SOUTHEAST UNIVERSITY

Dept. Of Textile Engineering

Assignment on
Fire Suits & Racing Suits
Course Code: STEX4017
Course Title: Special Garment Mfg. Tech

Submitted To: Ms. Farida Parvin

(Lecturer)

Submitted by:
Name : Rifa Tasnia
ID : 2017000400042
Batch : 34th
Sec : 01
Submission date : 06/06/2020
 Fire Suit

Introduction
A Fire suit is designed to protect a firefighter or volcanologist against extremely
high temperatures and is often made from silver, silver bunker suit or asbestos
suit. The first prototypes and implementations were in the 1930s. Current models
originally made of asbestos fabric use aluminized materials deposited in vacuum.

Aluminized Suits
These aluminized suits come in three basic types:
• Approach suit — Used for work in the general high-temperature area, such as
steel mills and smelting plants. Usually these provide protection against ambient
heat up to about 200 ° F (93 ° C).
• Proximity suit – Used for aircraft rescue and fire fighting (AR-FF) and for kiln
work involving entry into the heated kiln in more highly insulated versions. The
former provide ambient heat protection up to approximately 260 ° C (500 ° F),
while the latter provide much higher degrees of protection, sometimes up to
approximately 1 093 ° C (2000 ° F).
• Entry suit — Used for extreme heat entry and situations requiring protection
against total flame engulfment. Most commonly made of and not aluminized with
Zetex or Vermiculite. Which include short-term ambient security of up to
approximately 2,000 ° F (1,093 ° C) and enhanced radiant heat security of up to
approximately 1,500 ° F (816 ° C).

What is Fireproof Fabric?

ASTM defines flame resistance as "the property of a material that prevents,
terminates or inhibits flamming combustion after application of a flamming or
non-flamming ignition source, with or without subsequent removal of the ignition
source”

What is Fire-Retardant Fabric?

Fire-Retardant/Proof fabrics are textiles that are naturally more
resistant to fire than others through chemical treatment or
manufactured fire-proof fibers
Properties of Flame-Resistant Clothing
The following important properties of Flame-resistant clothing have been
mentioned:
• The FR clothing's Flame-resistant properties can become damage.
• Clothing which is flame-resistant can burn or melt.
• Flame retardants can harm the health of children and pregnant women.

Choice of fabric
There are two main fabric types used to make flame resistant cloth
• CottonTreated:The term "treated" refers to a process in which a mixture of
chemicals is added to a fiber, yarn or finished material for making a new FR
fabric.
• Inherent: The FR properties are permanently engineered in the fibers in
The inherent FR fabric and can not be washed or worn out. There are
aramids, like Nomex , where the FR properties are naturally present in the
fibre's molecular structure

Fabrics used in flame resistant clothes

• ARAMIDS
Mostly aramids fabric is used in making fire-resistant clothing. Aramids have many
properties suitable for use in FR clothing. Aramids is basically a type of synthetic
fiber that has properties such as heat resistance, abrasion resistance , high tensile
strength and resistance to organic solvents and chemical oils. All these properties
make Aramids a top choice for making clothing material that is flammable.
• COATED NYLON
Other top choice for flame-resistant clothing is nylon. Nylon fabric has high
melting points and very high temperature resistance. Nylon also has excellent
abrasion resistance which makes it very durable. Nylon can withstand heavy wear
and tear. The material's compact molecular structure also makes it possess high
tensile resistance. Nylon also doesn't shrink quickly making it highly appropriate
for a flame resistant clothing choice.
• FR COTTON
Contrary to popular belief, 100 percent cotton is not flame resistant. Although
treated cotton fabric shows flame resistance properties. Even though cotton has
high melting points it is prone to combustion. Cotton even hundred percent pure
is flammable. Cotton when blended with materials like nylon makes it flame
retardant.
• NOMEX
Nomex is a type of meta aramid fabric material and is commonly used as a flame-
resistant material. Nomex has a high thermal and radiation resistance comparable
to nylon polymers, however the material is not as durable as nylon or aramids.
• MODACRYLIQUE
Modacrylic is a type of copolymer which is highly thermal induction resistant. For
different purposes, modacrylic is chosen for a flame-resistant fabric. Not only is it
thermal-resistant, but it has a high durability which makes it very durable. Since
the material can withstand a high amount of wear and tear, it is chosen as a FR
fabric for maintaining the longevity of the clothes. It can also be quickly colored.
These are not easy to shrink and are immune to chemical and organic solvents.
• PBI
Polybenzimidazole or PBI fibers are a commonly sought after alternative for
making clothes that are flame resistant. The melting points of PBI fibers are
extremely high and these materials do not reach their melting point even under
significant thermal exposure. Not only is the fabric thermal resistant but it is also
quite strong and durable and comfortable to wear too.

APPLICATION OF FIREPROOF FABRICS

1. Industrial fire resistant equipment
2. In automobiles
3. Aerospace
4. In military clothing’s
5. Ropes and cable
6. Optical fiber cable
7. Conveyor belts
8. Soft blastic
9. Hard blastic
10.Helmet
Importance of Fire Retardant Textiles
Recent studies have revealed that in 24% of fire accidents, the first item to catch
fire is textiles.
• 28% casualties were due to burns
• 48% due to smoke/gas
• 13% due to combined effects of burns, gas and smoke
• 11% due to other causes
Fabric flammability is an important issue, particularly in the case of stage drapery
that will be used in public spaces such as a school, theater or special location.
The use of reduced flammability materials , material testing as well as complete
products, regulations and legislation have been applied to this problem.

Fire Resistance Clothing Construction

+ +
Base Layer Mid Layer Outer Layer = Maximum Protection

Base Layer
• Cotton garments is used as a "protective" base layer.
• Base layer garments made of FR fibers naturally does not burn, melt or
combust when exposed to direct flames and has exceptional electrical
resistance.
• These fabrics are comfortable, quick dry and wick moisture efficient, even
when worn under severe conditions.
Mid Layer
• Inherently flame retardant, anti-static, long sleeved, lightweight polo shirt.
Ideal as additional layering system
• It could also be worn as a lighter
weight more lightweight layer under
a sweater, fleece or sweatshirt
without sacrificing on comfort.
• Made of Protal Modacrylic fabric.

Outer Layer
• Flammable work wear needs to be wear-resistant, comfortable, cost-
effective and provide the wearer with proper security.
 • There are lots of different FR-treated cotton work wear on the market.
• Heavyweight cotton flame retardant and FR reflective tape anti-static
coverall.

FR reflective tapes provides

additional visibility for the
wearer

The mechanism of reducing and increasing body temperature

A. Heat production within the body:
1) Metabolism: Food substance oxidation produces a large amount of heat in
the body.
Physical activity: The skelital muscles induce about half of body heat during
exercise, walkin g, running, and other physical activity forms.
2) Lever product heat reart metabolic activity.

3) Some thyroxine action, Epircphrise, also produces heat in the enxyme.

4) Peristalic entastine activity also generates heat during disession.

B. Heat gain from environments:

 1) Direct from sun and heated subsiarees.
2) Consumtion of hot food and drinks.

Air Gap
• An important parameter for estimating the amount of heat that would be
transferred to the skin is the air gap between the skin and the garment.
• Convection and heat transfer modes for radiation were found within air
gaps for gap widths larger than 6.4 mm
• While energy transfers for smaller gaps through the conduction and
radiation modes

Factors Affecting TPP Rating of Fabric

• Effect of Fabric properties
• Effect of fabric thickness
• Effect of bulk density
• Effect of weight
• Moisture effects
• Effect of air permeability
• Effect of fabric construction

Advantage
• Safe human Body from fire.
• Ensure safety in fire friendly working area.
• Reduce the amount of losses.

Disadvantage
• Less Comfort than other cotton made fabrics.
• More cost than cotton made fabrics .
• Need extra care to maintain for long term use.
• Not as much fashionable as other fabrics have.
• Very high add on (6-10%) (makes fabric heavy) .
• Stiffening of material .
• Brittleness and hand loss.
New Researches
Researchers at the University of Polytechnic in Turin, Italy have discovered a safer
method of fireproofing. Whey, a cheese production by-product, contains casein
which in turn contains many phosphate groups. Phosphate groups are critical
because they easily transform to char when they catch fire and thus only offer an
impasse to a fire to follow.

Con clusion
Fire resistance clothing is a must when a person is working in potentially
hazardous conditions. If your working environment is particularly prone to fire
hazards such as flash fires or electrical arcs or even exposure to flammable
chemicals and solvents, then you definitely cannot skip FR clothing. Safety is of
paramount importance, which is why the materials mentioned here are selected
for flammable clothing. They make a great staple for flammable clothing. Such
fabrics are a top option for flame resistant clothing due to their high thermal
resistance, chemical and radiation resistance, as well as their toughness and
softness.
 Racing Suit
Introduction
A racing suit or racing overalls, also referred to as a fire suit because of its fire-
retardant properties, are clothes such as overalls worn by racing drivers in various
types of auto racing, crew members working on the cars during competitions,
track safety staff or marshals, and in some number of commentators at the event.

What are racing suits made of?

Most suits use fabric made from Nomex, a DuPont-produced synthetic material
that retains its fire-retardant properties with time and use. Other suits include
cotton treated with Proban, a Rhodia-made chemical, or other substances.

Why do race car drivers wear suits?

They wear one piece suits of fire-retardant material to protect ourselves. Their
shoes have to pass through safety from fire. The drivers are exposed to high g-
forces while driving racing cars but also extreme temperatures. They carry one-
piece trays of fire-retardant material to cover ourselves.

Characterize
• Comfort and match to one of the best suits on the market for racing outfit.

• Aramidic outer layer, inner layer Nomex, and an exclusive middle layer that
ensures significant weight reduction
 • Lightweight, smooth, Nomex III satin material with pre-shaped material
that offers more freedom of movement and comfort.

• The suit's seams are designed to be forward-facing to avoid any contact

with the joints or racing seats.

• Built with revolutionary materials and designed to deliver fit, performance ,

durability and comfort

Difference between 1 piece and 2 piece motorbike leather

suit?
You're covered by one continuous piece of leather when wearing a one-piece
sport bike outfit. If you wear a two-piece suit that is connected by a zipper, a
zipper breaks that "continuous" piece up. At the end of the day, a continuous
piece of leather will be much stronger. That is not to say that at the first signs of
distress, a two-piece motorcycle leather suit will rip apart. While wearing two-
piece track suits. However, the zipper may become weak or damaged after two or
three crashes, and may eventually need to be replaced. The one-piece track suit is
simpler in terms of comfort, as it has the one zipper straight from the back to the
hip. If you need to go to the toilet, make a fast change or simply open your suit
for a bit of a breather, you can do it much better than if you've got a two-piece.
You can also zip back up much faster, which is nice when you need to break
between races to take a bathroom. Comfort is one of the few real drawbacks in a
single piece track suit. Many people feel forced to wear the one-piece because
the body shapes of others clearly do not fit comfortably within the outfit. If you
choose to buy a one-piece, only after trying a few on should you do so.

MOTORCYCLE RACING SUITS

A racer is unable to do the race in a simple dress that requires a special custom
motorcycle racing suit. Winter is a cold season of the year when the sun is not
normally hot but our body is still in need of some hotness. This is a period when
riders need some good leather jackets for the motorcycle to protect them all the
time. Custom-made leather motorcycle suits help them win bike races and also
win cold races. A racer also wants a mask while on his racing bike, in which he
feels relaxed while riding. In the winter season, a rider should look not only at the
safety of the jacket, but also at the availability of the jacket to keep it warm and
to protect it from other seasons such as rain.

Types
There are essentially three types of suits: single-layer, double-layer, and triple-
layer. In addition, you have one, two, and even three-piece suits. Drivers need to
wear one-piece suits, and crewmen can choose from any of the three multipieces
depending upon their race-day duty.

Gloves
The driver's gloves are also made of Nomex® and are thin, with suede leather
palms to provide the sensitivity of feel necessary for steering. Special treatment
has been designed to guarantee rigidity and grip on the palm of the glove. In fact,
excessive deformation of the fabric can reduce driving sensitivity. The incisions
have been positioned to favor the natural movement of the hands and bending of
the fingers as much as possible. The padded reinforcement on the knuckles
protects the driver's hands from violent contact with other parts of the driver's
cab.
Shoes
The driver's fireproof ankle boots are made of soft, cushioned leather and,
similarly, their rubber soles are far thinner than those of ordinary shoes to
provide accurate and slip-free contact with the car's pedals.

Different Parts of Racing Suits

Design of Racing Suits
A racing suit is designed to cover a driver, crew member or marshall's entire body
including long sleeves and long pant legs. Typical driver suits are one-piece
overalls, matching a boilers suit in style. Many fire suits are two parts, consisting
of a "jacket" and pants. The suits consist of one or more fire-retardant material
layers. The suits often have unique epaulettes or yokes on the shoulder section,
which serve as "handles" to lift a driver out of a vehicle strapped to a race seat.
That is mandated under the safety standards of the Fédération Internationale de
l'Automobile (FIA). Most suits use fabric made of Nomex, a synthetic material
produced by DuPont that retains its fire-retardant properties with time and use.
Other suits consist of cotton treated with Proban, a chemical manufactured by
Rhodia, or other substances. These suits can lose their fire-resistant properties
over time, particularly after washing. Other suits are made of Kevlar,
polybenzimidazole fiber (PBI), or carbon fibers, but are less widely used due to
lack of comfort and color variety. Newer suits, such as those produced by Sparco,
have inner liners treated with menthol to create a cooling sensation and fight
odor. The suits are not entirely fireproof, but rather fire retardant for a period of
time, allowing an individual to escape an incident or be rescued with minimal
injury.

Pant Leg Styles

There may be two suits with leg styles – the traditional cuff cut or boot cut. The
cuff has the same elastic thread that covers the leg as other pyjamas do. Boot cut
is a straight leg that usually has colors, with a cuff underneath that is intended for
style and looks. Remember that there is so little space inside the cockpit for open
wheel cars that this extra material will cause problems. Often this additional
material will get in the way for a shorter driver too. Otherwise it's just your
preference.

Differences Between Auto Racing, Motorcycle, and Karting

Suits
The primary difference is that auto suits are fire retardant/resistant and
motorcycle/kart suits are abrasion resistant. In auto racing, the racer have a
higher risk of being involved in a fire. Of course, because the racer will be inside
an enclosed vehicle, hopefully harnessed in, if the racer are in a fire, you will likely
be exposed to it for a considerable amount of time.

Therefore, the focus of design on an auto suit is protection from fire. But
motorcycle and kart racers are susceptible to very different dangers. In
motorcycle racing, the racer is at high risk of a high speed bail-out or simply losing
control, which will result in sliding across pavement, gravel, grass, barrier walls, or
even impacting with another bike. In karting, you are in an open cockpit vehicle,
experiencing very high, very high speeds, and very sharp corners that can lead to
being ejected from the vehicle, or on occasion, being dragged along the pavement
or side-walls. Keep in mind, these dangers are rarely encountered, but they are
real dangers nonetheless, and serious enough to protect yourself just in case.
Because fire exposure is far less of an issue in motorcycle and karting, the focus is
centered on abrasion resistance - the paramount danger and concern.

You can also identify some subtle differences between the two styles in regards to
fitting, cuff design, shoulder gussets, etc.

Non-fire retardant suits

Suits are similar in appearance to fire suits in several other racing classes but are
not designed to be fire resistant. Kart racing suits are not usually fire retardant,
but instead are made of canvas, nylon, or cordura to be abrasion resistant. Suits
that are used in motorcycle racing, called motorcycle leathers, are also designed
to be resistant to abrasion. They consist of leather or a similarly strong material,
prohibiting nylon and spandex fabrics. Fire-resistant undergarments are optional
to provide protection against fire.

Comfort and fit

It 's important to be comfortable inside the car. For one, it helps you to
concentrate more on driving, rather than how nervous you feel. Most modern
race suits include a range of features designed to enhance the driver's fit
including stretch panels, floating sleeves and breathable materials.
The addition of stretch materials and floating sleeves are all designed to improve
the freedom of movement of a driver, enabling the driver to make faster steering
wheel movements and provide much more comfort in driving position.

Use of Racing Suits

• In Motor Cycle racing
• In Car racing
• In Bicycle racing
• In Olympic

Cleaning Nomex Racing Suits

Since Nomex fire-resistant material is built into the fabric, over time you can
worry less about losing the fire-retardant properties. Dry cleaning is
recommended by most suit manufacturers – assuming your dry cleaner is familiar
with fire-retardant fabric. Nomex suits on a delicate cycle in tukewarm or cold
water are also okay to machine wash. Close all your zippers and fasten the Velcro
closures with a safety pin in stainless steel to prevent the item being harmed.
DuPont recommends against the use on Nomex content of common soaps
containing acids or alkalis. When you're done, let the suit hang out of direct
sunlight to dry indoors.

Features of Racing Suits

• 3 layer Nomex construction for heat protection.
• Lumbar stretch panel for unrestricted movement and breathable.
• Soft collar from knit Nomex.
• Close fitting suit with adjustable belted waist for racing performance.
• Full floating arm construction with knit fabric for freedom of movement.
• Adjustable collar.
• Hidden foot cuffs.
• Hidden pocket.
• Shoulder epaulettes.
Use of different fabric in different parts

Why do bikers wear leather?

Motorcycle riders wear leather is mainly for safety. Leather has proven to provide
better protection while riding a motorcycle than regular clothes. In the event of
an accident or crash, motorcyclists wear leather jackets, vests, and chaps to
protect their body's vital parts.

What are the Key Elements of a Racing Suit?

SOFT COLLAR: The area around the racing suit 's neck is made of a
softer fabric, an incredibly helpful feature when the driver's head and
neck are turning constantly.
FLAT SEAMS: The material and fabric of the racing suits have been
designed to lie as flat as possible, reducing the risk of painful rubbing
and friction.
LAYERS: More is not necessarily better, in this instance. The heavier
and less mobile the driver may be in it the more layers a suit has. A 1-2
layer suit provides greater breathability – and hence cooler body
temperatures.
STRETCH: Racing suits often have what is termed "floating arms,"
meaning that the section of the arm is connected to the shoulder by an
elastic material. This allows the driver to have greater freedom of
movement to turn the wheel or change gears when reaching.
Elasticized panels are also often a part of the underarm, lower back,
and behind the knee of a racing suit.
DETAILS: Most of the racing suits are made of elasticized wrist and
ankle cuffs, and are equipped with pockets inside and outside the suit.
The number of pockets is largely down to driver preference, particularly
if they seek to exclude extra bulk from the suit.

Conclusion
Racing suits are a important example for usage of technical textile. In
the track of racing the evolved textile has a important effect, from
racing machine to the suits implements of textile materials are quite
fascinating. For the racers the improvements in suits & the helmets are
quite important not only for their safety also for the advantages due to
the usage of improved textile materials.