Abstract:

Ballistic protection equipment, such as a bulletproof vest or helmet, is a soldier’s most important means of preserving life and health. The bulletproof vests discussed in this paper are designed to protect the user’s chest from injury without disturbing the ability to perform his duties. One of the ergonomic aspects of personal protection equipment is the thermal stress caused by the use of specific equipment. In the case of ballistic vests this aspect can be assessed by testing the vest’s thermal insulation properties, which is to say, by determining to what extent the vest impedes the transmission of heat from the human body to its surroundings. The purpose of the study discussed in this article is an assessment of the thermal insulation properties of bulletproof vests and a determination of the user’s thermal sensation. Tests of thermal insulation properties were performed using bulletproof vests used by the uniformed services.