History
2010-2017
During these years, a large number of articles were published that showed an increased risk of cancer among firefighters compared to other occupational groups. Some articles claimed that the increased risk was due to exposure to harmful and carcinogenic gases that passed through the skin, especially the so-called PAH, Polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbons. It was also assumed that the firefighter’s fire suits available on the market were not optimal for preventing these gaseous substances from penetrating through the skin of the firefighters.
At the end of these years, research confirmed that carcinogenic gases and particles could actually be absorbed through the skin. At the same time, there was a German company with a patented fabric - based on activated carbon - that could possibly offer a solution. The company had developed a fabric that minimized the exposure of toxic gases to the skin.
2018
The founders of CPP together with Anders Cederberg from the Swedish Firefighters' Cancer Foundation start the discussions with the German company. It was concluded together that there could be a solution: A completely newly developed undergarment, specially developed for firefighters, to be worn under the normal fire suit.
It was decided that a number of tests should be carried out. Was it true that the normal fire suits only had a limited protection against gaseous PAHs - and if so, could an adsorptive undergarment improve the protection?
If these tests showed that the hypothesis was correct, the undergarment would be designed and developed in Sweden, and the German company would produce with their patented fabric.
2019
The company Carbon Personal Protection Sweden AB “CPP”; was founded.
The first test was carried out at the Rescue Services’ training site Guttasjön outside Borås (Sweden) under the leadership of CIT Chalmers in Gothenburg. The test examined the properties of the fabric material and, among other things, measured the fabric’s adsorption capacity of hazardous gases and particles (PAH) and the results clearly showed that the properties of the fabric functioned according to plan.
2020
The second test was carried out at the Rescue Services’ training site Guttasjön outside Borås (Sweden) under the leadership of CIT Chalmers in Gothenburg. This second test round was with smoke divers with sensors that registered the skin’s exposure to PAH. In these tests, the smoke divers used their usual fire suits outside CPP’s undergarment - and the test results turned out to be very promising, so the project entered the next phase.
CPP and the German company agreed that CPP’s undergarment should be designed and produced.
In December, the third test was carried out at the Rescue Services’ training site Guttasjön outside Borås (Sweden) under the leadership of CIT Chalmers in Gothenburg. The Swedish Firefighters’ Cancer Foundation ordered this independent test round; after they were notified of the test results from the previous tests. This test round included smoke divers with sensors that registered the skin’s exposure to PAH, but the smoke divers had used undergarment that had been in 10 smoke diving exercises and washed between each exercise. Also in these tests, the smoke divers used their usual fire suits outside the CPP’s undergarments, both new fire suits and used fire suits. The test results clearly showed that the amount PAH on the skin is considerably reduced.
2021
Thomas Dedering starts as CEO and the company changes the name to CPP Garments AB.
After several discussions with Swedish firefighters - including all who participated in the tests - the final design was decided.
The report from test 3 is published.
The protective undergarment for firefighters are now launched and available for customers.
In December, the report from Test 4 is published. The tests show that even after 10 hours of smoke diving, CPP's undergarments have 20 times better protection than standard, and that the average protection during these 24 smoke dives exercises was 70 times higher with CPP compared to standard.
2022
The sales and marketing of CPP undergarments start. Among other activities we participate in 4 exhibitions: Two in Sweden, one in Germany and one in Great Britain.
CE-certification. The undergarment becomes CE-certified according to EN ISO 13982-1:2004 "Protective clothing for use against solid particulates". The CE certification has the highest possible category (cat. III) within the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).