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5
KNOW YOUR HAIX
®
NFPA COMPLIANT FOOTWEAR:
CONSTRUCTION, FEATURES AND FUNCTION
In order to understand the limits of protection provided by your HAIX
®
NFPA Compliant Footwear,
you should study its construction, features, and function.
5.1 OVERVIEW
HAIX
®
NFPA Footwear provides a limited barrier against penetration from sharp objects
and liquids contacted on the fire grounds. Because it is made of special heat and flame
resistant materials, hydrophobic leather, and rubber soles, it provides limited resistance
to heat and flame for brief periods of time, without the boot combusting and burning.
5.2 LAYERED STRUCTURE
Your HAIX
®
NFPA Compliant Footwear is made with three primary layers: a leather
outer layer, a moisture barrier, and an inner lining. The CAMBRELLE
®
inner lining and
CROSSTECH
®
moisture barrier are secure inside the boot and are designed not to come
out of the boot while doffing.
5.3 LEATHER OUTER LAYER
The outer layer consists of a hydrophobic, breathable leather that provides initial limited
protection against, heat, flame, abrasions, and punctures.
5.4 INNER LAYER
The inner lining and moisture barrier are sewn together to make up the inner layer.
Moisture Barrier
The moisture barrier is a film or a coating on a substrate which reduces the amount of water
from the environment that might penetrate to the inside of the Footwear. The moisture
barrier is bonded to a woven or nonwoven substrate to give it strength and durability.
All breathable moisture barriers have the ability to prevent liquid moisture from passing
through, while allowing the passage of moisture vapor. This allows some body heat to
escape the inner layers and move outside the footwear. This promotes the evaporative
cooling of the fire fighter’s feet, ankles, and lower legs
Inner Lining
The inner lining attached to the moisture barrier is a breathable fabric that protects the
moisture barrier and absorbs perspiration, allowing it to pass through the moisture barrier
and be pumped out of the holes in the top of the footwear by the natural pumping action
of movement and walking.
