NEXT GENERATION FIRE PROTECTIVE GARMENTS INTEGRATING HYBRIDSHIELD THERMAL ARRAY TECHNOLOGY FOR IMPROVED WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER SAFETY AND COMFORT

Through the proposed USDA SBIR program, NanoSonic will provide wildland firefighters with lightweight, highly breathable, 2-way stretch fire protective garments with a previously unavailable combination of breathability, thermal protection, flexibility, and comfort during wildland firefighting operations. While current PPE garments meet NFPA 1977 standards, they are often criticized for their inflexibility, lack of ventilation / breathability, and weight. NanoSonic proposes to address this longstanding, legacy challenge through the combination of its innovative 3D patterned HybridShield Thermal Array materials with lightweight 2-way stretch fire resistant and superabsorbent fabric blends with high water vapor permeability to create innovative multilayered materials that exceed the NFPA 1977 standard for protective clothing while providing significantly greater flexibility, improved breathability, and reduced weight without compromising thermal protection. A rigorous, iterative test matrix enabling the down-selection of HybridShield fabrics with optimal combinations of physiological comfort and thermal / fire protection properties will be completed and prototype shirts, pants, and coveralls will be constructed for wildland firefighter focus group review and feedback. The proposed USDA SBIR program directly responds to Subtopic 6 of Topic 8.1 (Forests and Related Resources) by providing a technology that enhances the management of wildfires on forest lands by improving the efficacy and safety of fire fighters on the ground and in the air.