August 9 / 2021
Sensor can help detect when firefighters’ protective clothing is no longer safe
University of Alberta, Folio — Firefighters risk their lives battling blazes, and aging protective gear can put them at even greater risk.
A University of Alberta researcher is working with industry to reduce that risk with a sensor that can detect the gradual breakdown in garments from exposure to heat, moisture and ultraviolet (UV) light.
“These fibres age silently and lose their performance, so this sensor technology is a breakthrough in terms of safety for workers exposed to heat and flame,” said clothing and textiles scientist Patricia Dolez, the project’s lead researcher and an assistant professor in the U of A Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences (ALES).
Read the full Folio story here.
