GORE-TEX Military Fabrics

Posts Tagged ‘Dismounted FREE’

Comparative Burn Test Video Dismounted FREE vs GEN III ECWCSADS

Tuesday, August 7th, 2012

In this very powerful video demonstration ADS, Inc presents a burn comparison, in cooperation with DuPont and their Thermo-Man testing equipment, simulating the effects of fire exposure associated with an IED blast, demonstrating the effective differences between Dismounted FREE (Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble) and the current issue GEN III ECWCS (non-FR) clothing systems.

RESULTS
While the Dismounted FREE garments self-extinguish within seconds, the older, non-FR GEN III ECWCS continues to burn. The results of which are clear within the burn data:

Dismounted FREE – 99% Survival Rate, 9% Total Burn* (2.5% 2nd degree, 6.6% 3rd degree)
GEN III ECWCS – 67% Survival Rate, 53% Total Burn* (23.8% 2nd degree, 29.5% 3rd degree)

*Unprotected Thermo-Man head accounts for 7% of Total Predicted Burn Injury.

TEST:
Scenario: 4-second exposure, 60-second acquisition
GEN III ECWCS (Current Issue Cold Weather Clothing System)
-Cotton Base Layer
-Level II
-Level V

Dismounted FREE
-Level I
-Level II
-Level V

I’ve written about Dismounted FREE before. I encourage you to check out my previous article explaining its makeup and that it is an FR environmental clothing system for ground troops.

www.adsinc.com/dismounted-free