FIREPRO

Experimental development of personal surface protection elements against combustion products using textile composites with nanofiber and adsorptive carbon layers for the filtration of particulate matter, aerosols, vapours, and gases. The protective elements will be usable either independently or in combination with firefighters’ protective clothing or directly integrated into firefighters’ protective garments. 

Project title: Reduction of health risks for firefighters – personal surface protection against the penetration of combustion products using nanocomposite materials – FIREPRO
Project registration number: VB02000034
Programme: VB – Security Research Programme of the Czech Republic 2021–2026: Development, Testing and Evaluation of New Security Technologies (SECTECH)
Public call: 2nd public call of the SECTECH programme, more information here
Grant amount: CZK 6,675,000, representing 50% of eligible costs
Project duration: 01/2024–12/2026 

Project description 

The main objective of the project is the development of firefighting intervention clothing with effective barrier layers—nanofiber filtration layers and adsorptive carbon layers—for the capture of hazardous combustion products while maintaining protective properties against flame and radiant heat. These layers will be applied in the development and construction of functional prototypes of a protective hood and an insert for protective clothing. 

The result will be an increase in the protection factor by two to three orders of magnitude. The primary benefit will be provided by a new protective hood, which will mainly protect areas of the skin on the head, face, and neck that are insufficiently protected by current hoods designed only for flame and radiant heat protection. The new generation of firefighters’ protective clothing will feature improved construction to limit the penetration of combustion products at leaky interfaces, particularly between the jacket and trousers, at the connection of gloves to sleeves, and at the interface between trouser legs and footwear. 

Project results:

• F – Protective hood against combustion products 
• F – Insert for firefighters’ protective clothing preventing the penetration of vapors and gases 
• F – Structural solutions for interface elements of firefighters’ protective clothing to limit the penetration of aerosols, vapors, and gases 
• G – Protective hood against combustion products 
• G – Insert for firefighters’ protective clothing preventing the penetration of vapors and gases 
• G – Structural solutions for interface elements of firefighters’ protective clothing to limit the penetration of aerosols, vapors, and gases 
• Z – Pilot operation in the form of a verification exercise of the Integrated Rescue System 

Beneficiary: DEKONTA, a.s. 

Co-beneficiaries: State Institute for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Protection, v. v. i.; GoodPRO, s.r.o.