St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Commits to Protect Firefighters Better with New Protocols and Particulate Hoods

    As one of the busiest departments in the country, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue in Florida has committed resources to elevate the protection of their firefighters at the fire scene. For two years the department’s Safety and Training Division has been researching health and wellness issues as the industry continues to publish studies about fireground contaminants. It has focused its first efforts on upgrading fireground protocols and turnout gear, specifically related to hoods.

    A member of the Safety and Training Division, Lieutenant Robert Neuberger, says,

    “Several firefighters in our area have needed aggressive treatment for neck and throat cancer, so this has been an important issue for our department. Our unit decided we needed to upgrade the department-issued hoods to NFPA-certified particulate hoods to provide better protection against fireground particulates.”

    The group evaluated various particulate hoods on the market and set the requirements for a hood that provided the highest level of certified protection after being washed repeatedly using the NFPA laundering protocols.

    The Safety and Training Division ran a wear trial during which firefighters from the two busiest stations evaluated the hood for more than 60 hours, which included responding to structural fire and hazmat calls. They had two important reasons for the wear trial. First, they wanted to ensure that the hood performed well in real fireground conditions. Second, and just as important, they wanted to make sure that the firefighters liked the particulate hood; the firefighters that evaluated the new hoods have been in the service for many years, so this would be a change for them. According to Neuberger, the firefighters’ feedback was very positive, saying,

    “The GORE® Particulate Hood was comfortable, and it provided better protection. It fit around the neck and the longer length stayed tucked in. They really liked the combination of the inspection opening and the red stitching that was only on the outside. The stitching helps them be sure they have the right side out after using the inspection opening to visually check the particulate-blocking barrier for cuts, tears, or holes.”

    So, based on this feedback, St. Petersburg purchased 400 GORE® Particulate Hoods.

    The Safety and Training Division talked with their MES dealer, John Schmidt, about decontamination protocols. As a retired firefighter, John had been doing his own research, and he had been developing protocols at his department before he retired. St. Petersburg has just ordered an additional 400 hoods so that each firefighter can swap out his or her hood during rehab at the fire scene. Neuberger explains,

    “It doesn’t make sense for us to stress wearing a clean hood for every call if they don a filthy hood when they return to the scene after rehab. Once we receive the additional hoods, our protocol will require all firefighters to don a fresh hood after rehab to help avoid contaminating their neck and face if they were to pull on a dirty hood.”

    When asked about dealing with the increased costs of this program, Lieutenant Neuberger said the Safety and Training Division faced this potential issue directly.

    “We justified the investment by researching the total cost of our health and wellness programs, including health insurance and the impact of sick days. We also considered the importance of the morale of our firefighters. If they know we are looking out for their health and welfare by providing the best possible gear, then that has a positive effect on their morale. This can go a long way when they are hearing a lot about the health issues of fireground particulates.” 

    For more information about the St. Petersburg program, contact Lt. Robert Neuberger at Robert.Neuberger@stpete.org.

    About St. Petersburg Fire Rescue

    With a force of 342 firefighters and paramedics, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue, Florida, has 32 pieces of firefighting apparatus, 14 fire stations, and an administrative building. The department provides specialized life safety services by staffing three specialty teams. The technical rescue team responds to elevated, below-grade, confined-space, and structural collapse rescues. The hazardous materials team handles spills and releases of toxic substances, liquids, or gases countywide. Staffed by certified rescue divers, the dive and marine rescue team responds to victim emergencies on St. Petersburg's many waterways. St. Petersburg Fire Rescue protects the lives and property of over 260,000 residents and responds to over 63,958 emergency incidents annually.

    Media Contact

    Lt. Steve Lawrence
    St. Petersburg Fire Rescue
    Steven.Lawrence@stpete.org
    727.893.7709

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    Gore Announces New CROSSTECH® Products Brand Design

    In the 25 years that Gore has worked with the fire industry, personal protective equipment (PPE) has undergone many changes, and Gore has continued to be a pioneer in applying membrane technology to high-performance moisture barriers for fire and emergency response apparel. PPE manufacturers use CROSSTECH® Fabric in a variety of products — garments, boots, and gloves for structural firefighting, EMS, search and rescue, and public safety. At FDIC 2008 in Indianapolis, W. L. Gore & Associates is introducing a new brand image for its family of CROSSTECH® Products. The new branding can be seen throughout the company's booth, on its product literature and marketing materials, and on its revamped website.

    According to Tom Bugg of Gore's North American Technical Fabrics business, “CROSSTECH® Products have evolved significantly since they were first introduced over ten years ago. We needed to update our branding to reflect this evolution and to make CROSSTECH® Products more recognizable in the marketplace. We have also redesigned our website to provide customers with easier access to the full line of our protective fabrics and capabilities to support the needs of firefighters and other professionals.”

    CROSSTECH® Moisture Barriers provide outstanding durability, heat stress reduction, and proven protection against blood, body fluids, and common fire ground chemicals. For more information about CROSSTECH® Moisture Barriers, visit the new website at crosstech.com or call 800.431.GORE or 410.392.3600.

    With more than $2 billion in sales and 8,000 employees worldwide, W. L. Gore & Associates specializes in fluoropolymer innovations that improve the quality of life. Gore has applied its world-renowned expertise to thousands of high-performance solutions in pharmaceutical, consumer, industrial, electronic, medical, and surgical markets. Specifically in the protective fabrics arena, Gore has been a pioneer in developing high-performance barrier products for use in firefighting, EMS, technical rescue, law enforcement, military, and domestic preparedness applications. The company operates more than 45 facilities worldwide with headquarters in Newark, Delaware, USA.

    CROSSTECH® Footwear Now Available for Law Enforecment

    (Elkton, Maryland - January 15, 2008) W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., announces a new line of CROSSTECH® Footwear Fabric that provides law enforcement professionals with the same high level of protection and comfort currently available in boots for fire and emergency medical professionals. Working closely with major footwear manufacturers, Gore has designed a series of CROSSTECH® Footwear Fabrics that protect law enforcement professionals against blood, body fluids, and common chemicals. At the same time, these fabrics allow moisture vapor (sweat) to escape from the boot, helping to increase the wearer's comfort.

    These CROSSTECH® Footwear Fabrics have been designed specifically to meet the specifications for each manufacturer's performance requirements. According to Bill Candy, product specialist at W. L. Gore & Associates, “Gore is committed to providing the right product for each application. We worked closely with Bates, Danner, HAIX®, Matterhorn, and Timberland to identify both the breathability and protection requirements for their specific products. By offering a variety of CROSSTECH® Fabrics that protect against blood, body fluid, and common chemicals, Gore gave the manufacturers the flexibility to use fabric, leather, or a combination for their boot uppers.”

    According to Andrew Fowler, Bates national sales manager, Bates combined their patented DuraShocks® comfort technology with CROSSTECH® Footwear Fabric in a six-inch and an eight-inch side-zipped boot with leather and nylon uppers. Bates believes this combination provides the consumer with the best protection in a breathable, comfortable shoe. Along with its parent company, Wolverine World Wide, Inc., Bates continues to maintain one of its longest standing partnerships with Gore. Fowler sums up this relationship by saying, “Bates has always partnered with the best component suppliers in every market, and Gore is hands-down the top in the protective membrane category, whether we're talking about consumer, military, fire, chem-bio, or law enforcement.”

    Because of the proprietary expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane incorporated in the CROSSTECH® Fabric, the material passes both ASTM F1671 (Blood-Borne Pathogen Resistance) and ASTM F903C (Chemical Resistance) standards. This special membrane is thermally stable to more than 500°F and inherently chemically inert, which allows them to be worn in even the harshest environments. The flexibility, waterproofness, and chemical resistance of these CROSSTECH® Footwear Fabrics have been tested to ensure superior durability.

    Tyler Morley, Danner's uniform product line manager, describes Danner's Striker™ II Assault boot as newly designed to provide special protective benefits for tactical officers working in the toughest conditions. Built with the Danner TERRA FORCE™ X LITE performance platform, which provides a slip-resistant outsole for extra stability, and the puncture-resistant Flex-Shield II midsole, the Striker™ II Assault boot features full-grain leather and breathable quarter panels for durability and comfort. When asked about their choice of CROSSTECH® Fabric, Morley says, “We chose CROSSTECH® Fabric because we were building the ultimate boot for law enforcement special operations professionals, and we felt they deserved the best protection - not just waterproof protection, but protection from blood-borne pathogens as well.”

    By developing boots with CROSSTECH® Footwear Fabric, manufacturers are providing law enforcement professionals with protection options from contaminants they are encountering more frequently. HAIX®, a manufacturer of high-quality, hand-crafted footwear for the fire and EMS industries, chooses to use CROSSTECH® Fabric from W. L. Gore & Associates to produce the Airpower® X1 EMS/station boot. Sandy Longarzo, customer service and marketing manager for HAIX® North America, says, “Using CROSSTECH® Fabric in conjunction with the HAIX® patented Micro Soft Light (MSL) System, the Airpower® X1 offers climatic comfort with superior penetration resistance to water and blood-borne pathogens while still remaining breathable. With the MSL System, the CROSSTECH® Fabric abrasion-resistant inner lining remains securely in place and does not crumple up or pull out. The HAIX® built-in arch support system and adjustable lacing zipper system provides optimal fit and comfort. On the cutting edge of technology, the Airpower® X1 is NFPA 1999-2003 certified for emergency medical operations.”

    With approximately $2 billion in sales and 8,000 employees worldwide, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., specializes in fluoropolymer innovations that improve the quality of life. Gore has applied its world-renowned expertise in fluoropolymer fabrication to thousands of technology-driven applications in consumer, electronic, pharmaceutical, and medical product manufacturing. Specifically in the fabrics arena, Gore has been a pioneer in developing high-performance barrier products for use in law enforcement, firefighting, EMS, technical rescue, military, and domestic preparedness applications. The company operates more than 45 facilities worldwide with headquarters in Newark, Delaware, USA. For more information about CROSSTECH® Products, visit www.crosstech.com, call 800.431.GORE or 410.392.3600, or email CROSSTECH@wlgore.com.

    NEW GORE® Particulate Hood GEN2 Improves Comfort Without Compromising Performance

    ELKTON, Md. (September 16, 2019) – W. L. Gore & Associates announced its next generation in hood technology with the highly breathable GORE® Particulate Hood GEN2. This enhanced design delivers improved comfort, certified protection, and long-lasting durability at an affordable price.

    COMFORT

    The level of comfort you get from the GORE® Particulate Hood GEN2 has been improved for a more natural feel without compromising protection. Its highly breathable construction helps reduce heat stress, enabling you to wear the hood longer at the fireground.

    PROTECTION

    The GORE® Particulate Hood GEN2 exceeds requirements of the NFPA 1971, 2018 Edition for both particulate-blocking and thermal protection. Its innovative design integrates a barrier that blocks more than 99.99 percent of particles between 0.1 and 1.0 microns in size. It delivers reliable protection throughout the entire hood — blocking smoke at critical seams more effectively than other particulate hoods currently available. At the same time, its construction is optimized to reduce interference with sounds and signals on the fireground.

    RELIABILITY

    The exceptionally durable GEN2 hood retains its level of more than 99.99 percent particulate-blocking performance even after laundering. The hood’s unique inspection opening enables you to inspect the entire hood — inside and out.

    According to Holly Blake, North American product manager in Gore's Fabrics Division, the fire industry continues to recognize the need for protection against exposure to fireground contaminants. "In 2017, Gore addressed the vulnerability of firefighters' head and neck areas by delivering the first hood certified to the NFPA 1971, 2018 Edition's option for particulate protection." She continued, "Based on feedback from firefighters, we have improved the comfort of the GORE® Particulate Hood GEN2 with a new design and increased breathability. At the same time we maintained the high level of particulate protection and reliability of our original hood. To deliver quality consistent with the original hood, we have continued to work with Majestic Fire Apparel to manufacture the GEN2 hood."

    Available in two knit options — Ultra C6 (black) and Nomex® blend (white) — the GORE® Particulate Hood GEN2 is being sold through Majestic Fire Apparel’s dealers. Visit majhoods.com/Gore or GoreParticulateHoods.com for more information about this new product.

    ABOUT MAJESTIC FIRE APPAREL

    Majestic Fire Apparel, Inc. (MFA) is a premier manufacturer of fire-retardant hoods, accessories, and ARC-rated apparel. With facilities located in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, MFA is an ISO 9001 registered company that maintains a compliant Quality Management System. MFA is committed to the pursuit of better products that achieve optimal benefits for the fire service. The company’s focus on quality and new product development has attributed to its success in serving customers in the fire and safety industry for more than 20 years. majhoods.com.

    ABOUT GORE

    W. L. Gore & Associates is a global materials science company dedicated to transforming industries and improving lives. Since 1958, Gore has solved complex technical challenges in demanding environments — from outer space to the world’s highest peaks to the inner workings of the human body. With more than 10,500 Associates and a strong, team-oriented culture, Gore generates annual revenues of $3.7 billion. gore.com.

    # # #

    MEDIA CONTACT

    Lon Edelman
    W. L. Gore & Associates
    105 Vieve's Way Elkton, MD 21921
    Telephone: +1 410 392 3600
    ledelman@wlgore.com

    GORE, Together, improving life and designs are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates.

    New Gore Instructional Guide Available

    (Elkton, Maryland - April 10, 2008) In an effort to assist the fire industry in implementing NFPA 1851, 2008 Edition, W. L. Gore & Associates has developed a CD-based instructional guide that addresses compliance with this updated Standard as it relates to liner systems and, specifically, to Gore's family of moisture barriers. Drawing on Gore's 25 years of expertise in leading-edge barrier technology, this guide discusses cleaning, inspecting, testing, and repairing CROSSTECH® 2-Layer Moisture Barrier, CROSSTECH® 3-Layer Moisture Barrier, and GORE™ RT7100 Moisture Barrier.

    The new edition of NFPA Standard 1851 identifies the necessary considerations for selecting gear and procedures for reducing risks that result from poorly maintained or contaminated gear. As a result, the Standard now places a new emphasis on the ongoing compliance and durability of structural and proximity firefighting ensembles, which translates to a more rigorous inspection of the entire garment and all of its components. Gore's new instructional guide responds to this emphasis by providing information regarding inspecting, testing, and repairing its moisture barriers. For example, the guide includes step-by-step demonstrations of both the leakage evaluation test and the water penetration test to identify potential repairs needed to ensure barrier effectiveness. It also provides some basic information regarding the thermal liner light evaluation test.

    According to Holly Blake, Gore's product specialist for structural firefighting garments, compliance with NFPA 1851, 2008 Edition means that departments have many issues to address - decisions like how to assign the various compliance responsibilities, how much of the compliance work to do within the department, whether to contract an independent service provider (ISP) for all or part of the services needed, and how to train all personnel on their individual responsibilities. Blake says, “For over 25 years, Gore has worked closely with the fire service industry to develop the most effective products to meet the industry's performance expectations of moisture barriers. As the industry addresses inspecting, testing, and repairing turnout gear, we felt it may be beneficial to share our expertise on these issues. By creating this instructional guide, we continue to support manufacturers, ISPs, and fire departments as they develop their specific procedures for ensuring compliance with NFPA 1851.” .

    With more than $2 billion in sales and 8,000 employees worldwide, W. L. Gore & Associates specializes in fluoropolymer innovations that improve the quality of life. Gore has applied its world-renowned expertise to thousands of high-performance solutions in pharmaceutical, consumer, industrial, electronic, medical, and surgical markets. Specifically in the protective fabrics arena, Gore has been a pioneer in developing high-performance barrier products for use in firefighting, EMS, technical rescue, law enforcement, military, and domestic preparedness applications. The company operates more than 45 facilities worldwide with headquarters in Newark, Delaware, USA. For more information about CROSSTECH® Moisture Barriers, call 800.431.GORE or 410.392.3600, or visit crosstech.com.

    Gore Revolutionizes Turnout Gear Performance with GORE® PARALLON™ Liner System

    Indianapolis, Indiana, April 22, 2015 – At the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC), W. L. Gore & Associates announced the next level of turnout gear performance with the GORE® PARALLON™ liner system. This revolutionary multi-barrier system maintains thermal protection better when your gear gets wet and enables a level of breathability beyond what is available today. While this new system replaces the thermal barrier and moisture barrier in traditional turnout gear designs, it is currently certified to the NFPA 1971 Standard, 2013 edition with several outer shells.

    PROTECTION: As you work and sweat in turnout gear, moisture within the layers of your gear can change your thermal protection. The exclusive technologies of the GORE® PARALLON™ liner system help reduce potentially serious drops in thermal protection as your gear is exposed to moisture, particularly from sweat. This enables your gear to perform closer to the level that you expect when it is dry. When tested for an indicated time to 2nd degree burn in an ordinary fireground heat exposure (i.e., 0.2 cal/cm2sec), wet conventional gear lost 34 percent compared to when it was dry. However, the thermal protection of gear with the GORE® PARALLON™ liner system lost only 4 percent, remaining relatively unchanged after it became wet.

    COMFORT: The environmental conditions in which you work can cause your body core temperature to rise, and even small increases can impair your performance and potentially affect your safety and effectiveness. The GORE® PARALLON™ liner system enables your turnout gear to deliver unparalleled breathability across the broadest range of conditions — a level beyond what is available today in NFPA 1971 compliant gear. Achieving the lowest resistance to your sweat vapor transmission through your gear, this liner system helps to reduce the physical strain of working in turnout gear and minimize potential increases in your body core temperature.

    According to Allen Maples, North American Product Specialist in Gore’s fire and public safety team, the technology behind the GORE® PARALLON™ liner system is a revolutionary shift in turnout gear performance for the fire industry. “For more than 35 years, Gore has been globally recognized as a pioneer in protection and human comfort science. We have combined our scientific research and deep product knowledge in heat stress, breathability, and barrier technologies to develop moisture barriers that are the most breathable in the broadest range of conditions. While CROSSTECH® moisture barriers provide the highest level of breathability in traditional turnout gear, the new GORE® PARALLON™ liner system takes breathability to a whole new level while also offering more consistent thermal protection.” For more information, visit www.GoreParallon.com or call 800.431.GORE (4673).

    ABOUT W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.

    Gore is a technology-driven company focused on discovery and product innovation. Well-known for waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX fabric, the company’s portfolio includes everything from high-performance fabrics and implantable medical devices to industrial manufacturing components and aerospace electronics. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Newark, Delaware, Gore employs more than 10,000 associates in 30 countries worldwide. Gore is one of a select few companies to appear on all of the U.S. “100 Best Companies to Work For” lists since the rankings debuted in 1984. The company also appears regularly on similar lists around the world. Learn more at www.gore.com.

     

    # # # #

    Media Contact:
    Marie Y. Smith
    302.994.0117

    New GORE® CROSSTECH® Glove Insert Delivers Improved Dexterity with NFPA 1971-Certified Protection

    Elkton, Maryland, April 25, 2013 – W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., has announced the next-generation GORE® CROSSTECH® glove insert with film technology engineered for structural firefighting gloves. Gloves made with this insert combine improved dexterity and feel with the protection, durability, and thermal stability that firefighters have come to expect from all GORE® CROSSTECH® products.

    A breakthrough in the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) film technology used in Gore’s glove inserts led to this flexible, next generation GORE® CROSSTECH® insert with film technology. With the moisture barrier fully bonded to a form-fitting thermal liner, this 3-D combination results in better flexibility, less bulk in the palm, and improved dexterity.

    Gloves made with the next-generation GORE® CROSSTECH® glove insert with film technology help firefighters tackle difficult tasks without removing their gloves. According to Mark Williams, Gore’s product manager for GORE® CROSSTECH® glove products, “In conversations with firefighters, we kept hearing that their bulky gloves get in the way of being able to do such things as operating equipment and adjusting controls. They resorted either to using non-certified gloves or even to taking off their gloves. We worked with glove manufacturers to develop NFPA-certified gloves with this new film technology so that the firefighters can focus on their jobs without compromising their safety.” For more information, visit CROSSTECH.com.

     

    About W. L. Gore & Associates

    Gore is a technology-driven company focused on discovery and product innovation. Well-known for waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX fabric, the company’s portfolio includes everything from high-performance fabrics and implantable medical devices to industrial manufacturing components and aerospace electronics. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Newark, Delaware, Gore employs approximately 10,000 associates in 30 countries worldwide. Gore is one of a select few companies to appear on all of the U.S. “100 Best Companies to Work For” lists since the rankings debuted in 1984. The company also appears regularly on similar lists around the world.

     # # #

    Media Contact:
    Marie Smith
    302.994.0117
    mysmith115@comcast.net

    CROSSTECH, GORE-TEX, GORE, and design are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates.

    Introducing New CROSSTECH® 3-Layer Moisture Barrier

    (Elkton, Maryland - April 6, 2007) W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., has announced an addition to its line of moisture barriers — CROSSTECH® 3-Layer moisture barrier. This addition provides an extensive level of durability with high total heat lost (THL) and an increased thermal protective performance (TPP). As the latest option for fire professionals working in the most rigorous environments, Gore's new CROSSTECH® 3-Layer moisture barrier offers the best possible combination of durability, THL, and TPP available in today's market.

    In response to the needs of the firefighting industry, W. L. Gore & Associates designed a moisture barrier that consists of a proprietary expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) bicomponent membrane laminated on each side to a woven aramid textile, one of which is a patent-pending fabric designed by Gore. CROSSTECH® 3-Layer moisture barrier provides the breathability and comfort that firefighters have come to expect from Gore, but it also adds an increased level of durability against abrasion and flexing.

    Holly Blake, Gore's product specialist for structural firefighting garments, says, “Every fire company's needs are different, and at Gore, we want to continue our 25-year tradition as industry leader by providing the broadest range of moisture barriers options. By adding our new CROSSTECH® 3-Layer moisture barrier, our product line now spans the full range of durability, breathability, and performance.” .

    With approximately $2 billion in sales and 7,300 employees worldwide, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., specializes in fluoropolymer innovations that improve the quality of life. Gore has applied its world-renowned expertise in fluoropolymer fabrication to thousands of technology-driven applications in consumer, electronic, pharmaceutical, and medical product manufacturing. Gore has been a pioneer in developing high-performance barrier products for use in firefighting, EMS, technical rescue, law enforcement, military, and domestic preparedness applications. The company operates more than 45 facilities worldwide with headquarters in Newark, Delaware, USA. For more information about GORE™ CROSSTECH® moisture barriers, call 800.431.GORE or 410.392.3600, or email CROSSTECH@wlgore.com .

    GORE® Particulate Hood First to be Certified

    GORE® PARTICULATE HOOD FIRST TO BE CERTIFIED
    • The GORE® Particulate Hood is the first hood to be certified to the new NFPA 1971, 2018 Edition option for particulate protection.
    • This hood is the best choice for durable protection, blocking 99.9% of harmful particulates after 100 wash cycles.

    Elkton, Maryland (October 9, 2017) — W. L. Gore & Associates announced that its GORE® Particulate Hood is the first particulate hood to be certified to the new 2018 Edition of the NFPA 1971 Standard, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting.

    Manufactured and distributed by Majestic Fire Apparel, this hood is currently the only certified choice that

    • blocks more potentially harmful particulates than any other hood1 — 99.9% of particles between 0.1 and 1.0 microns in size,
    • maintains this 99.9% level of protection even after 100 wash cycles, and
    • delivers proven reliability and durability backed by system-level testing.

    The GORE® Particulate Hood provides certified particulate-blocking throughout the entire hood — not just in selected areas. Proven with both the testing specified in the Standard and system-level testing done by an independent laboratory, this exceptionally durable hood maintains its 99.9% level of particulate-blocking performance for at least 100 wash cycles. The hood also has an inspection port that enables firefighters to visually inspect the protective barrier.

    According to Holly Blake, North American product manager, the Gore team worked to ensure that the hood maintains its 99.9% protective performance beyond the 20 wash cycles required by the Standard. “The fire industry has learned that it is extremely important to wash hoods after every call, so we knew that we needed to provide a durable product that could withstand frequent washing,” she said. “Having a hood that maintains its protection for only a few weeks is really not an option, so we verified that the GORE® Particulate Hood would meet or exceed both the Standard’s Particulate-Blocking test and system-level testing after 100 washes. In fact, the level of protection maintained by Gore’s hood is higher after 100 washes than the protection level of other particulate hoods when they are new.”

    Available in two knit options — Ultra C6.2 (black) and Nomex® blend (white), the GORE® Particulate Hood is being sold through Majestic Fire Apparel’s dealers. Contact your dealer to order your GORE® Particulate Hood today. For more information, visit majhoods.com/Gore or GoreHoods.com.

     

    ABOUT MAJESTIC FIRE APPAREL

    Majestic Fire Apparel, Inc. is a premier manufacturer of fire retardant hoods, accessories, and ARC-rated apparel. With facilities located in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, Majestic is an ISO 9001 registered company that maintains a compliant Quality Management System. MFA is committed to the pursuit of better products that achieve optimal benefits for the fire service. The company’s focus on quality and new product development has attributed to its success in serving customers in the fire and safety industry for almost 20 years. www.majhoods.com.

     

    ABOUT GORE

    W. L. Gore & Associates is a global materials science company dedicated to transforming industries and improving lives. Founded in 1958, Gore has built a reputation for solving complex technical challenges in the most demanding environments — from revolutionizing the outerwear industry with GORE-TEX® fabric to creating medical devices that improve and save lives to enabling new levels of performance in the aerospace, pharmaceutical and mobile electronics markets, among other industries. The company is also known for its strong, team-oriented culture and continued recognition from the Great Place to Work® Institute. Headquartered in Newark, Delaware, Gore employs approximately 10,000 associates. www.gore.com.

     

    # # # #

    Media Contact
    Marie Y. Smith
    302.994.0117
    mysmith115@comcast.net 

    1Excludes hoods using moisture barriers

    New GORE® Particulate Hood Delivers Comfort, Durability, and Protection

    NEW GORE® PARTICULATE HOOD DELIVERS COMFORT, DURABILITY, AND PROTECTION
    • The GORE® Particulate Hood delivers a more comfortable, natural feel similar to a traditional hood.
    • This hood provides excellent particulate-blocking throughout the entire hood, not just in selected areas.

    Indianapolis, Indiana (April 26, 2017) — At the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) 2017, W. L. Gore & Associates announced the latest development in hood technology with the GORE® Particulate Hood. Manufactured and distributed by Majestic Fire Apparel, the unique design of this hood combines comfort, durability, and certified protection at an affordable price.

    Protection: The GORE® Particulate Hood provides excellent particulate-blocking throughout the entire hood — not just in selected areas. Its innovative design integrates a barrier that blocks more than 99.9 percent of particles between 0.1 and 1.0 microns in size. In addition, this hood exceeds current NFPA 1971 requirements for thermal protection.

    Comfort: The patent-pending design of the GORE® Particulate Hood delivers a more comfortable, natural feel like you are accustomed to when wearing a traditional hood.

    Durability: This exceptionally durable hood retains its level of particulate-blocking performance1 for at least 100 wash cycles and exceeds the strength requirements set forth in NFPA 1971: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting. The hood also enables visual inspection of the protective barrier.

    According to Holly Blake, North American product manager in Gore’s Fabrics Division, the industry continues to learn more about exposure to fire ground contaminants, and the significance of head-to-toe protection increases. “Hoods can be a point of vulnerability when it comes to particulate protection,” she said. “We drew on our extensive experience in barrier technology to develop a durable particulate hood. Our feedback from firefighters indicated that it was very important to maintain the natural feel of a traditional hood. We knew that Majestic Fire Apparel was one of the industry’s leading hood manufacturers, so we approached them with our design and worked with them to develop the final product.”

    Janeane Matula, Vice President of Majestic Fire Apparel, further stated, “When Gore showed us their new hood technology and design, we knew it would make a big difference for firefighters. We were happy to provide our expertise in product development, manufacturing, and distribution to deliver a solution that would meet all of the needs of today’s firefighter — reliability, protection, comfort, and affordability.”

    Available in two knit options — Ultra C6 (black) and Nomex® blend (white), the GORE® Particulate Hood is being sold through Majestic Fire Apparel’s dealers. Visit majhoods.com/Gore or GoreParticulateHoods.com for more information about this exciting new product.

     

    ABOUT MAJESTIC FIRE APPAREL

    Majestic Fire Apparel, Inc. is a premier manufacturer of fire retardant hoods, accessories, and ARC-rated apparel. With facilities located in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, Majestic is an ISO 9001 registered company that maintains a compliant Quality Management System. MFA is committed to the pursuit of better products that achieve optimal benefits for the fire service. The company’s focus on quality and new product development has attributed to its success in serving customers in the fire and safety industry for almost 20 years. www.majhoods.com.

     

    ABOUT GORE

    W. L. Gore & Associates is a global materials science company dedicated to transforming industries and improving lives. Founded in 1958, Gore has built a reputation for solving complex technical challenges in the most demanding environments — from revolutionizing the outerwear industry with GORE-TEX® fabric to creating medical devices that improve and save lives to enabling new levels of performance in the aerospace, pharmaceutical and mobile electronics markets, among other industries. The company is also known for its strong, team-oriented culture and continued recognition from the Great Place to Work® Institute. Headquartered in Newark, Delaware, Gore employs approximately 10,000 associates. www.gore.com.

     

    # # # #

    Media Contact
    Marie Y. Smith
    302.994.0117
    mysmith115@comcast.net 

    1 Per the Particulate Blocking Test included in the proposed 2018 edition of NFPA 1971

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