Avon Rubber p.l.c.’s protection business has been awarded a $1.1 million Research and Development contract with the US Government, for the world’s most compact Escape Hood. It is based on enhanced technology from Avon’s EH20 Emergency Hood to meet the US Government requirements.

Currently under development, this will be an innovative, concealable, lightweight, CBRN Hood for emergency responders. Designed exclusively by Avon, it provides protection against CBRN agents and is compact in size to fit discreetly inside a jacket pocket.

The hood will provide a high level of respiratory, eye and face protection from principal CBRN agents for 15 minutes to allow sufficient time to escape from a contaminated area. Stored in a vacuum-sealed pouch, when needed, the “one-size-fits-all” hood can be donned in less than 10 seconds, over beards, long hair and even glasses.

“We are working closely with our end users on this programme and this innovative future technology is projected to meet their requirements in time to support field trials by early 2008,” said Jim Naylor, Sales and Marketing Manager, Avon Protection Systems.