How Radiant Heat Shields Help Protect Fire Crews

A fire can expose a vehicle crew to dangerous heat before flames reach the cabin. One reason is radiant heat: energy carried from the fire by infrared radiation. It can travel through the air and pass through vehicle glass, heating the space and people inside.

How the shields work

Thermaguard’s Supertherm® Radiant Heat Shields are fitted inside the vehicle over the windows. Their specialised material reflects some of the incoming radiant heat and reduces how much passes through the glass into the cabin.

Radiant heat is only one way heat can affect a vehicle. Shields are designed to address heat entering through the windows; they do not prevent every form of heat transfer or make a vehicle immune to fire. CSIRO describes window shields as one part of a wider burnover protection system, alongside measures such as cabin water sprays and protection for vehicle components. The shields can also provide an extra layer if a window breaks.

Fit and deployment matter

A shield needs to cover the intended window area and suit the vehicle’s cabin layout. We offer customised designs for different vehicles and can account for features such as consoles, handles and lights. Pull-to-release tabs are designed to help crews deploy the shields quickly from inside the cab. Correct fitment and crew familiarity are essential, so shields can be used as intended when time is limited.

Our Supertherm® shields have undergone Full ScaleCSIRO/Mogo burnover testing. Testing helps assess equipment in controlled conditions, but no protective system removes the risks of a burnover. Radiant heat shields should be used as part of a complete crew protection system and in line with fire authority training and procedures.