The concept of using heat sensing manikins to assess the protection against “flashover” fires provided by clothing has become increasingly recognised over the last ten years. In 2001 the UK Fire Service became concerned that because manikin test facilities only used a “male” form manikin, it was not possible to either assess clothing for female firefighters or to compare it under comparable test conditions with that for male firefighters. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) shared these concerns but with respect to wider industrial situations where male and female employees might be exposed to “flashovers” or similar events.
