When we think of firefighter interventions, we think of heat and thermal protection. The EN 469:2005 standard makes clear which requirements standard protection clothing for firemen should comply with. Risk analyses for different departments, however, show different results. They regularly demand equipment that exceeds the EN 469:2005 values. To meet your specific needs, we have developed a range of assemblies that meet the demands.

In addition, we also developed suits that are adapted to the conditions in which firemen have to fight forest fires. Our wildland fire suits comply with the EN 15614 standard and provide extra protection against the long exposure to radiant heat.

For some countries or areas, breathability could be even more important than for others, due to the warm weather. Fire departments in southern France or Saudi Arabia, for example, certainly need lightweight suits to cope with the hot outside temperatures.

Heat stress is increasingly present in risk analyses, which shows the concerns about the topic. Luckily, Sioen Fire has developed innovative products that reduce heat stress. Examples of those products are suits without a membrane or the use of a retroreflective striping that is perforated.

For the Monaco Fire Brigade, for example, the 538 Microrip assembly without a membrane was chosen due to the warm weather conditions and the urban area with many tunnels.

When choosing an assembly for your customised firefighter suit, Siotec and our R&D department always take into account the weight of the assembly.

The weight of a four-layered assembly certainly influences the overall weight of the fire suit. In addition, it also depends on the added details. For instance, the more pockets you would like to have on your suit, the higher the weight. Sioen is always busy working on innovations, seeking lighter firefighter garments by using new types of striping that are lighter than the ordinary striping.

Comfort, however, is not only about weight. Some types of foam, for example, are heavier than others but feel more comfortable than the lighter kinds.

The frequency and intensity of interventions is gradually increasing. The Paris Fire Brigade (BSPP), for example, has an intervention every 60 seconds. Those factors demand a lot from the firemen’s protective suits when it comes to mechanical resistance. To meet those demands, Sioen Fire has developed assemblies that not only offer an excellent thermal protection, but also a high mechanical resistance.