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Nomex® & Kevlar®

Firefighter: Garment Basics

Every firefighter’s turnout is a composite of three components — an outershell, a moisture barrier and a thermal liner. These components, as well as the entire composite and garment, when made of Nomex®, are certified to conform to NFPA, CGSB or EN standards and provide a complete protection system. These three key components include:
The outershell, which is designed to take the everyday abuse of firefighting. This outermost layer is designed to protect the inner components from thermal hazards, abrasion, sunlight and other factors involved in fighting fires.

The moisture barrier layer, an impermeable liquid film laminated to Nomex® that protects against the intrusion of water, chemicals or viral agents. This film, usually the most delicate component of the turnout system, is positioned within the composite and is well protected by Nomex®.

The thermal liner, which provides the most thermal insulation by trapping air in either a traditional needle-punched batt or between multiple layers of Nomex®. The durability of this layer is improved by quilting these materials to a woven facecloth fabric. Because this layer is closest to the body, its friction and moisture absorption characteristics can impact the comfort and mobility of the entire garment.

The combination of all three of these components will define the performance characteristics of the entire composite system. Thermal Protection Performance, total heat loss, system weight and many other criteria will define how a specific combination performs and feels. For example, a heavier system will offer a higher thermal performance, but lower breathability, which can result in higher heat stress.