W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., has improved its CROSSTECH footwear fabric so that it enables boots to meet both NFPA 1971, 2005 edition, and NFPA 1992, 2007 edition certifications. Currently the only footwear fabric on the market that facilitates this dual certification, CROSSTECH footwear fabric provides superior comfort because of its high breathability. Together with its outstanding protection against liquids and the common chemicals specified in NFPA 1971, it also protects against the more aggressive chemicals required for NFPA 1992 certification, such as 98 percent sulphuric acid. This fabric allows footwear manufacturers to use various materials including leather in their boot designs, which results in a lighter, better fit.
Unlike rubber boots, leather boots made with CROSSTECH footwear fabric allow perspiration vapor to escape from the boot, keeping the foot drier and cooler. Tests have shown that leather boots are as much as 2.5 pounds lighter than rubber boots, which decreases fatigue.
This new CROSSTECH footwear fabric is currently available in dual-certified footwear from Black Diamond, Cosmas, Globe Manufacturing Company, Haix North America, Inc., STC/Lion, and Total Fire Group/Honeywell. CROSSTECH footwear fabric is only one of Gore’s family of protective barriers for first responders, which also includes GORE CHEMPAK, GORE-TEX, WINDSTOPPER, and other CROSSTECH fabrics.
