Which type of gear is primarily referred to as flashover gear?

The primary focus of flashover gear is to provide thermal protection against the sudden and intense heat of a flashover event during a fire situation. Thermal protective clothing is specifically designed to insulate against extreme temperatures and is constructed using materials that can withstand high heat as well as provide moisture management and breathability to some extent.

Flashover is a rapid and dangerous phenomenon that can occur in structure fires, where the entire room becomes engulfed in flames almost instantaneously due to the buildup of combustible materials, heat, and gases at high temperatures. This makes it imperative for personnel to wear gear that not only protects them from direct flame contact but also from the thermal radiation associated with flashover.

While heat-resistant gloves, firefighting uniforms, and fire-resistant helmets also serve important protective functions, they do not encompass the comprehensive protective qualities required specifically for flashover scenarios. Each of these pieces serves a role in fire service protection but thermal protective clothing stands out as the gear explicitly designed to mitigate the risks associated with flashover conditions.