Youngstown Glove
FR EMERGENCY GAS GLOVE
The upgraded FR Emergency Gas Glove from Youngstown Glove Company features AX Medora FR, a non-leather, flame-resistant material built for high-risk jobs like gas leaks and emergency response.
A New Addition to Youngstown’s Line of Purpose-Built Work Gloves
Youngstown Glove Company has built its reputation on designing highly functional work gloves that meet the real-world needs of industrial workers. Focusing on durability, fit, and technical performance, their products are geared toward some of the highest protective applications, such as electrical utility, construction, oil and gas, and emergency response situations.
Their newest release, an updated version of the FR Emergency Gas Glove, is just one example. This glove is designed to meet the specific demands of utility and emergency crews working in high-heat, high-risk environments where gear must perform without question.
Why Youngstown Chose AX Medora™ FR
The primary use for the FR Emergency Gas Glove is during “live leak” scenarios, where gas is actively escaping into the environment. This creates an urgent need for safety measures, as gas utility workers must repair leaks quickly and effectively. These situations are time-sensitive and hazardous, requiring workers to suit up in full flame-resistant gear before entering the scene.
Under that kind of pressure, a glove must do more than resist flames. It must also allow the user to stay protected, move fast, and keep firm control of their tools and surroundings.
When Youngstown set out to redesign the glove, they were searching for a new palm material that could meet a specialized set of requirements tailored to this application.
According to Ryan Malone, President of Youngstown, the key criteria were:
- Durable against abrasion
- Compliance with industry flame resistance standards (ASTM D6413)
- Flexibility and comfort for the wearer
“We understood that this was a big ask as meeting these parameters in a fabric has proven to be very difficult,” Noted Ryan. “A couple of years ago, AX Materials had come back and told us that they had created such a fabric in AX Medora™ FR. When we received samples of the fabric, we knew that this might be a great solution.”
What Makes AX Medora FR Different
AX Medora FR was developed as a non-leather, inherently flame-resistant material that can match or exceed the protective performance of traditional leather, while offering better dexterity, consistency, and chemical safety.
Its construction includes:
- A high dexterity build at just 0.75mm thick
- An organic cotton base that adds breathability, moisture control, and inherent flame resistance
- A bio-based polyurethane component
- Proprietary, PFC-free flame-resistant chemistry
Most FR gloves rely on multiple layers of leather and liners to meet safety requirements. Medora, however, achieves the same level of protection with a single 0.75mm layer. This is a notable advancement in flame-resistant material technology.
This streamlined layer provides advanced protection and performance on its own while remaining compatible with additional liners for enhanced cut, puncture, or needlestick resistance. It does so without becoming stiff or bulky, a common limitation in traditional FR glove design.
Thanks to the cotton base, the material stays breathable, allowing sweat to easily escape while keeping hands cool and dry. Even after repeated heat exposure, it holds its shape and flexibility. In addition to a comfortable hand feel, these properties minimize the chance for glove removal on the job and ensure necessary protection within high-pressure environments.
Along with its AX Medora palm, the FR Emergency Gas Glove incorporates several other high-performance materials:
- 100% Kevlar® lining for cut resistance
- 120g Nomex® insulation for thermal protection
- Woven Nomex® top-of-hand for flame resistance and comfort
- Modified gauntlet cuff designed to fit over protective sleeves
- Reflective top-hand markings for visibility in low-light or emergency conditions
Built and Tested for Tough Jobs
At AX Materials, third-party testing is a standard part of our development process. Every material in the Protective Tech range is independently tested for core protection standards, including abrasion and tear resistance.
For AX Medora™ FR, these results include:
- EN388 Abrasion Resistance: Level 1
- EN388 Tear Resistance: Level 2
- ANSI/ISEA 105-2016 Abrasion Resistance: Level 3
Beyond abrasion and tear, Medora has undergone third-party testing for flame resistance under both U.S. and European protocols. The ASTM D6413 Vertical Flame Test evaluates whether a fabric continues to burn, drip, or melt after flame exposure and is a key criterion for meeting OSHA 1910.269 compliance, which governs PPE requirements for the electric utility industry.
ASTM D6413 Vertical Flame Test
Test Procedure:
- A 12-inch swatch of fabric is suspended vertically in a chamber
- A controlled flame is applied to the bottom edge for 12 seconds
- After the flame is turned off, the sample is evaluated for:
- Afterflame Time: Seconds during which there is visible flame remaining on the fabric (cannot exceed 2 seconds)
- Afterglow Time: Seconds during which there is a visible glow remaining on the fabric
- Char Length: Inches of fabric destroyed by the flame (cannot exceed 6 inches)
- Melt/Drip Occurrence: No melting or dripping of the fabric can occur
If the fabric achieves the criteria listed above, it is considered flame resistant.
ASTM D6413 Results for Medora:
- Afterflame Time: 0 seconds
- Afterglow Time: 0 seconds
- Char Length:
- Length: (3.5 inches) 89 mm avg
- Width: (4.25 inches) 108mm avg
- Burn Distance:
- Length: (2.44 inches) 62mm avg
- Width: (3.11 inches) 79mm avg
- Melt/Drip Occurrence: None
Based on testing requirements, Medora meets the criteria for flame resistance. It self-extinguishes after flame exposure and shows no evidence of continued burn, shrinkage, or dripping when ignited.
EN 407 Flame and Heat Resistance Testing
In addition to ASTM standards, Medora has also been tested under EN 407, the European standard for gloves exposed to thermal hazards. EN 407 tests are scored on a scale from Level 1 to Level 4, with 4 being the highest performance level.
EN 407 Burning Behavior:
This test is similar to the ASTM D6413 Vertical Flame Test. It measures how the material responds when exposed to a direct flame, determining the following:
- Afterflame Time
- Afterglow Time
- Melt/Drip Occurrence
EN 407 Burning Behavior Results for Medora:
- Afterflame Time: Level 4 (≤ 2 seconds)
- Afterglow Time: Level 4 (≤ 5 seconds)
- Melt/Drip Occurrence: None
EN 407 Contact Heat:
This test measures the glove’s ability to resist heat transferred through direct contact with a hot surface. It shows how well the glove can protect against brief touches to hot objects like tools, pipes, or metal parts.
Test Procedure:
- The glove material is pressed against a hot surface at a specific temperature (from 100°C to 500°C) for 15 seconds.
- The goal is to prevent a temperature rise of more than 10°C on the inside surface of the glove.
EN 407 Contact Heat Results for Medora:
- Contact Temperature: Level 1 (100 Degrees Celsius)
- Threshold time: Level 1 (≥15 sec at 100°C)
Beyond the Lab: Real-World Testing
Youngstown Glove Company extended the testing of AX Medora gloves beyond laboratory settings to simulate real-world flame exposure scenarios.
“The AX Medora exceeded our performance expectations in many ways – especially as it pertained to its flame resistance, abrasion resistance, flexibility and overall comfort – both in the lab and in the field,” Ryan explained.
“We did extensive testing on the finished product in terms of Arc Testing and put it through some extremely harsh Flame Testing on a mannequin,” he continued. “The results of the mannequin testing were what ultimately sold us on the product, but just as importantly, it gave us the confidence that the product we were making would provide an exceptional level of safety in a potential Industrial Flash Fire situation.”
“We performed a 3-second flame test, a 4-second flame test and then a 10-second flame test where the mannequin was completely engulfed in flames – the AX Medora fabric exceeded our expectations by remaining intact with a minimal amount of overall shrinkage.”
The combination of third-party lab results and real-world simulation gave Youngstown the assurance it needed. It’s one thing for a material to pass on paper; it’s another to watch it perform under real fire conditions and get the job done right.
Expanded Use Cases Beyond Gas Emergencies
Although the FR Emergency Gas Glove was developed with live leak response in mind, with an arc rating of 28 cal/cm², its technical construction and performance standards are well-suited for other high-risk applications:
- Welding or fabrication tasks involving direct flame or sparks
- Outdoor fire-related handling, such as fire pit or log management
- Home or workshop use where flame or heat exposure is present
A Collaborative Approach to Innovation
Youngstown’s use of Medora in their Emergency Gas Glove isn’t just a material update – it’s a shift in what glove materials can do. Medora makes it possible to meet strict fire protection standards in lighter builds, fewer layers, better compliance, greater versatility across jobs, and, most importantly, no trade-offs in protection.
Through the FR Emergency Gas Glove, Youngstown and AX Materials have introduced a new option for workers operating in hazardous environments who need more from their protective gear.
“We enjoy working with AX as they are a company that continues to improve their material offerings through testing and innovation,” said Ryan. “They are incredibly responsive when information is needed and seem to really listen to the challenges we face as manufacturers and then work on coming up with intelligent solutions.”