PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

Military protective overgarment clothing is designed to allow troops to operate in nuclear, biological and chemical warfare (NBC) environments offering full NBC protection. They work in conjunction with a respirator/gas mask system. Ideally and NBC protective clothing must be lightweight and flexible, with limited thermo-insulating properties to ensure that the soldier can move unhindered without over-heating.

There are essentially two types of NBC protective clothing available:

IMPERMEABLE NBC SUITS

NBC suits comprising of impermeable materials which tend to be rubberised plastics of sufficient thickness to protect the wearer, yet thin enough so as not to be too heavy or restrictive. The drawback to this type of protective clothing is that the impermeable material does not breathe. Operational soldiering requires extensive physically exertion, which will lead the body to perspire. If perspiration is unable to evaporate it cannot cool the soldier, and he will become progressively hotter. This may induce 'heat exhaustion', which can be lethal, and at best will mean the soldier is a combat ineffective casualty.

CHARCOAL IMPREGNATED NBC SUITS

Charcoal impregnated NBC suits are semi-permeable and must be worn over normal combat clothing. The NBC suit fabric is impregnated with a charcoal lining that works in exactly the same way as a respirator filter by removing toxins and contaminants. The semi-permeable fabric allows perspiration to escape, which keeps the soldier cooler for longer than if he was wearing impermeable material. The NBC suit offers protection against toxins and chemical agents in liquid droplets, vapour and aerosol form. Because the fabric is semi-permeable it cannot protect the wearer against liquids, and wet or saturated suits (either by precipitation, chemical agent or from the soldier's own perspiration) are compromised and must be replaced. Charcoal impregnated NBC suits are designed to have a limited lifespan, and must be replaced after a set exposure or wearing time.

NBC OVERBOOTS AND GLOVES

NBC protective overboots and gloves are constructed from thick impermeable rubberised plastic and are worn over normal combat boots and cotton liner gloves. Glove thickness can be varied for operation requirements where dexterity is at a premium.

CHEMICAL DETECTION PAPER

Chemical detection paper can detect and identify airborne chemical warfare agents. The paper is attached to patches to the NBC suit using either an adhesive backing or Velcro like bonding material. The paper is impregnated with dyes sensitive to different types of chemical warfare agent, and will indicate which type of agent is present by its corresponding pigment signal.

DECONTAMINATION POWDER

Decontamination powder intended for decontaminating the skin and personal equipment from liquid NBC agents. The powder is usually finely ground to give it a larger surface area, making it an extremely effective adsorbent. Generally the main ingredients are chloride of lime and magnesium oxide which provide both absorption and neutralisation properties.