Quest Enterprises manufactures turnout gear using outer shell and thermal liner products from Royal Tencate/Southern Mills. Royal Tencate/Southern Mills offers a broad range of outer shell options which consists of:
Outer Shell
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Material Description
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| Defender® |
This outer shell is comprised of 93% NOMEX®, 5% KEVLAR®, and 2% P-140 (anti-static). Defender is an entry level outer shell that provides a firefighter with minimal protection when actively fighting fire in a hostile (interior attack) environment. Defender is chosen by departments with strong budgetary limitations and who do not frequently perform interior attacks. Defender is available in the widest range of colors, for departments with specific color needs. Detailed Specifications
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| Advance® |
This is an economically responsible choice for outer shell. Advance is made from 60% Kevlar® and 40% NOMEX®. Advance is a tougher outer shell than Defender and it stands up to the rigors of the fire ground much more effectively. This outer shell is a popular choice among fire departments with budget constraints. It provides a cost-effective degree of protection. Advance offers the second widest range of color selection in an outer shell. Detailed Specifications
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| Advance Ultra® |
This outer shell delivers the maximum performance for the price. Advance Ultra is the first outer shell available that is a three-way blend of self-extinguishing fibers. Advance Ultra is made of 60% Kevlar, 20% Nomex and 20% PBO (the tough fiber that is used in Millenia). Advance Ultra is an increasingly popular choice among fire departments. Advance Ultra resists wear and tear much better than any other outer shell except Millenia. Advance Ultra also resists heat and sunlight damage better, maintaining its tear and cut resistance over a greater range of abuse. Advance Ultra is such a tough outer shell that Quest Enterprises offers a three year limited warrenty against cuts and punctures1. Advance Ultra is availble in light gold, yellow and dark gold colors. Detailed Specifications
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| Gemini® |
Gemini is one of the two premier outer shells materials available.Gemini is comprised of 60% and 40% PBI which is reinforced with Kevlar filaments. It is the choice of many major city career departments across the United States. Gemini is available in a golden color and in black. Detailed Specifications
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| Millenia XT® |
Millenia XT is the second premier outer shell material and is the toughest outer shell available. Millenia is made from 60% para-aramid and 40% PBO. Millenia is such a tough material that is won't accept dye and is available in only a natural brown color. The toughness is of Millenia is one of its strengths though, it is so tough that the material manufacturer, Southern Mills, offers a 5 year warranty against cuts and punctures1. Detailed Specifications
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1. For more information on these warranty contacts your sales representative.
How should I clean Quest turnout gear?
Routine Cleaning
NFPA 1851 does not endorse particular laundry products, nor do we. We do concur with the instructions on Cleaning and Decontamination outlined in Chapter 5 of the standard. For routine cleaning many liquid detergents are fine, as long as the product has a pH range of not less than 6.0 pH and not greater than 10.5 pH. Temperatures for machine washing and drying should not exceed 40° C (105° F).
Specialized Cleaning
As an increasing number of departments purchase commercial machines for in-house laundering of protective clothing, we are more frequently asked for recommendations on laundry products. Vendors of commercial washers may be new to this industry and not familiar with the characteristics of fabrics used in protective clothing. The products that are excellent for other applications—hospital and hospitality industries may not be appropriate for turnouts.
There are several specialized cleaning products on the market. However, before using any products on your protective clothing, review the label or Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and ask the manufacturer of the cleaner these questions:
- Has the product been tested on synthetic fire resistant fabrics? If protective clothing is not listed as a safe application for the product, it can be assumed that testing may not have been conducted on such materials. The NFPA required tests include tear resistance, thermal resistance, shrinkage, and vertical flame—all conducted after 25 washings.
- Will the manufacturer or sales rep provide a letter warranting their products are entirely safe to use on structural fire fighting clothing? If the clothing is damaged in any way during washing, liability should be shifted away from the department. If the manufacturer is unwilling to provide such assurance in writing, they may not have tested their product on your particular materials.
Two commercially available cleaners which do meet the above criterion are:
Versitol™ by Winsol Lab 800-782-5504 and Citri-Squeeze 888-727-3230
For contamination involving body fluids, LYSOL brand hospital cleaner is a disinfectant which is safe to use on protective fabrics. It can be purchased in gallon containers by calling 800-677-9218 or at your local industrial cleaning supply house.
How do I protect the Silver reflective stripe on my turnout gear's trim?
The silver stripe on 3M's triple trim is sensitive to alkaline materials. The stripe is created from a gray layer that is coated with glass beads. The glass beads provide the night-time reflectivity and the grey layer provides contrast during daylight hours. The grey layer can be dissolved when exposed to alkaline liquids. If the liquid is allowed to stay in contact with the silver stripe, the grey layer will disappear, leaving the glass beads behind. This problem doesn't significantly affect the reflectivity of the stripe, but it does impact the trim's appearance.
It is easy to prevent this from happening. Whenever turnout gear with 3M's triple trim is exposed to an alkaline material (the discharge of a dry-chem extinguisher, most foam's, or any other suspect high pH liquid, rinse the trim with tap water as soon as you get back to the station. (NOTE: If you're turnout gear has been contaminated by a hazardous material, follow your department's procedure for turnout gear decontamination.)
How much protection does my turnout gear offer me during direct, interior attack?
One common misunderstanding in the fire service is the level of protection offered by turnout gear. Turnout gear is not fireproof. It WILL burn! Depending upon the characteristics of your outer shell, somewhere between 700° and 1100° F your turnout gear will start to burn when it is in contact with flames. Turnout gear IS self extinguishing. As soon as you remove yourself from the super-heated environment, any burning outer shell material will stop flaming.
Your turnout gear is designed to protect you from the heat that builds up inside a burning structure. The amount of time you can work in a burning building depends on the effectiveness of your team. If you are seeing signs that the structure is about to flashover (flames flashing through dark smoke above you) it is time to exit the building. Turnout gear CAN help you survive a flashover, but you will most likely not escape unscathed.
