Co., Ltd., Qingdao Xinglun Industry Co., Ltd., Shanghai Garment Group Co., Ltd., etc. Third, private enterprises. Late establishment of such enterprises. The scale is generally not large. For example: Qingdao Meikang Special Protective Products Co., Ltd., Taizhou Huatong Fire Equipment Factory, Jiujiang Fire Equipment Co., Ltd., Shanghai Zanrui Industrial Co., Ltd., Shanghai Baoya Safety Equipment Co., Ltd., etc. Around these equipment manufacturers. There are also some companies that focus on supplying firefighters with personal protective equipment. For example: Yantai Taihe New Material Co., Ltd., Shaoxing Hengrui Non-woven Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai Yibina Textile Material Co., Ltd., etc. In the firefighters' personal protective equipment manufacturing enterprises. Some large companies have strong technical strength. Some enterprise technical strength has reached the international advanced level. Products are exported in bulk. But there are also many smaller companies. Using small batch production methods. Although the variety of products sold is more. But the lack of the company's own core technology. Product replacement is slow. Even some companies only care about immediate interests. Imitation of other company's products or production of inferior products. For the company's own development and market order has brought adverse effects.

1.2 Scale of China's Firefighters' Personal Protective Equipment Industry

The scale of the firefighters' personal protective equipment industry has increased with the public security firefighting teams undertaking task types and tasks, and the level of equipment technology has increased. It is also expanding. The funds allocated by the government at all levels to the public security fire brigade increase year by year. The public security fire-fighting equipment, especially firefighters' personal protection equipment, has been greatly improved. According to the statistical results of the fire protection personnel's personal protective equipment investment from 2006 to 2010 in each region. For five years. National firefighters’ personal protective equipment purchases have accumulated more than 3.5 billion yuan. The average annual rate is 15%. 20% speed increase. In 2010, China’s firefighters’ personal protective equipment procurement funds amounted to nearly 900 million yuan.

The increase in product demand and technological level has promoted the development of firefighters' personal protective equipment industry. At present, China's fire-fighting forces equipped with fire-fighting equipment for personal protection equipment in China account for a large proportion. To meet the needs of handling complex tasks. There are also a small number of areas equipped with imported equipment for the fire-fighting forces, mainly the Secret Service fire brigade. Firefighters wear out personal protective equipment because of firefighters performing fire extinguishing and emergency rescue tasks. In addition to 1l basic protective equipment. Some special protective equipment such as: high temperature gloves, chemical protective gloves, firefighters thermal protective clothing, etc. are frequently used. Therefore, about 70% of the total investment is spent each year to make up for the depletion of protective equipment. The rest is used to add firefighters' personal protective equipment in fire stations. In addition. With the development of fire science research, the emergence of new equipment. Every year, our country's public security fire brigade will add a considerable amount of new equipment. For example: firefighters rescue device, rear reception devices, firefighters cooling vests and so on.

2 Firefighters' Personal Protective Equipment Market Analysis

2.1 Industry dynamics of firefighters' personal protective equipment

3. The fire protection personnel of China's personal protective equipment industry has emerged a good development trend. Reflected in the following three aspects:

(1) The product technical standards and equipment standards for more than 10 firefighters' personal protective equipment that have been included in the fire protection standards system have been completed. GA621—2013 "Standard for Equipping Firefighters' Personal Protective Equipment" (instead of GA621-2006), GA/T620-2006 "Fire Protection Occupational Safety and Health", and GA622-2013 "Standard for Equipment Equipped with Special Fire Service (Station)" (instead of GA622) - 2006), GA/T 623-2006 "Standards for the Construction of Training Facilities for Fire-fighting Training Bases", GA10-2002 "Firefighters' Protective Clothing for Extinguishing Fires", GA44-2004 "Fire-fighting Helmets", GA7-2004 "Fire-fighting Gloves", and GA6-2004 " Firefighters Fire Extinguishing Boots, GA494-2004 "Fighting Fall Protection Equipment", GA401-2002 "Fire Fighter Rescue Devices", GA124-2004 "Positive Pressure Fire-fighting Air Suction Devices", GA630-2006 "Fire Fighting Axe" , GA634-2006 "Firefighters Insulated Protective Clothing", GA770-2008 "Firefighters Chemical Protective Clothing", GA633-2006 "Firefighters Rescue Protective Clothing", GA632-2006 "Positive Pressure Fire-fighting Oxygen Suction Device" and other standards Has been promulgated and implemented. Dozens of performance testing equipments are gradually perfecting. Firefighters' personal protection equipment has been standardized and standardized.

(2) Adoption of new materials, new technologies, and new processes. The technical performance of our country's firefighters' personal protective equipment has become more superior. The protection function is more perfect. Fireman fire protective clothing produced using aramid fiber and PTFE waterproof breathable functional film. Has a good flame-retardant insulation and waterproof breathable properties: the use of non-toxic flame retardant surface treatment agent treatment of high-silica fiberglass cloth and other multi-layered materials firefighters fire protection clothing. Has excellent flame resistance: flame retardant chemical layer composite fabric. Anti-chemical gloves, fire-retardant, chemical-resistant, puncture-resistant electrically insulated rubber boots, and large window masks are all chemical protective clothing for firefighters. They can be used in fire-fighting operations where there are no oxygen, toxic, and corrosive chemicals. Provide effective protection for firefighters: firefighters fire-protective rubber boots with flame-retardant, acid-resistant rubber and thermal insulation. Anti-mite, cut-proof, puncture-proof, flame-retardant, anti-slip, acid and alkali and other functions; nylon belt with steel parts and special sewing processing technology of fire safety belt. Not only improve the static load performance and impact resistance. And it enhances reliability.

(3) The basic research work of the fire research institutes in the field of firefighters protection technology has started. To provide technical and theoretical basis for the development of firefighters' personal protective equipment new products and the provision of protective equipment.

Through the fire field and complex emergency rescue scene for firefighters personal danger and firefighters physical and physiological characteristics of research and analysis. Use the basic principles of ergonomics. The basic technical parameters of fire protection for firemen in terms of thermal protection, sucking protection, mechanical external protection, and equipment weight are systematically proposed. Detailed planning of the scientific research content, test equipment and test methods for firefighters' human sports science and psychology research. It laid a technical foundation for the innovation of our country's firefighters' personal protective equipment.

2.2 Firefighters' Personal Protective Equipment Market Environment Analysis

Since 2000. The Fire Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security vigorously carries out special construction of personal protective equipment throughout the country. GA621-2006 "Firefighters' Personal Protective Equipment Standards" issued in 2006 (the current new standard is GA621-2013). The types, quantity, and number of backups for 11 types of personal protective equipment and 32 types of special protective equipment for firefighters are clearly defined. Firefighters personal protective equipment types from simple fire protection. Developed to adapt to different disasters such as fire fighting and emergency rescue. Applicable to fire protection, water, toxic, corrosion and other protection requirements under different environments. For the protective equipment specified in GA621-2006 “Standards for Personal Protective Equipment for Fire Fighters”, the government of the state and regions has invested heavily. Firefighters are equipped with personal protective equipment for frontline firefighters. Ensure that the basic protective equipment reaches a per capita. Appropriate backup. Special protective equipment meets the requirements of GA621-2006 "Standard for Personal Protective Equipment for Firefighters".

Article 37 of the "Fire Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" newly implemented on May 1, 2009 stipulated that: "The public security fire brigade and full-time fire brigade shall undertake major disaster accidents and other emergency rescue work based on the lives of rescue personnel in accordance with national regulations. ". The “Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of Grassroots Emergency Response Teams” issued by the General Office of the State Council in 2009 (No. 59 of the “2009 State Administration”) clarified the main position of the fire fighting force as an emergency rescue. The statutory functions of the fire brigade have been further expanded to include “taking in addition to the firefighting work. At the same time undertaking a comprehensive emergency rescue mission. Including earthquakes and other natural disasters. Construction accidents, road traffic accidents, air crashes and other production safety accidents. Terrorist attacks, people in distress, etc. Rescue and rescue tasks for social security incidents. At the same time, assist relevant professional teams in flood and drought disasters, meteorological disasters, geological disasters, forest and grassland fires, biological disasters, mine accidents, dangerous chemical accidents, water accidents, environmental pollution, and nuclear and radiation accidents. And rescue emergencies such as public health emergencies."

After the new "Fire Protection Law" and the State Council Document No. 59 were promulgated. Especially in 2010. The national public security firefighting force earnestly implemented the spirit of the "National Firefighting Team." Efforts to build fire iron army. With "protection priority" as the concept. Further strengthen the protective equipment of the public security fire-fighting force. The market for firefighters' personal protective equipment will be further expanded. Personal protective equipment used in various emergency rescue missions of the fire brigade will have a large number of new demands. There is a large market demand.

2.3 Analysis of Equipment Requirements under New Situation and New Tasks

At present, the fire-fighting and emergency rescue tasks undertaken by the public security fire-fighting troops in our country are becoming more and more arduous. The development of personal protective equipment for firefighters will follow. There is a significant increase in both quantity and technical content. Reflected in three aspects:

(1) The quantity of personal protective equipment provided by certain firefighters cannot meet the needs of the troops. Firefighters' personal protective equipment is in addition to a fixed amount of equipment. Most equipment also needs some backup requirements. According to the current number of personnel and establishment scale of our country's firefighting force. Some firefighters' personal protective equipment such as fire protective clothing, fire gloves, fire extinguishing boots, and positive pressure fire air suckers have a large number of backup requirements.

(2) The functions of some key technologies and equipment in firefighting and rescue cannot fully meet actual needs. Firefighters' personal protective equipment used for firefighting and rescue does not yet have the integrated functions of high efficiency, intelligence, and multi-function integration. For example: lack of integrated fire-fighting helmets with infrared imaging and communication equipment: lack of firefighters with back-to-back alarm and positioning function scavengers: lack of anti-bacterial, deodorant features, better fire-fighting performance of firefighters and protective clothing.

(3) The lack of protective equipment suitable for emergency rescue missions. The proportion of protective equipment that is suitable for emergency rescue missions is low. The characteristics of more and more emergency rescue missions. China's public security firefighting forces in particular need some personal protective equipment for the disposal of major and severe disasters. For example: In earthquake rescue equipment. The current weak link is inadequate equipment and equipment. Lack of multi-purpose sleeping bags, multi-purpose vests and other equipment for personal logistical support. Lack of firefighters' physical fitness to quickly replenish and cool down equipment. Especially in the hot summer or when fighting a major fire. Firemen are fighting continuously for a long time. High labor intensity. Firefighters' physical fitness cannot be supplemented and restored in time. The sultry, exhausted and impetuous emotions in the work process all affect the exertion of combat effectiveness. Can easily cause firefighters to suffer heat stroke or injury. In water rescue equipment. Research on the personal protective equipment for water rescue firefighters is still in its infancy. Firemen usually wear boat life jackets to participate in water rescue. This life jacket is buoyant and not safe enough. Use ordinary fire safety ropes for rescue. Easy to absorb water. It will cause the safety rope to sink.

3 Firefighters' Personal Protective Equipment Technology Development Trends

3.1 The basic situation and trends of foreign firefighters' personal protective equipment technology

Foreign developed countries and regions such as the United States, the European Union, Japan, etc. attach great importance to the research of firefighters' personal protective equipment. Not only adopt new materials and new processes for the development of new, high-performance protective equipment, but also continuously optimize the design and performance of protective equipment. And established a system of firefighters personal protective equipment overall performance testing methods. Use modern advanced concepts such as ergonomics and ergonomics. Test and evaluate protective equipment. Achieve the basic development trend of technology-driven equipment development. Mainly reflected in the following aspects:

(1) In the aspect of firefighters' protective clothing for fire fighting. Developed countries through blending technology. Development of new fiber materials for firefighters protective clothing. To improve the overall performance of protective clothing. The United States has focused on the development of aramid 1313, aramid 1414 and antistatic filament blended fiber materials. Japan focuses on the development of new materials blended with flame-retardant wool and aramid 1313 and aramid 1414 fibers. France mainly studies polypropylene blended fabrics and PBI fibers.

(2) In the firefighters avoid fire and thermal protective clothing. Firefighters' protective clothing for fire-fighting and thermal protective clothing for firefighters in developed countries have developed into a series of products. For example: The US firefighters' protective clothing for fire protection contains three series of 1000 series, 900 series and 800 series. The three series are eight, seven, and five layers. Different protection performance. Thermal protective clothing includes five series of 300 series, 400 series, 500 series, 600 series and 700 series. Japan's fire protection suits and thermal protective clothing are divided into super heat-resistant protective clothing. Fire protection and other protective clothing. Germany's fire protection suits and thermal protective clothing have more than 10 species. There are B3 S-thickening fire protection suits for oil depot fires and aircraft fires. There are B4 medium fire protection suits and B14 light fire protection suits suitable for general fires. There are B10 type, B1l type and other portable thermal protective clothing.

(3) From the firefighters' body cooling equipment. Developed countries have developed special protective clothing with a cooling system. Example: Special protective clothing developed by the United States consists of a flame-retardant jacket and a cooling system. The cooling system can provide 25,35 minutes of full body cooling at 250W. Japan developed a polymer gel coolant for firefighters protective clothing. Place the cooling bag containing the coolant inside the protective clothing to cool down.

(4) From the aspect of air sucker, Germany newly designed and developed the world's first air sucker for spherical gas cylinders. Use multiple ball bottles. Air supply is 50% higher than cylindrical bottles. As a result, the time for fire protection when the firefighters work on the fire is prolonged. In addition. In the air sucker alarm device. Using explosion-proof electronic data processing alarm. Ability to provide alarm information (including remaining air volume, remaining usage time information, severe overpressure in the mask and equipment self-test information), wearer emergency alarm information (including sucker blood pressure, pulse and other data information) and Environmental condition alarm information (including ambient temperature, hazardous gas information, etc.) is transmitted to the data display in the full enclosure.

The air sucker integrates wireless electronic devices and advanced gas storage equipment. So that sucking protection technology into a new era of development.

(5) Countries around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Japan, have all developed "fire dummy" test systems. Used to evaluate the overall thermal protection of various firefighters protective clothing. The first "Fire Fighter" test system developed was the Thermo-Man system in the United States. A total of 120 heat flux sensors are installed on various parts of the dummy body. At the time of the test, Thermo-Man was exposed to the flame wearing protective clothing. Use propane fuel. Fire site load and combustion time controllable. The sensor continuously collects heat flux data and transmits it to the computer. The RALPH system is a British "Fire Fighter" test system. Its design function and test method are basically the same as Thermo-Man. The HENRY system is a "firefighter dummy" test system developed by Switzerland. Different from Thermo-Man, RALPH and SOPHIE. HENRY adds thermal protection performance tests for gloves and boots.

3.2 The requirements and future development direction of the technical innovation of China's firefighters' personal protective equipment

With the rapid development of China's economic construction. Urbanization and industrialization continue to accelerate. The fire hazard has risen dramatically. The threat of serious fires in cities has become increasingly serious. The practical application technology of a group of firefighters' personal protective equipment has lagged behind the development of equipment technology. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct research on new equipment. Obtained a batch of innovative scientific and technological achievements with independent intellectual property rights. Mainly reflected in the following aspects:

(1) The materials and functions of firefighters' basic protective equipment require innovation. Develop new firefighter protective clothing. To make it not only flame retardant, heat insulation, waterproof, high temperature. And has anti-infrared radiation and anti-static function: Based on the human body cooling technology to develop cooling equipment for different fire operations. Solve the problem of physiological heat stress caused by firefighters due to hot environmental conditions and high-intensity labor: Develop new types of fire protection boots. Not only has a variety of protective features. And light weight. Improve wearing comfort: Develop firefighters' personal multi-functional safety alarm devices. Not only static alarm function. And it has radiant heat and dangerous gas concentration detection alarm function. Ability to transmit alarm information via wireless communication: development of multi-purpose fire helmets. With wireless communication, smoke visibility and lighting functions.

(2) Personal protective equipment for firefighters in emergency rescue needs innovation. Develop firefighters' personal protective equipment for handling earthquake disaster accidents. Including earthquake rescue multi-purpose sleeping bags, earthquake rescue gloves and multi-purpose vests. With waterproof and wear and other functions. And lightweight, easy to carry; development of firemen rescue special life jackets. Ensure that the firefighters have good mobility when wearing alone. Flexible operation. Rescue buoyancy can withstand 2 people's weight: develop firefighters water rescue wear inside the jacket. With light weight, fast wear and tear, good thermal performance, high comfort characteristics: the development of surface floating lifeline. Ensure that the lifeline does not absorb water when rescued. Can float on the water for a long time. High tensile strength.

(3) The theoretical research on firefighter protection and the overall performance testing of protective equipment require innovation. From the angle of fire human physiology, explore the physical conditions and limits of firefighters engaged in fire fighting under various conditions. Pass fireman human experiment. Form a complete set of scientific theories: Develop a variety of protective equipment materials on the fire field radiant heat, flame heat, convection heat and other thermal protection performance test device: the use of dummy technology coupled with a simulated fire environment "fire dummy" test system. Simulate the actual effect of the fire. Test protective equipment materials and even overall equipment performance.

The future development direction of firefighters' personal protective equipment technology should be further improved in accordance with the requirements of "intelligent, standardized, digital, portable, efficient, and universal." Reduce the weight of equipment. From the "integral protection, effective protection, active protection," the general principle. Enhance the overall protective function of protective equipment.