At the 2013 IACP Conference in Philadelphia, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. will showcase the Chemical/Biological Protective Clothing System (CPCS) as the latest addition to its line of breathable products for durable chembio protection. Made with stretch GORE CHEMPAK selectively permeable fabric, the two-piece undergarment delivers long-lasting comfort due to its minimal thermal impact.

This versatile undergarment integrates easily with a variety of ensembles to provide protection for diverse missions such as VIP security, contaminated search and rescue, counter-terrorism security at public events, and SWAT operations. When worn under a Nomex flight suit, the CPCS meets the requirements of NFPA 1994, Class 3 Standard.

The breathable performance of GORE CHEMPAK selectively permeable fabric helps minimize thermal impact by allowing perspiration vapor (sweat) to escape. The stretch construction of the close-fitting CPCS undergarment provides additional comfort by eliminating the thermal insulating layer that surrounds the body.

At the same time, the fabric's unique construction provides protection against chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals specified for NFPA 1994, Class 3 and NFPA 1992 certification. When compared to traditional carbon suits, the CPCS improved heat loss by more than 20 percent.

According to Mike Kienzle, product specialist for Gore's chembio team, the CPCS undergarment was developed in response to the changing needs of federal, state, and local response teams.

"A key component of our research is a concept we call fitness for use, which translates to delivering the best product to meet the demands of a specific application. We worked with members of the defense community to understand the challenges they face. We then combined this knowledge with more than 50 years of experience in developing protective barriers to engineer the unique stretch fabric that provides the comfort, freedom of movement, and durable protection these professionals need."

The CPCS garment is the latest product developed with Gore's innovative line of chembio technologies, which include both GORE CHEMPAK ultra barrier fabric and GORE CHEMPAK selectively permeable fabric.

Testing, evaluation, and certification of the CPCS were done in conjunction with the Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office -- Technical Support Working Group (TSWG) -- under the Next Generation Lightweight Chemical Protective Ensemble project.