Archive for August, 2019

A comprehensive guide on different firefighter gloves

If you are looking for the best pair of firefighting gloves, understanding the different types of gloves and their distinct capabilities is necessary to getting the right pair for you. Protecting your hands is a crucial part of every type of first responder and firefighter’s personal protective equipment (PPE), no matter which field you work in– structural firefighting, wildland firefighting, rescue or extrication. All gloves are designed differently to help you perform your best.

Structural firefighting gloves are designed to protect the firefighter from the thermal stresses associated with interior structural firefighting situations. They are made from tough materials and advanced technologies to be able to withstand coming in contact with dangerous structural fire encounters such as flashovers, backdrafts, thermal energy transfers, high heat areas, hot steam/liquid and chemicals. Burns and other injuries to the hand represent a significant proportion of all fireground injuries. Structural firefighting gloves must meet a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) certification standard. When they pass the certification, it means that the glove adheres to the standards that were set by the NFPA. Depending on the brand manufacturer, they can be made from a variety of different materials with the purpose of providing various degrees of thermal and chemical protection, as well as being resistant to sharp objects. They should have cut resistant palm, side panels, thumb and finger panels to protect against punctures, cuts and abrasions.

When Pro-Tech 8 first started to think about creating a better structural firefighting glove, we took into account complaints about firefighter gloves being too bulky and restrictive of hand movements, such as using the call button on radios or performing other basic fire ground tasks. Pro-Tech 8 structural firefighting gloves are designed with heat-resistant and flame-retardant materials. Our structural firefighting gloves balance grip performance and thermal protection when responding to dangerous fire ground situations. In a fire, you cannot sacrifice hand maneuverability and dexterity with thermal flame protection. If you cannot use your hands properly you will have to remove your gloves and that can lead to injury. 

Leather is one of the most common materials used when constructing a pair of firefighting gloves. In our structural firefighting gloves, we use kangaroo and goatskin outer layers because they maximize breathability, are stronger, and are less absorbent to water than elk, cowhide and pigskin. What is great about kangaroo and goatskin when used in firefighting gloves is that they are capable of withstanding moisture without the risk of the glove becoming stiff; it will actually get softer after every use. You can also expect goatskin leather to be restored to its natural soft texture once you wash or launder it. 

Kangaroo leather offers an incredible benefit at 4 times the tensile strength of pig-hide and cow-hide leather. This leather is also popular for its extreme flexibility while providing maximum cut resistance. Any leather used in our firefighting gloves undergoes special processing during the tanning process to improve its flame-resistant nature. Additionally, all Pro-Tech 8 structural firefighting gloves include advanced textiles, like Kevlar® and Nomex®, integrated at the back of the hand and in the knuckle guard to add cut and flame resistance. 

Our gloves are available with two different inner liners. The first is a fully knitted 100% modacrylic bacteria free inner liner for easy don and doff. The second is a 100% Nomex® knit inner liner that is treated to be bacteria-free. All Pro-Tech 8 structural firefighting gloves also feature an additional full lining of Kevlar® that provides added cut resistance.

The Porelle® PTFE (Teflon) inner moisture barrier is a new addition to our structural firefighting gloves for 2018. It has been tested for chemical and viral protection and breathability with the highest rate of water vapor transmission than any other structural glove barrier, so your hands remain dry from both the waterproof qualities and the elimination of sweat due to breathability. This liner is included in each Pro-Tech 8 structural firefighting glove model and is double Certified for NFPA 1971 – 2018 both inside and outside the glove as well as European certified to EN-659.  

It is important to determine the proper size structural firefighting glove for your hands. Getting your fire glove sizing correct can help ensure that you will benefit from the protection of the gloves without hampering the functionality and performance of your hands. The sizing guidelines have been changed by the new NFPA standard for structural firefighting gloves and proximity firefighting gloves. Instead of alpha sizing, i.e. small (S), medium (M), large (L), it is now done in Brannock-style measuring: using numerical sizing (64-82) as well as including two widths narrow (N), and wide (W).  We recommend that you measure the size of your hand on your own to determine which size is truly appropriate for you. You can do that by measuring the length of your hand and the circumference of your wrist. We have a glove sizing chart PDF that explains it in detail. With this latest edition, Pro-Tech 8 will dual label our gloves to both the alpha and numeric sizing to allow for a smooth transition.

At Pro-Tech 8, we have designed and manufactured different gloves for different uses: Wildland firefighting, extrication/USAR, and rope handling. Read on for more details on each type of glove.

Wildland firefighting gloves are used by firefighters who are called to fight wildland fires, often in non-urban areas. The gloves are designed in a way that can protect you from extreme heat, since wildland firefighting conditions are very different than structural firefighting conditions. The protective qualities of structural firefighting PPE make their use less desirable during wildland firefighting operations. 

Wildland firefighters recognize the value of having the proper protective clothing and gear to prevent injury and illness, particularly from heat stress, which comes from a high level of physical exertion during hot and dry or hot and humid conditions while engaging in fire suppression operations. Wildland firefighter gloves need to be designed to meet the hazards of extreme heat, vapor, sharp objects, and all other dangers encountered during firefighting missions out on the line. Wildland gloves must also pass certification under specific NFPA guidelines. This certification is classified as NFPA Standard 1977-2016: Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Firefighting, and was developed to address the particular PPE needs of wildland firefighting and firefighting in the wildland-urban interface. The gloves should be specially designed to protect the firefighters’ hands against blisters, cuts, scratches and minor burns during routine firefighting. In our Wildland firefighting glove, we use a full-grained cowhide suede leather.

Pro-Tech Wildland gloves are designed and constructed for delivering enhanced dexterity, grip, heat resistance, comfort and hand protection during Wildland firefighting activities. The cuffs are designed for blocking fire debris. We take pride in our gloves’ extreme abrasion, puncture and cut-resistant qualities. Furthermore, it provides amazing dexterity when using firefighting tools. The gloves need to allow the firefighter to accomplish many physical tasks and require superior grip abilities under both dry and wet conditions. 

Extrication or USAR rescue gloves 

Another glove used by many firefighters and first responders is extrication / USAR gloves. They are used during motor vehicle accidents with extrication (MVA). These MVAs involve all types of vehicle accidents and people that have to be extricated from these MVA scenarios. These types of gloves require grip and dexterity in order to operate specialized extrication and rescue equipment–even when wet. The tools used include hydraulic spreading and cutting tools, wire cutting tools, glass cutting saws to remove the glass, and many other tools to help extricate a person. Due to the severity of some of these MVAs, firefighters and first responders need to be protected from punctures, abrasion, and cuts. These types of gloves should have liquid protection from materials commonly encountered on emergency scenes, such as gasoline, battery acid, diesel fuel or hydraulic fluid and bodily fluids. Emergency rescue missions can also happen in collapsed or burning buildings and require USAR gloves (urban search and rescue).

We have several styles of these gloves that can be used for digging through building materials, concrete, rebar, sheet metal and using heavy machinery. We also use synthetic fibers like Kevlar® on the outer layers, which offers 10 times the cut protection of leather and a better strength-to-weight ratio.

Rope rappelling gloves – these gloves are used in rescue situations involving rope or repelling and should only be used for handling rope. 

Besides the differences between the 4 main types of fire service operations gloves mentioned, it is also important to think about categorizing firefighting gloves based on the certain materials that are used to develop and construct them. 

Conclusion 

When you find yourself in need of a high-quality pair of the best firefighter gloves, research and gathering all relevant information is a must. Fortunately, there is not a shortage of choices when it comes to gloves designed for firefighters and rescuers. With such a wide selection, we make finding the right type of firefighter glove that is compatible with your specific requirements, simple. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us, we are here to help. You may also use our distributor locator page to find a dealer near you.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST STRUCTURAL GLOVES IN 2020

Firefighters work in varied and complex environments that increase their risk of on-the-job injuries. When there is an emergency rescue situation, or when you’re responding to a structure fire, your hands and wrists are the most at risk to burns, flame, and chemical exposure–compared to the rest of your body covered in turnout gear. Thanks to technical improvements in textiles, it is possible to protect and give your hands the utmost defense by getting the best structural firefighting gloves available on the market.

Your knuckles, fingers and hands require the highest level shielding from the job’s safety hazards (flashover, backdraft, thermal energy transfers, high heat areas, hot steam/liquid, chemicals, blood borne pathogens) out in the field. Bear in mind, fire gloves play a crucial role and serve as a first line of defense for every rescuer, first responder and structural firefighter.

The ideal firefighting gloves offer the best combination of thermal protection and dexterity with the ability to protect your hands while staying flexible and nimble so you can move freely (to pick up fire hose, pry open doors, use chainsaws, climb ladders, press the call button on the radio and all other fire ground tasks. When you have to go into a dangerous emergency situation as a firefighter, you can have the confidence of knowing that you can trust Pro-Tech 8 gloves to safeguard your hands. A firefighter requires a glove that will allow them to change channels or hit the “Mayday button” on his or her radio, don or doff them when they are wet, or don a helmet and breathing apparatus while wearing them.

Our multi-layer glove technology is the best in the industry, and the materials are certified to NFPA 1971-2018 to protect your hands from heat exposure, cut and puncture resistance, as well as deliver the proper amount of comfort, finger motion and dexterity. Remember, finding a proper glove fit is equally as important as its performance.

What sets our gloves apart from other structural fire glove manufacturers?

Why choose Pro-Tech 8 gloves?

All of our glove models are now equipped with an independently Certified Porelle® PTFE moisture barrier for enhanced chemical and viral protection. This extra layer gives our gloves the highest breathability and thermal characteristics, and it is double certified to the NFPA’s moisture barrier standards (inside and outside of the glove).
Pro-Tech 8 gloves have emerged as the new standard in structural firefighting gloves. The reason our gloves are called Pro-Tech 8 is because we use 8 layers of material while most other manufacturers may use only 2 or 3 layers. All of our glove models are made by hand. Here is a video from our CEO and founder Ted Bart at FDIC 2019 describing the design, innovation, and features of Pro-Tech 8 gloves.

Pro-Tech 8 has several different models that vary on materials, fit, and price. We wrote this article to help you, as a firefighter, understand our products more and find the best structural firefighting gloves for you and your department.

Pro-Tech 8 Titan K Structural Firefighting Glove

The Pro-Tech 8 Titan-K Gloves offer the perfect solution to a firefighter looking for versatility; which includes fit, comfort, grip, dexterity and flexibility. It is made from 100% fire-retardant kangaroo leather which absorbs the least amount of water and has the greatest tensile strength of any other leather. What is great about Kangaroo skin is that it has 4 times the tensile strength of cowhide leather. It is stronger, more durable, and more water-resistant than any other leather. And because it absorbs the least amount of water it will not get heavy or weighed down. So it prevents you from getting hand fatigue that you would get from a normal, standard fire glove. The kangaroo shell in this glove is known for it is incredible strength and natural toughness.

Its flexibility has been proven in both training grounds and out in the field–to handle all fire ground duties you are bound to face. It performs well under basic motor extrication tasks as well. It has a multi-layered and stitched down palm glove design. We designed this glove by reinforcing the vulnerable areas of the glove and made each part as tough as possible. Our proprietary 8-Layer knuckle guard system boasts 100% kevlar fused with silicone carbide which further enhances the durability of the glove.

The construction of the Pro-Tech 8 Titan-K is made to comply with all NFPA 1971-2018 firefighter glove standards. This glove is also constructed with a Porelle® PTFE moisture barrier that is designed to shield your skin from blood-borne pathogens and chemical exposure.

The Pro-Tech 8 Titan-K glove is designed to deliver the highest level of dexterity, due to the adaptable Nomex® and Kevlar® finger sidewalls. The glove has an easy to use leather pull tab for easy Don (putting on) and Doff (removing). If there is any feedback on this glove it would be that it may be a slightly tight-fitting before you break them in, but once you do the gloves break in beautifully and mold to your hands. These really are the gold standard of structural firefighting gloves.

The glove’s full kevlar lining adds an additional level of cut resistance. Some of the features include:

“I remember when my Titan-K gloves looked that fresh! 😪 best gloves I ever wore. I’ll only wear Pro-Tech!”
“ PPE needs to be washed. I have a pair of Titan-K so broken in they feel like I am wearing batting gloves”
“I’ve washed mine a few times….and yea exactly my thoughts! They feel amazing!”  510Rhino

This glove is priced at $109.95.

Pro-Tech 8 Fusion Pro Structural Firefighting Glove

Our Pro-Tech 8 Fusion Pro gloves are made and designed to satisfy most firefighter hand sizes and use cases. These gloves have been one of our most popular selling gloves since they were first introduced because of their many features. At an affordable price, most firefighters will enjoy a protective, high-quality and high-performance glove. It has superior dexterity and flexibility from the moment you first put them on, which is a favorable advantage for those who would like to move with ease and minimal effort when they are doing their job. The added cut resistance is provided by Kevlar®, includes an inner modacrylic liner – known for being a “soft, strong, resilient, and stable fiber with outstanding resistance to chemicals and solvents, and quick to dry.”(wikipedia)
It is made with water-resistant, fire-retardant goatskin leather that will stay plush and soft and will not get hard and crusty after multiple washes. After several years on the market, the Fusion Pro glove continues to be our number one selling model and now it has been upgraded for NFPA 1971-2018 certification. It now includes a Porelle® PTFE moisture barrier which has the highest level of resistance to chemicals and blood-borne pathogens.

We are grateful to be part of a tight-knit firefighter community that is very satisfied with our gloves and we’ve received amazingly positive feedback. They praise the advanced and modern multi-layer design used in each of the gloves because it reinforces the vulnerable parts of the gloves, making them stronger and more protective. Each of our gloves, including the Fusion Pro features our multi-layer knuckle-guard technology.

But don’t take our word for it, here’s what other firefighters are saying:

“I wouldn’t trade my pair of 8 fusion pros for anything else. Absolutely love them!” – Thomas Jones @bigt1542
“Those are great gloves I have had mine for about 2 months and have about 8 fires under them. Keep up the good work.” –Zrogers33

Another feature this glove provides to its users is its superior comfort, softness and flexibility. It also includes the Porelle® PTFE moisture barrier, which is effective in providing maximum viral and chemical protection while maintaining a great amount of breathability to keep your hands dry. These gloves come with a leather pull tab for easy Don (putting on) and Doff (removing).

“Over 1 million pairs of Fusion gloves have been used in service around the world today.
This is the best selling and most affordable glove.” – Ted Bart, Founder and CEO, Pro-Tech 8 Gloves

This glove is priced in the range of $72.95 – $77.95.

Some of the features include:

Pro-Tech 8 Titan Pro Structural Firefighting Glove

Our Pro-Tech 8 Titan Pro glove works well for every rescue and fire ground task. It is made with the same design as the Fusion, an outer layer using water-resistant, fire-retardant treated goatskin leather which has a high natural oil content–making it super soft, pliable and liquid impervious. This glove was designed for larger fire departments, who are often–on their hands and knees–responding to emergency calls. To protect them we added another layer of Nomex® to the palm area. The palm area is stitched down with Kevlar® thread to strengthen grip. “We are the first company to add this feature into a fire glove,” claims Ted Bart, Founder and CEO of Pro-Tech 8 Gloves. “We felt this was important because when a firefighter is working with tools (such as saws, axes, pry bars etc) on the fire ground, the palm area tends to bunch up and they lose feel and dexterity. This is why we stitched down the palm–to prevent that from happening.”

This glove model comes in both a short cuff and a long cuff. The short cuff model gloves are made specifically for use with sleeves within turnout gear that have a thumb hole wristlet. The long cuff model gloves are designed for use with turnout gear sleeves that do not have thumb hole wristlets or extended wristlets. The long cuff feature extends the full glove-sleeve interface and features a 100% Kevlar wrapped elastic band inside the cuff for extra secure fit and protection against fire ground debris.
This glove is priced in the range of $87.95 – $89.95.

Some of the features include:

Pro-Tech 8 TPR-Gold Structural Firefighting Glove

Our newest structural glove model is called the Pro-Tech 8 TPR Gold which is the most complete and innovative structural firefighting glove to date. We decided to utilize a thermo-plastic rubber with flame-retardant (FR) tendencies. We added it into the TPR-Gold knuckle guard underneath a layer of Kevlar®. No other glove has this. The palm and thumb areas on these gloves are different than our other models; we’ve added fire-retardant gel pads which act as a cushion and energy absorber. This added feature will give a firefighter enhanced grip and dexterity capabilities on the fire ground. The TPR-Gold is made from 100% water-resistant, FR treated goatskin leather. The goatskin leather is stronger and more flexible than cowhide. Its natural high oil content gives it a soft and pliable feel even getting wet and washed. The fully knitted inner liner is constructed from 100% Modacrylic that will keep your hands bacteria-free. We have also added a high-visibility yellow reflective strip and leather pull tab.

The NFPA 1971-2018 double certified Porelle® PTFE moisture barrier provides the most chemical and viral protection on the market, while keeping your hands dry and maintaining breathability. These gloves have a superior impact and thermal protection for exposure to high-abrasion and high-heat areas on the fire ground. To protect the vulnerable glove-sleeve interface, it comes with a convertible cuff/debris blocker that extends the glove body.

This glove is priced at $79.95

Some of the features include:

Conclusion

We have been the leading structural firefighting glove innovator for the last decade. Our gloves are used in the field all over the world. We continue to innovate and improve our products for the purpose of protecting firefighters and rescue workers. If you have any questions about sizing or which glove would be best for you, you can contact us for further questions or visit one of our 85 distributor partners for a dealer nearest you.

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