Fire Shelter - Regular

New Generation fire shelters are a must have when wildland fire fighting. New Generation fire shelters are manufactured to US Forestry Service specifications and are US Government approved. New Generation fire shelters trap breathable air and reflects radiant heat. Its shape allows you to lay face down protecting the under side of the body and allowing you to breathe the cooler air next to the ground.

Fire shelters have two layers, inner layer of aluminum laminated to fiberglass and outer layer made of aluminum foil laminated to woven silica. Aluminum reflects radiant heat while the silica slows heats passage to the inside of shelter. The inner layer of aluminum laminated to fiberglass prevents heat from re-radiating to the person inside the shelter. When these layers are sewn together an air gap is created that offers further insolation.

The outer foil reflects about 95% of the radiant heat that reaches it. Only 5% is absorbed into the material, so the temperature of the material is very slow rising. However convective heat is rapidly absorbed in the shelter material. If temperature reaches 500 degrees Fahrenheit the glue that bonds the foil and fabric starts to break down. The layers can separate allowing foil to tear from turbulent winds. Without the foil the shelter loses most its ability to reflect radiant heat. The silica will slow heat transfer but the shelter offers less protection than it normally would if the foil was in place.