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Outer Shell
The Outer Shell is the firefighter's first line of defense and is perhaps more important than any other turnout component. Its main function is providing protection against direct flame and heat without losing its physical integrity and breaking open.
It also has to be strong and durable enough to stand up to rigors of firefighting and the nasty environments encountered. Some Outer Shell materials have a higher thermal resistance against flame and heat while others exhibit better cut, tear and abrasion resistance.
Another important characteristic of an Outer Shell is its ability to resist water absorption. Cairns sales professionals are well trained to analyze these factors, discuss the technical advantages and disadvantages of virtually every fabric available today, and provide a sound recommendation for your informed decision.
Super Shelltite™ Finish (SST)
Many of Cairns Outer Shells are treated with SST durable water resistant finish. Super Shelltite™ with DuPont's Teflon® HT (High Tech) is TenCate Protective Fabrics' most advanced technology of Outer Shell water repellency. In lab tests, Super Shelltite™ fabrics retained generous beading even after 25 launderings. Super Shelltite™ keeps gear dryer, cleaner and provides better protection from abrasion and high heat than any other Outer Shell finish on the market today.
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PBI MATRIX™
(Globe #11)
PBI MATRIX™ is the latest version of PBI fabric which has achieved a remarkable record of performance. Like its predecessor, PBI MATRIX™ is engineered to withstand the most sever temperatures and offers proven durability, comfort and felxibility. PBI MATRIX™ uses a web of filament KEVLAR for even greater tear and tensile strength and the flat plain weave construction provides even better abrasion resistance than the original. PBI MATRIX™ is everything you know and love about PBI, only stronger!
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| Content : |
40% PBI™, 60% KEVLAR® |
| Weight : |
7.5 oz/yd2 plain weave reinforced with KEVLAR filament |
| Colors : |
Gold, Black |
| Supplier : |
TenCate Protective Fabrics |
| Attributes : |
- Superior thermal stability
- Excellent tensile and tear strengths
- Excellent abrasion resistance
- Durable water repellent SST finish
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PBI™
(Globe #10)
For many years, this has been our highest performance and most popular shell fabric. With the advent of PBI™ MATRIX, many of our customers who swear by the performance of PBI™ are moving up to the new and imporved version - PBI MATRIX™.
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| Content : |
40% PBI™, 60% KEVLAR® |
| Weight : |
7.5 oz/yd2 rip-stop weave |
| Colors : |
Gold, Black |
| Supplier : |
TenCate Protective Fabrics |
| Attributes : |
- Superior thermal stability
- Very good tensile and tear strengths
- Very good abrasion resistance
- Durable water repellent SST finish
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MILLENIA XT™
(Globe #30)
MILLENIA XT™ is a relatively newer entry into the turnout gear outer shell arena, but if your problem is durability, MILLENIA XT™ is an amazingly strong solution.
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| Content : |
40% PBO, 60% Para-Aramid |
| Weight : |
7.7 oz/yd2 ripstop weave |
| Colors : |
Gold |
| Supplier : |
TenCate Protective Fabrics |
| Attributes : |
- Superior thermal stability
- Superior tensile and tear strengths
- Superior abrasion resistance
- Durable water repellent SST finish
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ADVANCE ULTRA®
(Globe #47)
A brand new tri-blend from TenCate provides a step up in performance from their proven ADVANCE™ outer shell by adding some PBO fiber.
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| Content : |
20% PBO, 20% NOMEX®, 60% KEVLAR® |
| Weight : |
7.5 oz/yd2 ripstop weave |
| Colors : |
Yellow, Light Gold, Dark Gold, Black Gold |
| Supplier : |
TenCate Protective Fabrics |
| Attributes : |
- Very good thermal stability
- Excellent tensile and tear strengths
- Excellent abrasion resistance
- Durable water repellent SST finish
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ADVANCE™
(Globe #27)
Combining the proven performance of NOMEX® with the high strength of KEVLAR®, ADVANCE® provides a very good balance of performance, durability, and cost
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| Content : |
40% NOMEX®, 60% KEVLAR® |
| Weight : |
7.2 oz/yd2 ripstop weave |
| Colors : |
Gold, Yellow, Khaki, Black *
*Black is producer colored for dye stability
*Black content is 50% NOMEX®, 50% KEVLAR®
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| Supplier : |
TenCate Protective Fabrics |
| Attributes : |
- Very good TPP values
- Very good tensile and tear strengths
- Very good abrasion resistance
- Durable water repellent finish
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BASOFIL®
(Globe #29)
The heat blocking ability of BASOFIL® fiber in this outer shell allows it to be combined with lightweight thermal liners and still achieve high TPP values.
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| Content : |
40% BASOFIL®, 60% KEVLAR® |
| Weight : |
7.5 ripstop weave |
| Colors : |
Gold, Black, Yellow (special order) |
| Supplier : |
Nor-Fab |
| Attributes : |
- Excellent TPP values
- Good tensile and tear strengths
- Good abrasion resistance
- Durable water repellent finish
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NOMEX® IIIA
(Globe #7)
Earning a well-deserved reputation for proven performance for three decades, NOMEX IIIA provides protection at an affordable price.
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| Content : |
93% NOMEX®, 5% KEVLAR®, 2% Anti-Static |
| Weight : |
7.5 oz/yd2 plain weave |
| Colors : |
Yellow, Black, Tan, White, Red, Royal Blue
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| Supplier : |
TenCate Protective Fabrics |
| Attributes : |
- Basic thermal stability
- Very good tensile and tear strengths
- Basic abrasion resistance
- Durable water repellent SST finish
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Aluminized PBI™
(Globe #18)
Recommended for proximity environments where radiant heat is encountered such as aircraft rescue and industrial applications, this fabric utilizes a reflective aluminized film for radiant heat resistance laminated to a knit fabric blend of PBI and KEVLAR fibers for thermal stability.
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| Content : |
30% PBI™, 70% Para-Aramid |
| Weight : |
7.0 oz/yd2 knit with laminated aluminized film |
| Colors : |
Silver
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| Supplier : |
Gentex |
| Attributes : |
- Highly reflective for superior resistance to radiant heat
- Lightweight and flexible
- Engineered for proximity applications
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