Personal Safety & Protection Equipment Evaluation

Pressure Mapping for Safety Equipment Evaluation

Background: C2i Advanced Technologies provides and manufactures solutions to correct equipment and protection problems faced by firefighters, police officers, first responders, and soldiers.

Challenge: When C2i wanted to test whether their latest product, GARTS, could reduce the amount of resistance and down-force on a firefighter's leg, experienced by his or her Bunker pants, they turned to Tekscan.

Solution: Using Tekscan sensor model 9811 and I-Scan^® software, data was collected on a Mobile datalogger as firefighters, acting as experimental subjects, climbed a ladder. Tests were conducted with the firefighters wearing GARTS and then without GARTS. I-Scan software was able to document that GARTS reduced pressures on the thigh above the knee, the equivalent of lightening down-force by 40 lbs. compared to wearing protective gear without GARTS.

"Tekscan was exactly the gear we needed- smaller, simpler, way advanced. Capable of sensing and recording down-force on the firefighter's leg caused by his Bunkers."

- C2i Advanced Technologies

Force vs. Time Graph

Green represents no GARTS in place. Red represents GARTS being worn. I-Scan was able to validate that the firefighters experienced 3 times more force without the GARTS in place.

Pressure Measurement Applications for Safety Equipment

• Design verification testing
• Reliability testing
• R&D for new designs

Benefits of Pressure Mapping

• Minimize validation testing time
• Improve design
• Optimize product performance

Typical Pressure Sensor used for Safety Equipment Testing