The design of fire retardant textile products: An exploration of design characteristics Lynn M. Boorady / State University of New York College at Buffalo / Buffalo / USA Shu-Hwa Lin / University of Hawaii at Manoa / Manoa / USA Abstract This study examined the processes involved in the design of fire retardant textile products with an emphasis upon processes undertaken by designers’ who are committed to a design for career and volunteer fire fighters. Qualitative and quantitative research was undertaken with career and volunteer firefighters in mainland United States, Hawaii and Taiwan. Analysis revealed the need for a garment less bulky than traditional bunker gear and yet still protective at a fire scene. Researchers followed the six themes or stages in the design process for protective apparel: resources and research, consumer need, inspiration, creative exploration, product samples, and design completion. Prototypes were developed based on the information gathered through research and the design process. Application of the resulting garment is expected in lower risk environments (vehicle accidents, extraction) or by officers who are not expected to enter a structure fire but must be present at the fire scene. Keywords Fire retardant experience, design-process, protective apparel Introduction In 2013, there were an estimated 1,140,750 fire fighters in the United States, approximately 354,600 career and 786,150 volunteer fire fighters (United States Fire Administration, 2013). There are about 13,000 fire fighters in Taiwan (National Fire Agency, 2015). Fire fighters, on a daily basis, respond to a number of diverse emergency calls including fire, health aid, hazardous materials and vehicle accidents. Fire fighters may also encounter a variety of weather conditions, from freezing to extremely hot/humid in addition to the intense heat of a fire. The creation of fire fighter personal protective equipment (PPE) must take in to account all of these varying conditions while providing protection as laid out in the National Fire Protection Agency’s established standards (NFPA, 2013). The purpose of this study was to develop a compact and easy to store prototype design for emergency response purposes as an alternative to bunker gear. This garment was envisioned to be an upper torso covering such as a jacket or shirt with a hood. Resources and research As not all calls fire fighters go on involve entering a burning building, a secondary garment which would provide minimal protection from fire was deemed useful. As firefighter bunker gear is designed with enough protection to protect the wearer in otherwise unsurvivable conditions, firefighters may be overprotected, and even negatively affected, by current gear. On average the basic set of gear (jacket or coat, pants, boots, helmet, gloves and air pack) weigh approximately 45 pounds. However, when you add in the different tools (axe, radio, hose, ladder, flashlight, etc.) needed for a particular job the extra weight can jump up to 75 or even 100 extra pounds of equipment. Consumer need Qualitative and quantitative research was undertaken through questionnaires and focus group sessions with more than 300 career and volunteer firefighters in mainland United States, Hawaii and Taiwan. Data on specific issues How to quote: BOORADY, Lynn M.; LIN, Shu-Hwa; "The design of fire retardant textile products: An exploration of design characteristics", p. 329-332 . In: Wong, Wendy Siuyi; Kikuchi, Yuko & Lin, Tingyi (Eds.). Making Trans/National Contemporary Design History [=ICDHS 2016 – 10th Conference of the International Committee for Design History & Design Studies]. São Paulo: Blucher, 2016. ISSN 2318-6968, DOI 10.5151/despro-icdhs2016-04_005