FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
| Q: | WHAT IS THE HOT SHIELD |
| A: | The HOT SHIELD® is the worlds first patented (Pat. # 5,628,308 & 5,823,188) dual function, multi-layered facemask designed by firefighters specifically for wildland firefighting. It is the only brush fire facemask proven to protect major portions of the face and neck from burning sparks, embers and even the direct flames of a 1000º+ blow torch. Its second most important function is to provide protection to one's respiratory tract through a combination of physical barriers. Other face masks and standard issue shrouds have proven inadequate protection against face/neck burns when they are subjected to moderate radiant heat or direct flame. Some deficiencies of these include: inadequate air exchange, bandannas catching on fire, embers burning holes through them, burned noses from droopy shrouds exposing the nose, coughing up black phlegm for days after a fire and the resultant inflamed, irritated respiratory passages from inhaling smoke and ash particles. The HS-2 has saved the lives of 4 firefighters (documented) and has become a popular and standard piece of operating equipment with many fire department and firefighters. |
| Q: | HOW DOES THE HOT SHIELD PROTECT YOU? |
| A: | #1- The outer shell has been updated (Nov. 2001 release date) from Advance
to CarbonX® . This material far exceeds all materials currently available in
all ® areas of thermal resistance. Please refer to CarbonX® FAQ for more
information on this revolutionary thermal resistant material. #2- Through a unique, patented design which provides for a comfortable and protective airspace between the mask and mouth/lips. #3- By physically blocking much of the smoke and ash particulate through the use of a fire resistant mesh fabric & disposable filter. |
| Q: | HAS THE HOT SHIELD BEEN INDEPENDENTLY OR 'THIRD PARTY' TESTED? |
| A: | Yes, many different tests have been conducted. #1- Biotherm Laboratories of Dayton, Ohio, a recognized testing lab for firefighter clothing, tested the HS-2 to ® the RPP (Radiant Protective Performance) Test per N.F.P.A. Standard #1977 (1993). Our mask exceeded requirements by over 400% CarbonX ! A second test, this time using a direct of 1000+ degrees F. torch was done and after 60 seconds, the inside temperature of the mask only registered 114° F! Other labs, including Du Pont and Storm King Mountain Technologies tested it and the HS-2 passed with similar flying colors. Copies of lab tests available upon request and are posted @ www.hotshield.com. |
| Q: | DOES THE HOT SHIELD MEET N.F.P.A. REQUIREMENTS? |
| A: | As of this writing, N.F.P.A. has not set a standard for facial or respiratory protection. In absence of such a standard, independent testing laboratories cannot ® certify any device or garment to NFPA specs (none exist). However, the HOT SHIELD does qualify as an interface component or adjunct to a wildland firefighters protective clothing ensemble, according to N.F.P.A.s own definition of an interface component; “an element or elements of the protective ensemble ® designed to provide limited protection to interface areas”. The HOT SHIELD as tested, exceeds N.F.P.A. Radiant Protective Performance (R.P.P.) requirements by over 400% and even greater now with! |
| Q: | IS THE HOT SHIELD A RESPIRATOR? |
| A: | No, it is not. The HS-2 is not designed to be used when permissible exposure limits of fire gases are exceeded or for protection against carbon monoxide. No product can legitimately claim to do so. No fit testing is required for its use. The HS-2 is designed to allow the insertion of almost any disposable particle filter mask to reduce particulate inhalation/ingestion. Replacement filters can be easily obtained through WFR and unlike some products marketed, these types of filters do not become useless after 8 hours exposed to air. |
| Q: | CAN THE HOT SHIELD PROTECT ME FROM SUPER HEATED AIR? |
| A: | No, only a breathing apparatus can do that! Use of a HOT SHIELD does not guarantee a firefighter will not suffer a respiratory burn due to inhalation of superheated air. However, we believe the HOT SHIELD offers the best protection available, to date, from this hazard. |
| Q: | IS THE HOT SHIELD COMPATIBLE WITH BOTH FORESTRY TYPE AND STRUCTURE TYPE HELMETS? WHAT ABOUT MY EXISTING SHROUD? |
| A: | Yes to all of the above. The fact is that you can don the HOT SHIELD before or after donning your helmet. This feature is both practical and vital, especially if faced with an intense fire situation. It can also be worn with or without the shroud and the shroud can be closed around it or left open. Conventional shrouds can be fastened around the bottom but should be left open around the ventilation orifice of the HOT SHIELD . We recommend the use of the ULTRA SHROUD ® which has been designed specifically for use with the HOT SHIELD and has been independently laboratory tested to withstand temperatures in excess of 700% of NFPA requirements! |
| Q: | IS THE HOT SHIELD COMPATIBLE WITH GOGGLES? |
| A: | Low profile goggles that have some type of foam (to keep dust out of your eyes) work best with the HOT SHIELD Any helmet will restrict the amount of available forehead area, which is where the upper portion of the goggle occupies. ANY type of facemask you choose must share the nose bridge area, as this is a necessary anchor point for both. Our QuickConnect Goggle Strap (the ”BLAZER”) replaces your existing goggle strap and allows you to remove or don your goggle WITHOUT removing your helmet to do so. |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR CARBONX®
| Q: | Will CarbonX burn or ignite like Nomex after extended exposure to heat or flame? |
| A: | No! Not only is CarbonX inherently nonflammable, it will not shrink, char or crack when exposed to temperatures exceeding 3000° f for over 2 minutes. In fact, when exposed to extreme flame or intense heat, CarbonX fibers / yarns expand, starving any oxygen content, thus distributing any heat energy throughout the fibers / yarns, not through the layers. |
| Q: | Do any type of chemicals deteriorate CarbonX? |
| A: | With the dozens of chemicals we exposed CarbonX too during development, which included acids, petroleum's and many solvents, CarbonX showed no signs of deterioration or fiber breakdown. In most cases, testing did not even show any physical presence. |
| Q: | Is CarbonX available in any colors other than Black? |
| A: | Because CarbonX is cooked at temperatures exceeding 1300° f during its fiber production stages, the inherently nonflammable fibers are not susceptible to any pigment bonding. We can, however, obtain several colors by blending different fibers we use in our proprietary patent. |
| Q: | CarbonX is a carbon fiber based fabric. Carbon fiber based textile fabrics of past have been known to have poor tensile strength and weak abrasion properties. Is this true with CarbonX? |
| A: | That is one of the proprietary manufacturing properties that makes CarbonX so unique. Depending on the end use application, CarbonX yarns are blended with different types of fibers, or strengthening fibers, to achieve the desired tensile strength. These blends are what we have patented. |
| Q: | How does CarbonX perform in terms of wicking sweat and moisture off the body versus the other leading fire retardant fabrics ? |
| A: | Much better than any fire retardant fabric on the market. In fact, CarbonX knits wick moisture off your body with very minimum moisture retention. Better yet, if you wear CarbonX underwear under a CarbonX garment, perspiration and moisture will absorb through the undergarment into the exterior garment, resulting in rapid evaporation. Almost all FR undergarments on the market retain moisture. The problem with that is under heat exposure, the moisture boils and can cause second or third degree burns to the skin. |
| Q: | Weight for weight, how does CarbonX perform in Thermal Protection Properties (TPP) testing versus such fire retardant FR fabrics as Nomex®, Kevlar®, PBI®, \Proban®, etc…? |
| A: | According to industry testing engineers and experts, the rule of thumb is to take the weight of a FR fabric and add two points to it and that will generally give you the TPP value. Not no with CarbonX! Depending on the weave, you could usually double the weight to obtain the TPP value. With some CarbonX fabrics, you could times the weight by as much as five to obtain the TPP value. CarbonX also has the highest Limit of Oxygen (LOI) value for any apparel fabric produced, almost doubling the value over all of its competition. |
| Q: | Will CarbonX fade when exposed to constant UV rays or repeated laundering? |
| A: | No. After CarbonX fibers have been processed through our cooking cycle, they then obtain their true and permanent Black color. |
| Q: | If CarbonX has so many superior properties, how come one of the big giants such as DuPont or Celanese has not offered a similar or competing product. |
| A: | There are many issues pertaining to the manufacture of PAN based fabrics. Particular include fiber dust contamination, very delicate fiber to spun yarn transition and yarn tensile strength, to mention a few. Plus, a company such as DuPont has spent millions to market and position their very popular FR brands such as Nomex and Kevlar. |
| Q: | What industries are CarbonX products currently used in? |
| A: | CarbonX has become very popular throughout the Motorsports Industry. Although our largest industry is currently the fire fighting market, we are growing rapidly in many other industries such as welding, the military, aviation, marine and foundries. Applications for CarbonX include any product or personal safety apparatus where heat energy or fire is a potential hazard. We can basically produce or duplicate any type of textile currently offered. |
| Q: | How does CarbonX perform in cold environments? |
| A: | During recent Cryogenic testing, CarbonX knits were exposed to temperatures exceeding 350° C below zero with little or no adverse effects. We are actively working to develop a thermal insulation fabric to use in the manufacture of cold weather apparel. |
| Q: | In Regards to the Motorsports industry, what driver's promote CarbonX? |
| A: | It's awesome! Anybody who learns or is educated about CarbonX. Once a driver utilizes a CarbonX garment or product, he's hook and becomes a devoted spokesperson. We have driver's like World of Outlaws standouts Mark Kinser, Andy Hillenburg and Danny Losaski, in addition to about 50% of the other Outlaw Drivers. NHRA driver's such as Larry Dixon, Gary Selzi, Bruce Sarver and Andrew Cohen are all in the CarbonX family. Trans Am Champ Paul Gentillozi, UDTRA Champ Scott Bloomquist, and the list goes on and on. |
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