Firefighters to receive protective and comfortable garments

RMIT's Dr Rajiv Padhye and Dr Olga Troynikov are working with Bruck Textiles to develop protective textiles with enhanced comfort properties for firefighters.

Padhye explains, "If we can improve the protective performance and comfort of the materials used to manufacture firefighters' garments, it will improve their experience and performance at work.

"They will be able to work for longer periods, minimise heat stress and have better concentration."

Over the next three years, Padhye and his team will look at existing protective textiles and garments and consider how they can be improved for Australian conditions.

His Head of School, Keith Cowlishaw, said Bruck Textiles is positioned as the only Australian manufacturer of technical fabrics for the protective and safety markets.

"Bruck recognised they did not have sufficient in-house resources to make the necessary breakthroughs, especially in research, to enhance their current products. Consequently, the company initiated the establishment of the Australian Textile Technologies and Innovation Centre (ATTIC), in partnership with CSIRO, RMIT and the Defence Materials Technology Centre in early 2010."

As well as involving Bruck and all ATTIC members, the research includes consultation with firefighters from the Country Fire Authority and the Melbourne Fire Brigade.

This research is an Australian Government-funded initiative under the Textile Clothing and Footwear Strategic Capability Program.

Bruck Textiles’ COO, Sandip Ranjan, said the project will enable the company to develop and manufacture next-generation fabric constructions.

"We will be able to incorporate these into the latest garment designs by 2014, which will position Bruck at the forefront of this global industry."