Milliken & Company last week announced the launch of Milliken Assure™, North America’s first non-PFAS, non-halogenated, flame-resistant moisture barrier for firefighter turnout gear. The new fabric is UL certified and exceeds NFPA 1971-2018 requirements.
“Milliken is committed to providing firefighters with cutting-edge fabrics to help them work comfortably, safely, and efficiently,” said Marcio Manique, SVP of Protective Fabrics at Milliken. “We see moisture barriers as the missing piece in the fire service market when it comes to high-performance, non-PFAS turnout gear fabrics. Our expertise in eliminating PFAS chemistry from textile products makes us well-suited to take on this challenge.”
To ensure the highest quality product, Assure exceeds the requirements of the NFPA 1971-2018 standard, successfully passing a more stringent testing process for moisture barrier performance than the newly published NFPA 1970-2025 standard.
Two of the most difficult tests to pass for a non-PFAS moisture barrier are the Light Degradation Resistance test and the Viral Penetration Resistance test, as outlined in the NFPA 1971-2018 standard. There is a modification to the Light Degradation test and an alternate Liquid Barrier test allowed in place of Viral Penetration Resistance in the NFPA 1970-2025 standard. Assure passed both of the more challenging tests.
“Getting a non-PFAS solution that meets the highest possible standards to our first responders as quickly as possible is everyone’s goal,” said Manique. “Milliken is proud to lean on our centuries-long expertise in textile manufacturing and do our part to get this product to the market in support of that effort.”
Milliken works with all fire service garment manufacturers and not only provides fabrics for structural turnout gear, but also for station wear, wildland, technical rescue, and EMS. With the introduction of Assure, Milliken is the only textile manufacturer in the United States to offer outer shells, moisture barriers, and thermal liners.
Assure is available for specification and purchase now. For more information, visit contact.milliken.com/assure.
About Milliken
Milliken & Company is a global manufacturing leader whose focus on materials science delivers tomorrow’s breakthroughs today. From industry-leading molecules to sustainable innovations, Milliken creates products that enhance people’s lives and deliver solutions for its customers and communities. Drawing on thousands of patents and a portfolio with applications across the textile, flooring, chemical and healthcare businesses, the company harnesses a shared sense of integrity and excellence to positively impact the world for generations. Discover more about Milliken’s curious minds and inspired solutions at milliken.com and on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
