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Key Points

India is set to revolutionize firefighting equipment with a groundbreaking indigenous suit developed by the National Technical Textile Mission. The aluminised glass fabric suit promises enhanced safety and comfort for firefighters across multiple industries. Currently imported from Europe, the US, and China, these specialized suits will now be manufactured domestically. The project represents a significant leap in India's technical textile capabilities and emergency service preparedness.

Key Points: India's First Indigenous Firefighter Suit Nears Production

  • Indigenous textile mission develops advanced fire-resistant protective gear
  • Suit meets European and Indian safety standards
  • Covers full body protection for emergency personnel
  • Aims to replace imported firefighting equipment
2 min read

India to soon get indigenous firefighting suit made from aluminised coated glass fabrics

India develops cutting-edge aluminised firefighting suit, reducing dependence on foreign imports and enhancing emergency service safety

"The annual current consumption would be approximately 1,000 sets - Ministry of Textiles"

New Delhi, April 16

The National Technical Textile Mission (NTTM), an initiative by the Ministry of Textiles, is developing an innovative firefighting suit using aluminised coated glass fabrics, the ministry said on Wednesday.

These indigenous firefighter suits will be used by personnel in firefighting and emergency services, defence forces, the oil and gas industry, aerospace and aviation, power plants, and the thermal industry, etc.

India currently imports the most specialised firefighting suits (also known as fire entry suits) from Europe, the US, and China, as its manufacturing in the country is in its nascent stage.

“The annual current consumption would be approximately 1,000 sets by various end users in India. However, with the introduction of an Indian-certified aluminised suit, the consumption could go up exponentially,” said the ministry.

The NTTM project is implemented by Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA), in collaboration with its industrial partner, System 5S.

It is developed using aluminised coated glass fabrics, OPAN (Oxidised Polyacrylonitrile) Nonwoven battings, and FR (Flame Resistant) viscose fabric. All the inner layers are quilted together.

The new suit “prioritised the safety, comfort, and ease of donning and doffing for firefighters”, the ministry said.

It added that System 5S's fire-fighting suit is designed to meet European as well as Indian standards.

According to European Standard, protective clothing for specialised firefighting must protect the full body, including the head, hands, and feet, against radiant heat and flame impingement.

This protective gear includes a garment, a hood (integrated or separate), gloves, and over boots. In addition, the design of such suits is intended for use with respiratory protection, with designs varying on whether the breathing apparatus is worn inside or outside the protective clothing.

Meanwhile, the industrial partner has already begun manufacturing the new suits for trial purposes, the ministry said.

It added that the commercial manufacturing will start once the fire manikin test is completed successfully to ensure the suit meets all necessary performance requirements.

System 5S' will “have an annual production capacity of 1,000 suits with this commercialisation,” the ministry said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya K.
This is such an important development! Our firefighters deserve the best protective gear. Proud to see India developing indigenous solutions 👏
R
Rahul S.
Great initiative but I hope they don't compromise on quality just to meet production targets. Firefighting gear needs to be absolutely reliable.
A
Anjali M.
My brother is a firefighter and I worry about his safety every day. This gives me hope that he'll have better protection soon ❤️
V
Vikram P.
Interesting tech! The combination of aluminised glass fabrics and flame-resistant viscose sounds promising. Hope it passes all safety tests with flying colors.
S
Sanjay T.
About time we stopped importing these critical safety items. The 1000 suits/year capacity seems low though - hope they can scale up quickly if the demand increases.
N
Neha R.
The focus on comfort and ease of use is so important! Heavy, uncomfortable gear can be dangerous if it slows down firefighters during emergencies. Well done! 👍

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