Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Objective 1: Investigate factors that impact selection, use, care, and maintenance of PPE products and protective clothing, including hand, foot, and headwear.

Iowa State, MO, OR, KS, and MN collaborated to analyze transcripts of interviews of female firefighters about their gear, generating a list of key fit problems for gear manufacturers to improve upon.

UMN, U-MO, U-OR, Iowa, KS, HI, FL, and Cornell developed a reliable multi-site 3D body scan data collection protocol to support an anthropometric study for Firefighters. 

MO, we have contributed to Objective 1 by developing a manuscript from qualitative interviews of 35 female firefighters. This manuscript specifically addresses how using ill-fitting turnout coats and pants negatively impact female firefighter’s ability to perform their work. We have also collected 97 survey responses from both male and female firefighters that addresses the aim of Objective 1. The data has not been analyzed.

UMN developed an integrated analysis of waist-hip-thigh scans captured with an Artec Eva handheld scanner. Analyzing dynamic shape change of the body and product performance requires the integration of the scanning technology and new landmarking methods. Our integration method quantifies the shape of the body by using 1D, 2D, and 3D measurements to capture the 3D complexity of the body. Understanding percentage changes of the body in different positions can suggest provide data-based design decisions for products to act as a second skin.

UMN collected and analyze data from the 3dMD 4D System, and created a model for how to use 4D data in future wearable product design research.

UMN created a database of over 600 participant hands that will be measured and analyzed. This will include detailed ergonomic and anthropometric analysis of the hand in dynamic positions and will improve the glove and tool design, fit, and sizing systems across industries. 

Decontamination of cotton/polyester garments worn by pesticide operators was conducted in partnership with collaborators from Brazil and France. Since limited studies have been conducted on this topic, the first step was methodology development. Data from field studies was used as the basis for determining the amount of pesticide to be used to contaminate the fabric for laboratory studies. Testing to finalize spray test methodology to contaminate the fabrics was conducted in October 2019 by IAC (Brazil) and UMES.  Diluted Prowl® 3.3 EC was used as the test chemical to contaminate the test specimens. A three-step process was used to extract and analyze the active ingredient in the pesticide formulation from unwashed and washed fabric specimen. The first step was to simulate transfer of pesticide from contaminated garment (Washed and unwashed) as a result of rubbing in the presence of sweat. The second step was to extract the contaminated fabric that was rubbed to determine the maximum amount that could be removed with water/artificial sweat. The third step was extraction with solvent to determine the total amount in the fabric, calculated by adding the amount recovered in all three steps. Additional laboratory and wear studies are planned; existing data is not sufficient to draw conclusions. 

UMES is collaborating with pesticide safety educators at Washington State University to conduct field studies in the US. This study is being conducted in collaboration with consortium members in France and Brazil. The protocol to be used in different was developed by UMES and finalized based on comments from collaborators. To allow comparison with laboratory data, a fabrics that was tested in the laboratory is being used for pants in the field study. Additionally, pants and shirt purchased in the US are being used for the study in the US. Extension specialists at Washington State University are responsible for selection of test subjects and completion of the field study using the questionnaire and garments provided for the study. The test subjects have been instructed to keep a log of pesticide used, days the garments were worn and washed. Upon completion of the field study, the garments and questionnaire will be shipped to UMES for analysis. 

Big data analysis for understanding of impact of size of SCBA and fireboots: Cornell University performed statistical analysis of Size USA data (including 3,647 males) and NIOSH’s firefighters’ anthropometry study (including 863 male firefighters), to understand the impact of fixed size of SCBA harness, and height of fireboot regulated by NFPA1971. The findings of this analysis shows that ratio of firefighters’ torso length to SCBA cylinder length ranges 0.98 – 1.32. This means SCBA cylinder is indeed longer than firefighters’ torso, which significantly limit firefighters’ mobility of upper body and also head. This negative impacts are greater than short firefighters than tall firefighters. Considering the high correlation between calf height and foot length, and a wide range of calf height, providing more boot height options for firefighters, rather than the limited height options that are currently available, may result in fewer firefighter injuries.

Development of fit adjustable turnout pants, boot liner and SCBA Harness: Based on literature review of recent studies, online market research and focus group interview, Cornell University has focused on development of fit adjustable design features specifically for female firefighters. Fit adjustable turnout pants, boots liner, and SCBA harness have been developed.

Analyzing boot fit issue through 3D modeling of fireboots and gap measurements: Cornell University has collaborated with Florida State University, Oregon State University, and University of Minnesota to collect 3D scans, anthropometric measurements, and questionnaire feedback of 50 participants, 30 of which were female, with a focus on male participants of minority ethnicities at the Orange County Fire Rescue Department in Orlando, FL. Cornell University is analyzing the foot scan data. Gap between the boot and the foot surface is also being analyzed by Cornell University. Currently 3D modeling of volume inside the fireboot is being developed for further fit analysis.

NY-Cornell--Design of woven garments for active body positions: Further pattern development was conducted of pants for golfers to optimize the fit in the active position, with acceptable fit in the standing position. Alternate seam placements and materials were tested on the active half scale form.

The University of Oregon has been active in collaborating with the other NC-170 universities to collect 3D scans, develop methodology, analyze qualitative paper writing and acquiring equipment to aid in the effort. New project-related activities include: developing methodology for collecting FF boot interior space, methodology to spec gloves that pairs with anthropometric data, collection of female FF portable 3D scans, analysis of qualitative interview data and developing a design process for better PPE glove design. All activities relate to Objective 1 and Object 2 of the NC 170 goals.

Objective 2: Assess and improve protection and human factor performance of PPE and protective clothing (including hand, foot, and headwear) through research and product development.

HI and Buffalo collaborated a project improve technology to monitor firefighters’ health in fire situations and could also be used to monitor and pinpoint the location of a firefighter in distress for quick rescue.

MO collected 3D hand, foot, and body scans from 54 firefighters in the Mid-Missouri region using structure sensor technology. There were 16 women and 38 men in this sample. These scans contribute to the larger goal to collect a representative sample of anthropometric data of firefighters across the United States. This data pool also provides the researchers the ability to identify differences in proportions and body measurements by gender.

Objective 3: Develop/revise and implement research-based performance guidelines and standards for items and systems of personal protective equipment and protective clothing

ISO 18889, performance standard for gloves used for protection against pesticides was published in April 2019. The measurement and minimum limits for permeation of pesticides for this standard are based on international collaborative research on gloves for which UMES was the lead institution (NC-170 project).  The permeation cell was partnership with international collaborators as part of the previous NC 170 project. The testing of glove materials using the commercial pesticide chemical and surrogate was completed in September 2019 and the draft submitted to ISO for final ballot.  Due to limited resources, UMES has partnered with other institutions to conduct the research; testing was done in two labs in Brazil.

• ISO 27065:2017 amendment, which includes replacement of the commercial pesticide with a dye test surrogate was approved as EN/ISO Draft International standard. The interlaboratory tests conducted with dye surrogate was presented at the ISO meeting and posted on the ISO WG3 website. The final draft is currently being balloted.
• Revision of ISO 17491-4, Protective clothing — Test methods for clothing providing protection against chemicals — Part 4. UMES is coordinating the interlaboratory study to compare three options proposed by laboratories to obtain a more uniform spray pattern for whole garment testing. Seven laboratories are participating in the interlaboratory study. The revised draft includes details to provide more specificity and thus reduce variability. The test coverall and fabric to be used for calibration is currently being shipped to the seven laboratories.

Objective 4: Develop novel functionality and applications of materials for PPE and health/safety solutions:

1. research novel materials and technologies that can provide desired functions;
2. research novel textile-integrated sensing techniques
3. evaluate the performance of the materials for personal protective applications

CA continued development of rechargeable halamine and photo-active biocidal films, nonwoven fabrics, nanofibrous membranes and hydrogel beads for various applications including food containers and packaging materials that can provide surface self-disinfecting functions;

CA has developed colorimetric fumigant sensors of methyl bromide, 1,3-dichloropropene, methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) and chloropicrin for protection of farm workers and local residents.

CA revealed the nonaffinity between the behaviors of the system and its constituents and the properties of a single fabric swatch tested ex situ may not be taken as the corresponding properties of a cloth. This nonaffinity in clothing thermal comfort suggests that the primary factor impacting cloth thermal comfort is the structure (or the porosity) of the cloth, rather than the fiber type.

CA demonstrated/illustrated that an attribute or quantity ending up being sensory or not entirely depends on whether initially its physical core in the ‘‘perception body’’ was cleanly extracted, eradicating the physiological and psychological connections.

WA is developing flexible sensors for continuous human vital sign measurement.