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Contact with hot objects can severely reduce insulation and result in scalding and burning without heat sensation
or warning in some circumstances. If you feel tingling, immediately move to a cooler location. Failure to react
immediately could cause you to be burned.
Convected or Radiant heat can penetrate quickly into your Footwear. Dangerous levels of heat may be present
inside or outside a structure despite the lack of flames, and burns can occur at relatively low temperatures. If
you feel thermal radiation burns developing, escape to a cool, safe place immediately and remove Footwear.
You may be burned without any warning signals or sustaining any damage to your Footwear.
Prolonged or repeated exposures to heat will increase Footwear temperatures and can cause burns even after
the emergency responder is no longer exposed to high temperatures. Minimize exposure to heat by using water
to cool the environment or by escaping quickly after a short period of time. Failure to follow these instructions
will result in burns to your feet, ankles, or lower legs.
• You may have very little or no warning time from feeling heat or pain before skin begins to burn at 118° F.
• You need to be constantly aware of the buildup of heat in the surrounding environment and in your Garments
and be ready to escape to a cool area where you can remove hot Garments quickly to avoid burns.
The buildup of heat in NFPA Compliant Footwear can lead to burns without any sign of damage to the footwear.
Never wait for signs of footwear damage to warn of imminent burns. Always be aware of your surrounding
environment and be ready to escape if you begin to feel tingling or burning sensations.
DANGER
DANGER
DANGER
DANGER
DANGER
!
!
!
!
!
10.4 BURNS
Burns are a function of time and temperature. The higher the temperature of the
heat source and the longer the exposure time, the greater the severity of burns.
FIRST DEGREE BURNS begin when the temperature of skin reaches 118° F.
SECOND DEGREE BURNS occur when the skin reaches approximately 131° F.
THIRD DEGREE BURNS occur when skin temperature reaches approx. 152° F.
In terms of heat flux, unprotected skin will receive a second-degree burn after only a
30-second exposure at .45 watts per square centimeter. Studies have shown that flame
temperatures of low intensity, like wastebasket fires, can reach almost 1300° F, with a
heat flux in excess of over four watts per square centimeter and with air temperatures
ranging up to 750° F. (For more information, see the study by J. Randall Lawson, listed in
Reference Section). Thus, even small fires can generate several times the level of heat to
cause severe burns to emergency responders who do not wear their protective clothing
and footwear in a secure manner.
