No one gets into firefighting expecting it to be an easy job. From tight spaces to flames to carrying hose up flights of stairs, firefighting puts a huge strain on the body.
The work itself is exhausting, but it’s made worse by the lifesaving, but heavy, gear firefighters wear on the job.
Even forgetting things like hoses or radios, firefighters carry a lot of weight into a fire.
The amount can vary wildly depending on your turnout spec, SCBA, and other factors, but gear generally weighs around 50 pounds (but could be even more depending on what tools you’re carrying or what’s in your pockets).
A big part of that weight is turnout gear, which can be a good place to shed weight.
The three layers of a turnout composite can be customized in thousands of ways with dozens of different materials. When selecting a composite, it helps to think not just how much thermal protection it has or how breathable it is, but also how much it weighs.
When it comes to material selection, ounces can quickly turn into pounds.
Turnout materials are measured in ounces per square yard (oz/yd2 or OSY). While it can vary largely depending on how big the turnout is and the composite layer, a good rule of thumb is that for every extra oz/yd2, the total weight of the turnout will increase by one pound.
If you select heavier materials for all three layers of the composite those pounds can really start to add up.
But as with all aspects of composite selection, it comes down to personal needs and preferences.
In general, heavier materials have greater thermal protection but offer less breathability. New classes of materials, like Fire-Dex’s exclusive TECGEN71 fabric, are lightweight but still provide a solid level of thermal protection.
Heavier gear is obviously more uncomfortable but can also be dangerous for firefighters.
Overexertion and heat stress are deadly for firefighters. Those extra pounds can be even more noticeable during strenuous tasks, especially ones like overhaul that require long bouts of sustained effort. Studies show that overhaul is the most strenuous activity in terms of increasing core temperature.
More weight generally means that gear is less breathable, worsening the situation.
Heat stress affects everything from how well you can think (which in turn can lead to poor decision making) to how well you move.
That means it’s critical to not just consider the thermal protection of your turnouts when selecting materials, it’s also important to consider weight and breathability.
It’s also important to consider how turnout fits and models play into heat stress and weight.
It may seem like the weight of a coat can’t be affected by fit but consider overhaul activities. Those generally involve a lot of lifting your arms above your head, which means you’re lifting your coat and SCBA too.
But on models like our FXR turnouts, the shoulders are designed to eliminate coat rise when you lift your arms. That means you don’t lift the weight of your coat every time you lift up your arms.
It’s also important to wear properly fitted gear. Gear that’s too big will add unnecessary weight (not to mention the decrease in safety). This is especially true for firefighters with larger hips and stomachs, who are sometimes fitted with overly large coats to accommodate but that are much too large in the chest—that’s why our FXR and AeroFlex turnouts offer fits that are tailored for every body type.
Every department has different needs from their turnouts. A good manufacturer will work with you to determine the best choice for you, taking into consideration everything from thermal performance to the weight of your materials.
Ask about the materials available and see how they fit your needs. With hundreds of combinations available, chances are one is right for your department!