Why is the ULM II the best gas mask on the market?

The ULM II is one of MATISEC's flagship products in the field of protection for men and women working in hostile environments. On the market for three years, it is the leading product in gas-tight chemical protective suits. It has several features that make it the best "normal strength" chemical suit on the market. In this article, we will discuss the technical characteristics and strengths of this product, which is used in a wide range of applications (professions, types of interventions).

ULM II, high-performance chemical protection

In an environment where the safety of emergency response teams is paramount, choosing the right protective equipment is essential. With this in mind, we designed and developedthe ULM II, an innovative product that meets the strict requirements of European Regulation 2016/425 on personal protective equipment (PPE).

ULM II complies with EN 943-1 and EN 943-2 standards, which govern gas-tight chemical protective clothing. These standards classify clothing according to its level of robustness: "normal" and "reinforced."The ULM II falls into the normal strength category, offering an ideal compromise between performance, cost of ownership, and maintenance costs.

The ULM II is a type 1a-ET encapsulated suit with a self-contained breathing apparatus inside the suit, designed for use by emergency response teams. It has been tested in accordance with standard EN 14126, which provides effective protection against biological agents such as bacteria and viruses. The suit is therefore ideal for use in medical, industrial, or health crisis management environments.

The ULM II suit also complies with standard EN 1073-2, which guarantees protection against radioactive contamination. The garment is capable of limiting the wearer's exposure to radioactive particles in environments with nuclear or radiological risks.

The MC3 complex, the main material used in ULM II, has been tested in accordance with EN 1149-3 for the measurement of electrostatic charge dissipation, a test method specified in EN 1149-5. This additional test ensures that the material is capable of dissipating accumulated electrostatic charges. This material is also tested according to the Finabel 0.7.C label, which determines its resistance to chemical warfare agents. This standard is mainly adopted by European armed forces to certify protective equipment in nuclear, radiological, biological, and chemical (NRBC) environments. This allows us to guarantee the operational reliability of our suit for military or civilian interventions in CBRN scenarios.

The ULM II chemical protection suit is comprehensive, versatile, and complies with the most stringent industry standards. It covers a wide range of risks, from chemical and biological hazards to radioactive particles and electrostatic discharge from the material used. The ULM II is suitable for response teams and extreme conditions in industrial, civil, and military settings.

It ensures the wearer's safety in a variety of scenarios. In fact, it is widely used in the following sectors:

• Fire and rescue
• Military, defense, and CBRN
• Pharmaceutical and laboratory
• Agroalimentaire
• Chemistry and petrochemistry

The ULM II, a suit with many strengths

• The best mechanical strength on the market

ULM II offers the highest mechanical strength on the market for standard-strength combinations. At MATISEC, we develop our own composites in order to control and guarantee the highest long-term performance for our solutions.
ULM II is assembled using MC3 material, which consists of ATG barrier film laminated to a non-woven backing. ATG is an ultra-thin barrier film composed of 14 layers, guaranteeing superior chemical protection.

• High chemical resistance

The chemical resistance of ULM II is high thanks to two layers of ATG barrier film, rated 6/6 on the 15 chemicals in the EN 943-2 standard. ULM II has also been tested against other industrial chemicals, including six chemical warfare agents according to the Finabel 0.7 standard, such as mustard gas (HD), sarin (GB), VX, tabun (GA), soman (GD), and lewisite (L1). The non-woven backing laminated to the chemically resistant ATG film provides superior mechanical strength. ULM II stands out for its superior resistance to bending under thermal pressure, tearing, and seam strength.

In addition to the quality of the material, the seams, visor, and zipper of the suit offer optimal chemical resistance, ensuring consistent protection across the entire garment. The suit as a whole stands out for its exceptional performance, a major advantage. The seams are reinforced and sealed with thermoplastic welding for increased durability.

• Semi-rigid panoramic screen

Thanks to its panoramic, semi-rigid PMMA screen, the worker benefits from maximum, undistorted visibility, essential for operations in hostile environments. What's more, the visor is equipped with a tear-off, an additional chemical protection film applied to the screen to protect against chemical splashes and mechanical aggression. This equipment is easily replaceable when the operator carries out inspection or maintenance of the garment after intervention.

• Quick and easy maintenance

ULM II, a chemical combination of normal robustness, offers a 10-year service life with a compulsory annual inspection. The inspection is visual, and requires no maintenance if the suit has no major apparent defects. After 5 years of ownership, a complete re-qualification is carried out to extend its use for a further 5 years. To ensure protection and simplify transport, the suit is stored in an airtight bag and a dedicated carry bag.

• A new, unique control system

A new feature for the ULM II is the leak-testing system developed by MATISEC. It enables both the company and the (trained) operator to test the suit's entire watertightness, without having to go through one of the garment's extremities.

• A wide range of accessories

Depending on the customer's use and requirements, there are a number of accessories that can be combined with the ULM II. Some of the accessories available: watertight passage, radio loop, tool rings, viewing device for smartphones or cameras. It's important to note that ULM II accessories are just as important as the outfit itself. They ensure a successful user experience. All our customers can obtain the appropriate fittings from MATISEC and install them themselves. In our discussions with customers, we make sure we take into account all the issues, challenges and suitable accessories to best meet their needs and expectations.

Our customers use ULM II

One of our customers is responsible for dismantling chemical weapons containing arsenic and other types of toxic warfare agents. In the event of a breakdown of the robots and other automated machines responsible for detonating a bomb, operators intervene in chemical suits to take over. This customer equips its personnel with ULM II and ARI MATISEC for this type of intervention.

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