India Develops Indigenous Firefighting Suit under National Technical Textile Mission

Firefighting suits, especially specialized aluminized fire entry suits, are vital for professionals working in high-temperature and hazardous environments.

In a significant milestone for India’s textile innovation and self-reliance goals, the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, under its flagship initiative National Technical Textile Mission (NTTM), has extended support to the development of a Specialized Firefighting Suit. The project is being spearheaded by the Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA) in collaboration with M/s System 5S Private Ltd, a private sector industrial partner. This initiative marks a transformative step in indigenizing a high-performance, life-saving product that has traditionally been imported from Europe, the USA, and China.

Addressing a Critical Need in High-Risk Sectors

Firefighting suits, especially specialized aluminized fire entry suits, are vital for professionals working in high-temperature and hazardous environments. These include:

• Firefighting and emergency response teams

• Defence and paramilitary forces

• Oil & Gas and petrochemical industries

• Aerospace and aviation sectors

• Thermal power plants and heavy manufacturing industries

Despite their critical importance, India has relied heavily on imported suits due to a lack of domestic production capabilities that meet global standards. Currently, the annual demand for such specialized suits in India is estimated to be around 1,000 units. However, with the successful development and certification of this indigenous alternative, the market is expected to grow exponentially.

Backed by Global Safety Standards

The newly developed suit is designed in accordance with EN 1486 and ISO 15538, internationally recognized standards for firefighting protective clothing. These standards mandate full-body protection against radiant heat and flame impingement, ensuring safety for the head, torso, hands, and feet.

Key features of the suit include:

• A comprehensive ensemble: the garment, hood (either integrated or separate), gloves, and over boots

• Compatibility with Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), with design options for wearing the apparatus either inside or outside the suit

• Advanced thermal insulation, breathability, and flame resistance

Cutting-Edge Material Innovation

At the heart of this development is the use of advanced, fire-resistant materials sourced and manufactured in India. The suit is constructed with:

• Aluminized coated glass fabrics that reflect radiant heat

• OPAN (Oxidized Polyacrylonitrile) nonwoven battings, known for their exceptional thermal and flame resistance

• Flame-Resistant (FR) viscose fabric, providing comfort and added protection

All internal layers of the suit are quilted together to offer a cohesive and structurally stable garment that maintains performance under high-stress conditions. Special attention was given to ergonomic design, ensuring the suit remains easy to don and doff, even in high-pressure emergency situations.

Commercialization and Production Readiness

M/s System 5S Private Ltd has already initiated pilot-scale manufacturing of the suits, with an annual production capacity of 1,000 units, aligning with the country’s current demand. The company is prepared to scale production based on future market requirements and is awaiting the results of the final validation phase — the Fire Manikin Test, conducted under EN ISO 13506.

This critical test evaluates the thermal protection performance of garments worn by manikins exposed to controlled flame conditions. A successful test will pave the way for full-scale commercialization, allowing India to become self-sufficient in producing certified firefighting suits and even explore export opportunities.

Towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India)

The development of these suits reflects the strategic vision of NTTM to bolster India’s capabilities in technical textiles and high-performance protective wear. By promoting domestic R&D and manufacturing, the initiative supports the government's broader "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" agendas.

With this successful innovation, India stands to gain not only in terms of cost-efficiency and import substitution but also in strengthening the safety and operational efficiency of its frontline workers and emergency response teams.

This pioneering effort sets a precedent for similar developments in other high-tech textile applications and reinforces India’s emerging role as a global hub for technical textile manufacturing and innovation.