In industries where aggressive chemicals are used, occupational safety often requires that a liquid-tight chemical protective suit be worn. This is the case, for example, with work in fire remediation, raw cleaning or recycling. In the event that the polluting chemicals contain solvents or water, or if they are liquid chemicals themselves, a suitable chemical-resistant material is a mandatory prerequisite for the effective protection of the wearer. These protective coveralls are then certified according to category 3 (against irreversible or fatal risks) type 3 (liquid-tight).
Working in a chemical protective coverall
If the chemical protective suit has to be worn for a long time, the suit wearer will not feel comfortable after a short time. The body loses fluid, in other words: the wearer sweats. This makes working in such a liquid-tight coverall extremely strenuous and uncomfortable, as sweat cannot escape from the overalls. Is it possible to increase the wearing comfort and make the coverall more breathable without compromising the protection quality of the chemical protection coverall? Is there a solution for this that brings protection and comfort to a common denominator? We think so.
Chemical protective coverall without sweating: ChemMax® Cool Suit
The American manufacturer Lakeland Inc. has launched a whole new series of liquid-tight chemical protective coveralls. The ChemMax® 1 Cool Suit and ChemMax® 3 Cool Suit protective suits combine very good chemical protection with unrivalled breathability, but are certified and labelled as Type 4 coveralls for reasons of special design. The protective overalls are available in sizes M to 3XL and of course meet the EN standards.
ChemMax® Cool Suit Chemical Protective Coveralls with Excellent Design Features
The liquid-tight protective overalls from the ChemMax® Cool Suit series score with excellent design features such as an optimal fit, sealed seams and very good wearing comfort. The special feature of these overalls, however, is the breathable back insert, which is covered with a permanently inserted overlapping flap. The suit material and the covering flap are both made of the material "ChemMax®".
"With the ChemMax® – Cool Suit models, Lakeland offers an innovative solution to the well-known problem of the lack of breathability of chemical-resistant, liquid-tight suits. The basically competing requirements of respiratory activity and comfort on the one hand and barrier tightness on the other hand are being countered for the first time by a practical solution with the Lakeland ChemMax® – Cool Suits." – Uwe Lohölter (Managing Director of DS SafetyWear)
Comfortable to wear combined with full-fledged protection
Due to the movements while working, the air can escape through the breathable back insert. The air circulation creates a more pleasant climate in the liquid-tight protective overalls and sweating at work is significantly reduced. The back and thus also the wearer is still 100% protected by the overlapping flap. This special design means that the suit ensures full-fledged splash protection despite the built-in increased comfort. This is an example from Lakeland's comprehensive protective clothing program to protect against hazardous chemicals.