Hi and welcome back to my blog, I read an article last week about the merits of Merino wool and how it is making a big comeback, I was extremely interested as wool is nature’s leading fire suppressant product when it comes to providing clothing required to survive fire and I applaud the innovations that are coming through from the wool industry.
One of the key areas of advancement has been in the development of new manufacturing technologies for the processing of super-fine wool fibres. New equipment at the spinning and knitting stages are converting the fibres into innovative wool fabrics that would not have been possible ten years ago. These yarns when worn next-to-skin will enhance the protection, performance and comfort of fire and rescue personnel operating in high-risk environments.
Have you seen the skin injuries incurred from synthetic garments melting into the skin? Those sweat wicking t-shirts can be life threatening for anyone involved in the fire and rescue service. A small flame or a burst of heat is all it takes to turn these garments into molten plastic that burns into the skin. Nylon melts at only 160°C and burns robustly at 485°C. Compare that to merino wool which does not melt, drip or stick to the skin and has natural fire resistant properties up to 600°C.
By issuing a merino base layer you are providing an extra layer of protection for the fire-fighter against both heat and flames. By issuing long sleeve merino garments you can reduce the discomfort of sweaty inner elbows because of the way merino handles moisture and reduces the potential for lower arm burns that can come from wearing short sleeves.
But that is not all, at some point all fire service personnel experience excessive moisture loss and heat exhaustion. Synthetic fibres don’t manage the moisture from sweat but rely on evaporation to move excess moisture away from the skin the problem is when they are worn as part of a multi-layered fire protection suit, the evaporation process no longer works, leading to moisture and heat build-up and increasing the likelihood of steam burns from your own perspiration.
This new wool is able to absorb up to 35 per cent of its weight as moisture without feeling wet, and then releases the moisture back into the environment. A layer of merino knit worn next-to-skin helps towards maintaining a more stable core body temperature in high sweat environments because of its inherent ability to moisture manage and thermo regulate will reduce the potential for steam burns.
It is also good to know that Merino fibre does not hold a static charge, so it can be worn in areas where a static discharge could be dangerous, such as around spilt fuel or where there is a risk of an electrical flash over.
That all folks… til the next time….Greg