Gore’s elastic fabric in counter terror efforts

 

Law enforcement officers have a very wide range of clothing needs. Uniforms are an inherent part of police work. A distinct uniform look with user-specific protection is vital, as is a recognisable look in the street no matter which jacket, trouser or shoe you wear. Same fabric, same colour, but different technologies. Gore’s functional fabrics and textile technologies for the police have been engineered after careful analysis of end-user needs.

With Gore products, different police units are able to carry out their work without stress, whatever the task and whatever the weather. Police officers work in changing conditions. They are sometimes outside, sometimes in the office. Their work is at times very active, at times sedentary. They need comfortable, breathable weather protection. Police officers deployed at demonstrations/for crowd control need protection against the weather, burning liquids or caustic chemicals. Special forces of the European police services require a wide range of functional clothing: camouflage outfits, flexible systems, high-tech observation systems, or dry suits for maritime units. Individual protective clothing systems and footwear are required for special units. This includes bike-mounted patrol officers, river and harbour police, mountain police, dog handlers, helicopter crews and other specialists.

 

Continuous rain with the occasional heavy downpour, gusty winds and fluctuating temperatures present a real challenge for outdoor guard and patrol duties. Access to a range of integrated clothing systems and high quality protective footwear and gloves offering good weather protection and wearer comfort is vital. It allows police officers to stay fully focused on their tasks. Gore barrier fabrics provide the highest degree of liquid and flame protection for officers confronted with public disorder. Walking through a crowd, or on a rescue deployment, requires protective, breathable, and impermeable riot gear.

 

In many environments and work scenarios the officer will experience sweating. Clothing and footwear which is breathable allows the sweat to pass through, keeping the wearer dry. If the sweating is excessive then quick re-drying of clothing, footwear and gloves is essential, to prevent saturation of the insulation layer and consequent loss of thermal protection. Garments made using GORE-TEX and GORE WINDSTOPPER fabrics have been designed for the optimum balance of breathability, durability and weather protection.

 

Functional clothing system for European police forces detachments is specifically designed for the requirements of guard and patrol duties. It contains a wide range of different clothing pieces based on GORE-TEX and GORE WINDSTOPPER product technology, which can be combined depending on the weather and activities. Cold weather with temperatures down to -20 °C, snowfall and cutting winds, patrol duty at night or static activities during property protection, border or vehicle monitoring: all these scenarios require outfitting that provides protection from the elements and cold, but also optimum comfort.

 

Finding a garment that is comfortable in all climate conditions can be challenging. Protective garments can be too tight in the winter when worn with extra layers, then too loose in summer, never achieving a good fit. Gore’s own elastic fabric solves the problem providing improved freedom of movement and access to equipment by adjusting to the number of layers being worn.

 

High stretch and recovery means that garments will always give optimum fit, flexing up to 100% to accommodate the changing layers of clothing or ballistic protection being worn. A better fit can increase breathability by up to 25%, creating higher levels of comfort and a smarter look, without compromising protection or functionality. The low force to stretch avoids compressing the layers underneath, maximising insulation and warmth while allowing the garment to still move easily with the wearer.

 

GORE WINDSTOPPER garment is durably windproof and water resistant, protecting the wearer from wind chill and keeping them warm and dry. Clothing that incorporates the GORE WINDSTOPPER stretch technology will deliver a significant improvement in fit and unconstrained freedom of movement.

 

DPM