Showing posts with label body armor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label body armor. Show all posts

Friday, July 24, 2009

Personal protective equipments

Fashion garments,caps,Hats,gloves & western clothing concerns many aspects of vehicle and equipment design as well as operator skill and training that are unique to motorcycle riding.

To address the risks of motorcycling, before and after a fall, motorcyclists use personal protective equipment (PPE, or more commonly "motorcycle gear"). Many developed countries now require certain articles of PPE, and manufacturers and governments recommend its extensive use

FAP-MBS-006

Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garment designed to protect the wearer's body or clothing from injury by blunt impacts, electrical hazards, heat, chemicals, and infection, for job-related occupational safety and health purposes, and in sports, martial arts, combat, etc. body armor is combat-specialized protective gear. In British legislation the term PPE does not cover items such as armour.

PPE can also be used to protect the working environment from pesticide application, pollution or infection from the worker (for example in a microchip factory). The protection may be important in both ways, as with the use of disposable gloves by surgeons and dentists.

The terms "protective gear" and "protective clothing" are in many cases interchangeable; "protective clothing" is applied to traditional categories of clothing, and "gear" is a more general term and preferably means uniquely protective categories, such as pads, guards, shields, masks, etc.

Common protective materials include Nomex and Kevlar.

FAP-SJ-766

Functions of personal protective equipment

  • Improved Visibility — Although for decades the popular image of the motorcycle rider has been of someone clad head-to-toe in black leather, in the light of the Hurt Report findings, and the day-to-day experiences of motorcyclists themselves, many riders choose higher-visibility gear. Bright colors and retro reflective strips are common on quality equipment.
  • Abrasion Resistance — Thick, tough leather provides the most abrasion resistance in a crash, but fabrics such as Cordura, Kevlar and ballistic nylon provide significant protection too. In addition, fabrics are generally cheaper, easier to maintain, waterproof, and more comfortable in hot weather. Thick leather, which affords the most abrasion resistance, can be uncomfortable in temperatures exceeding 85 °F (29 °C) and above 100 °F (38 °C) may cause heat stress & loss of control with insufficient fluid replacement. Some PPE may be constructed of fabrics made into a 'mesh' that provides cooling and a stable surface for the attachment of padding.
  • Padding — Quality jackets and pants provide significant extra padding in the vulnerable joint regions described above. This can take the form of simple foam padding, or dual-density foam that stiffens when compressed, sometimes with plastic or carbon fiber outer-shells that distribute the impact across the pad. Integrated pieces can be found in some jackets.
  • Weather Protection — One important aspect of PPE not mentioned above is protection from the elements. Extreme weather can make a long ride unbearable or dangerous. PPE provides protection from wind, rain and cold.

Body armor is best protection for motorcycling

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Body armors are protective shields that stop the projectiles from penetrating into the body. Present day armors are generally called as bulletproof vests. Moreover, the advancement in the ammunition technology has lead to the development of different types of body shields. Police personnel, army men and private security guards mainly use these bulletproof vests.

The design of body armor and the material used in them varies. Kevlar fiber is the most effectual material used to make body shields or armors in recent days. The unique characteristic of the Kevlar is that it is lightweight. However, it is stronger than the hardest steel available.

The Kevlar fibers are twisted and interwoven individually covered by other materials such as resin as well as plastic. Kevlar material is capable of absorbing huge energy.

Types of Body Armors:

1. Soft bullet proof vest: Police personnel and private security guards use this type of vest very commonly. They are made of woven fibers and soft clothing, which are interwoven together into net. Soft bullet proof vests protect the users from ordinary weapons and reduce the impact of bullet by dispersing its energy. These bullet proof vests are incapable to protect from high caliber ammunition.

2. Interceptor vests: Interceptor bulletproof vests are made of Kevlar vest and other small protective plates. They weigh around 16.4 lbs. These plates are removable and serve as protection to throat, groin, front and back. These types of vests are capable of stopping 7.62 mm of bullets from penetrating into the body.

3. Personnel Kevlar vest: This type of physical armor or vest is made of thick Kevlar filler. Personnel Kevlar vest has different sections to offer better fit. This type of Kevlar vest has swivel shaped shoulder pads, two frontal pockets, a ¾th collar, two hangers to hold grenade and butt patches at the shoulder area to carry a rifle.

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4. Dragon skin armor: Dragon skin armor is made of small spherical discs. The discs used are of silicon carbide ceramic, which are overlapped one over the other same as that of fish scales. The peculiar arrangement of this armor offers higher flexibility and protects the body from the multiple hits.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Motorcycle Safety Clothing and Why This Is Important



To improve motorcycle safety many countries order the wearing of protective clothing by motorcyclists, especially a helmet. Other protective equipment may include certain types of jackets, gloves, boots, and pants. Jackets meant for motorcyclists are typically made of nylon, leather, or Kevlar. These jackets usually include heavy padding on the elbow, spine, and shoulder regions. Gloves are generally made of leather or Kevlar and some include carbon fiber knuckle protection. Boots, especially those for sport riding, include reinforcement and plastic caps on the ankle and toe areas. A well-protected motorcyclist will wear boots with heels that fit on motorcycle foot rests (pegs) and provide good ankle support. Pants are usually leather, nylon, or Kevlar. Except for helmets, none of these items are required by law in any state in the U.S. but are recommended by many of those who ride.

Types of clothing

Leather Clothing:

Leathers are 1-piece suits, or 2-piece jackets and trousers worn by motorcyclists mainly for protection in a crash. The leather used is not fashion leather but protective leather which is stronger, rather flexible and much tougher. Both leathers and joins (seams and zips) should be officially tested for ergonomics and impact scrape, cut, tear and burst resistance. They do not have to be too heavy and there is no such thing as rivalry leather - just safe and unsafe leather and joins.

Typically, an accident at a race track will result in the racers sliding, rolling and tumbling for reasonably long distances and long times compared to an accident on the public road. This is because of the large safety run-off areas found on most race tracks; hence racers have a much lower probability of hitting hard vertical solid objects during a crash. Some racing leathers have additional protection properties to increase sliding and decrease bouncing and rotation. To decrease or prevent such injuries, most modern racing suits have an area that helps sliding at the knees, shoulders and elbows – often made of titanium or high-density plastic, so the rider slides more along the track environment and so decreases the bouncing and rotation through the air, which may cause inferior injuries from angular accelerations and rotational forces

Currently there are two major styles of motorcycle leathers: the tight fitting and sometimes colorful one or two piece suits based on motorcycle racing leathers; and the somewhat looser fitting leather trousers and jackets, usually black and often decorated with metal studs and tassels.

Textile Clothing:

Increasingly, motorcyclists are choosing protective equipment make up of man-made textiles rather than leather due to their improved weather protection from heat, cold, and water, and the increased value these garments tend to provide in terms of pockets and vents. Common materials include high density (600–1000 Denier) ballistic nylon (e.g., Cordura) and Kevlar (or blends of Kevlar, Cordura, and Lycra) and often include waterproof liners made from materials such as Goretex.

Motorcycling Boots:

Boots are worn by motorcycle riders and passengers to prevent or diminish harm to their feet and ankles while riding and in the incident of a crash. Tough, strong, moderately flexible boots with rigid soles provide the rider protection from a number of risks. Boots with oil-resistant, rubber-based merged soles give a grip on the concrete and help keep the rider's feet on the foot rests. If the boots have heels, they should be low and wide to provide a firm base when standing with the bike. In a crash, boots may avoid or reduce foot and ankle injuries.

To improve motorcycle safety many countries order the wearing of protective clothing by motorcyclists, especially a helmet. Other protective equipment may include certain types of jackets, gloves, boots, and pants. Jackets meant for motorcyclists are typically made of nylon, leather, or Kevlar. These jackets usually include heavy padding on the elbow, spine, and shoulder regions. Gloves are generally made of leather or Kevlar and some include carbon fiber knuckle protection. Boots, especially those for sport riding, include reinforcement and plastic caps on the ankle and toe areas. A well-protected motorcyclist will wear boots with heels that fit on motorcycle foot rests (pegs) and provide good ankle support. Pants are usually leather, nylon, or Kevlar. Except for helmets, none of these items are required by law in any state in the U.S. but are recommended by many of those who ride.

Types of clothing

Leather Clothing:

Leathers are 1-piece suits, or 2-piece jackets and trousers worn by motorcyclists mainly for protection in a crash. The leather used is not fashion leather but protective leather which is stronger, rather flexible and much tougher. Both leathers and joins (seams and zips) should be officially tested for ergonomics and impact scrape, cut, tear and burst resistance. They do not have to be too heavy and there is no such thing as rivalry leather - just safe and unsafe leather and joins.

Typically, an accident at a race track will result in the racers sliding, rolling and tumbling for reasonably long distances and long times compared to an accident on the public road. This is because of the large safety run-off areas found on most race tracks; hence racers have a much lower probability of hitting hard vertical solid objects during a crash. Some racing leathers have additional protection properties to increase sliding and decrease bouncing and rotation. To decrease or prevent such injuries, most modern racing suits have an area that helps sliding at the knees, shoulders and elbows – often made of titanium or high-density plastic, so the rider slides more along the track environment and so decreases the bouncing and rotation through the air, which may cause inferior injuries from angular accelerations and rotational forces

Currently there are two major styles of motorcycle leathers: the tight fitting and sometimes colorful one or two piece suits based on motorcycle racing leathers; and the somewhat looser fitting leather trousers and jackets, usually black and often decorated with metal studs and tassels.

Textile Clothing:

Increasingly, motorcyclists are choosing protective equipment make up of man-made textiles rather than leather due to their improved weather protection from heat, cold, and water, and the increased value these garments tend to provide in terms of pockets and vents. Common materials include high density (600–1000 Denier) ballistic nylon (e.g., Cordura) and Kevlar (or blends of Kevlar, Cordura, and Lycra) and often include waterproof liners made from materials such as Goretex.

Motorcycling Boots:

Boots are worn by motorcycle riders and passengers to prevent or diminish harm to their feet and ankles while riding and in the incident of a crash. Tough, strong, moderately flexible boots with rigid soles provide the rider protection from a number of risks. Boots with oil-resistant, rubber-based merged soles give a grip on the concrete and help keep the rider's feet on the foot rests. If the boots have heels, they should be low and wide to provide a firm base when standing with the bike. In a crash, boots may avoid or reduce foot and ankle injuries.

Helmets:

A motorcycle helmet is protective head covering used by motorcycle riders. The primary target of a motorcycle helmet is to protect the rider's head during impact, although many helmets provide additional protection such as a face shield. In some countries the wearing of motorcycle helmets is compulsory.

Helmets are made in 2 main layers: hard and energy-absorbing. The hard shell spreads an impact over a larger area, while the liner (often polystyrene foam) absorbs energy so less is transferred to the skull & brain

Gloves:

Motorcycling racing glove

Motorcycling gloves are typically gloves made of leather. They may have gauntlets to protect the rider's wrists from injury, and help shrink drafts while riding in colder climates. Motorcycling gloves typically have reinforced palms anticipated to protect the rider from scratch injuries in case of an accident.

Optional characteristics include additional protection or weatherproofing. For touring gloves, such additional features may include advanced insulating materials and waterproof/breathable fabric, although touring gloves may still lack advanced armouring features used in motorcycle racing gloves.

Gloves intended for motorcycle racing typically feature precurved finger sections and the best available protection, obtained through additional armour incorporated within the glove. Although maximum tacility is an noticeable starting point for racing gloves, additional protection should not be discarded. Additional protection may involve titanium or carbon panels for knuckles and the joints of the fingers. Furthermore, racing gloves may and often do add in additional wrist and other protection panels to protect the heel of the hand, back of the hand and other easily injured parts of the hand.

A motorcycle helmet is protective head covering used by motorcycle riders. The primary target of a motorcycle helmet is to protect the rider's head during impact, although many helmets provide additional protection such as a face shield. In some countries the wearing of motorcycle helmets is compulsory.

Helmets are made in 2 main layers: hard and energy-absorbing. The hard shell spreads an impact over a larger area, while the liner (often polystyrene foam) absorbs energy so less is transferred to the skull & brain

Gloves:

Motorcycling racing glove

Motorcycling gloves are typically gloves made of leather. They may have gauntlets to protect the rider's wrists from injury, and help shrink drafts while riding in colder climates. Motorcycling gloves typically have reinforced palms anticipated to protect the rider from scratch injuries in case of an accident.

Optional characteristics include additional protection or weatherproofing. For touring gloves, such additional features may include advanced insulating materials and waterproof/breathable fabric, although touring gloves may still lack advanced armouring features used in motorcycle racing gloves.

Gloves intended for motorcycle racing typically feature precurved finger sections and the best available protection, obtained through additional armour incorporated within the glove. Although maximum tacility is an noticeable starting point for racing gloves, additional protection should not be discarded. Additional protection may involve titanium or carbon panels for knuckles and the joints of the fingers. Furthermore, racing gloves may and often do add in additional wrist and other protection panels to protect the heel of the hand, back of the hand and other easily injured parts of the hand.