Fire proximity suit
Fire proximity suits, also known as silvers, silver bunker suits, or asbestos suits, protect firefighters and volcanologists from very high temperatures. They first appeared in the 1930s. The earliest suits were made from asbestos fabric, but today they use vacuum-deposited aluminized material that reflects radiant heat. An early aluminized model came from the Bristol Uniforms company, led by Patrick Seager Hill. In North America, the NFPA 1971 standard governs protective ensembles for structural and proximity fire fighting. To meet this standard, suit components must be tested and certified by independent third parties and carry the certifier’s logo and a compliance statement. Certifications come from organizations such as the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) and UL Solutions.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:58 (CET).