Series 5600 Fire Coat Comfort Trim on display at FDIC International
2016, Booth #701
As firefighters’ jobs have evolved, so has their need for
high-performance gear that holds up to demanding service calls with
extreme conditions. 3M™
Scotchlite™ Reflective Material — Series 5600 Fire Coat Comfort Trim
is a segmented, stitch-free trim designed for greater flexibility and
mobility. NFPA-certified, the new design helps make turnout gear more
comfortable to wear.
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3M Scotchlite Reflective Material - Series 5600 Fire Coat Comfort Trim (Photo: Business Wire)
Traditionally, turnout gear trim has been sewn onto the garments,
resulting in an elevated trim that tends to be stiffer and can be prone
to snagging, especially in close quarters. Series 5600 Fire Coat Comfort
Trim laminates onto fabric, creating a flatter surface with minimal
catch-points. Because the reflective
material is segmented, it is much more flexible, conforming to the
gear’s fabric and the firefighter’s movements. Heavy duty fire coats
with Series 5600 Fire Coat Comfort Trim are more flexible even when new.
These new features were designed by 3M to address ongoing requests for
gear that helped increase agility, responsiveness and performance during
a fire. “The new Series 5600 Fire Coat Comfort Trim is based on what
firefighters from around the globe told us they need in the extreme
conditions they face – trim that is more flexible and comfortable while
retaining the performance in visibility and reflectivity that they’ve
come to know and trust from 3M,” said Jennifer Sickmann, global segment
marketing manager at 3M.
During product development, 3M performed research and testing with
firefighters from nine countries and seven different garment
manufacturers, as well as conducted hundreds of interviews. “This isn’t
just trim made for firefighters; it’s trim that was developed with their
input every step of the way,” Sickmann continued. Testing was performed
in a variety of harsh conditions across the globe to validate actual
performance. The testing scenarios generally experienced a higher
frequency of fires given the rigorous training inherent to an
educational environment.
“Fire Chiefs and turnout gear decision makers at fire departments have
an important job in specifying gear for their department,” Sickmann
said. The new 3M Scotchlite Reflective Material – Series 5600 Fire Coat
Comfort Trim provides excellent reflectivity to help keep firefighters
visible in low light conditions. “I believe the Series 5600 Fire Coat
Comfort Trim will be a popular trim choice because its attributes align
with what’s important to firefighters in their gear overall – the need
to act nimbly in gear that moves and flexes with them and doesn’t have
many catch-points,” she concluded. The new trim comes in NFPA-compliant
fluorescent lime-yellow in addition to fluorescent red-orange and meets
NFPA heat-related requirements to not melt, drip, separate or ignite.
Turnout gear with Series 5600 Fire Coat Comfort Trim will be on display
April 21 – 23 at FDIC
International 2016, in the 3M Booth #701. 3M encourages conference
attendees to stop by for a hands-on demonstration of this unique trim
development. Firefighters and industry professionals can feel in-person
the degree to which added flexibility can impact mobility and provide
another resource during active fire situations. More information is
available online and on Facebook.
About 3M
At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily.
With $30 billion in sales, our 90,000 employees connect with customers
all around the world. Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the
world’s problems at www.3M.com
or on Twitter @3M or @3MNewsroom.
3M and Scotchlite are a trademarks of 3M Company.
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