Lightness and Freedom of Movement During Rescue Operations
GORE-TEX CROSSTECH® PYRAD® Stretch is the material used in the protective garments we tested at the European Firefighting Media Event during rescue operations. It is an innovative technology born from the need to provide maximum protection and functionality during rescue missions. In Europe, the vast majority of firefighter callouts do not involve fires. Nevertheless, firefighters generally respond wearing their only available PPE – a full structural firefighting suit – which is not suitable for the task at hand, as it is designed primarily to provide thermal protection, at the expense of the freedom of movement that is essential during rescue operations.
To address this issue and bridge the gap between operational needs and actual equipment, Gore has developed GORE-TEX CROSSTECH® PYRAD® Stretch, a textile system that integrates four distinct technologies, each with a specific and synergistic function. It is the combination of these four high- performance technologies that delivers the benefits: GORE-TEX provides waterproofness, breathability, and protection in all weather conditions; CROSSTECH® acts as a barrier against chemicals and bloodborne viral pathogens; PYRAD® contributes flame-resistant properties; and finally, the stretch component ensures freedom of movement and comfort.
Even after heat exposure, the fabric maintains its mechanical integrity and is designed to adapt to different materials – from nylon to polyester – offering lightness, abrasion resistance, color stability, and the possibility for graphic customization, without compromising its protective qualities.
To complete the picture, the performance package confirms the high GORE-TEX standards: waterproofness, wind resistance, and lasting breathability. The suits made with GORE-TEX CROSSTECH® PYRAD® Stretch deliver specific performance qualities tailored for rescue operations, which can make a real difference in their effectiveness. During the simulation, the fit felt fluid and the comfort was remarkable – it felt almost like wearing a sports garment rather than a piece of personal protective equipment. Not the feeling of a rigid, technical item that needs to be endured, but a garment designed to support the wearer’s movements – running, reaching, intervening. Freedom of movement that does not compromise protection, but rather enhances it.