Rescuers, within the framework of their missions, operate in hazardous condition and sometimes put their health at risk. To minimize this risk, new personal protective equipment (jacket, t-shirt and boots) were designed by a 23 European partners’ consortium within the research program ProeTEX. This thesis is part of this project and aims to develop an ambulatory monitoring system for firefighters’ thermal parameters; It will be integrated into smart clothes for rescuers. Monitoring is taking place at two levels: Human-environment interface and body. To evaluate the thermal hazard involved, the parameters being monitored are: internal temperature, measured from the tee-shirt and external temperature and heat flux, in the jacket. These parameters are used to assess heat stress imposed by the environment and the health status of the fire-fighter. Two methods of measurement of thermal parameters in the jacket were developed. The project resulted in the development of functional prototypes whose performances have been vouched in validation center. Tests took place in the laboratory and during field trails in extreme conditions.
Design and development of sensors and smart clothes for the monitoring and protection of firefighters : non-invasive and ambulatory thermal measurements