IMO certifies maritime hazards suit
The OneSuit PPS is liquid and gas tight.
Greater numbers of differing chemicals as well as greater volumes of them are now being transported both by short sea operations as well as by inland waterways since it is proving a cost effective alternative to road transport.
Although water is a generally safe environment (and a good deal cheaper than other forms of transportation), emergency response services must protect the public against a number of possible hazards when it may not be possible to completely ascertain what’s aboard a stricken vessel before responding.
Also, as these chemicals are passing through port areas onboard ships, there are times when it may be necessary to carry out maintenance operations in an area which has concentrations of hazardous material.
It is thus useful that maritime personnel, emergency teams, coastguards, port authorities and maintenance organisations now have the option of clothing that acts as a barrier against more than 100 hazardous chemicals, but still allows for good mobility while it’s being worn.
The OneSuit PPS is totally encapsulating and gas-tight. Manufactured by Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, this hazmat suit is lightweight and versatile, designed to safeguard against the permeation of chemical and biological substances in both liquid and vapour form.
The lightweight design means it can be stored in the usual kind of minimal facilities, without suffering degradation. The suit also has a long shelf life of up to ten years, offering a lower life cycle cost to maritime emergency and maintenance organisations.
Engineered using Coretech barrier membrane technology, the material has been tested against harsh physical and climatic conditions to ensure that it maintains its high resilience, durability and flexibility performance levels and suffers no significant degradation.
“Personnel working with chemicals or responding to maritime incidents need to be fully prepared against any potential chemical and biological risks, said Ian Hutcheson of manufacturers Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics. “The OneSuit PPS not only provides this protection but also offers exceptional comfort and enhanced mobility to maritime personnel performing in hazardous and uncertain situations.”
The suit has now gained SOLAS Type II-2 certification per the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). It is already EN 943-2 certified as well as being approved per NFPA 1991 and thus meets the standards required for the highest level of chemical and biological protection within the EU, USA and Asia. This last certification is particularly relevant since it confirms that the suits offer the highest level of protection against liquid and airborne chemicals for personnel working within the shipping and naval sector.
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