Such as clothing and hardware designs have progressed, the fire department conceded the dangers of steam from hose spray is generated on fire, especially in closed hot environments. Coated were used in clothing construction as inner layers to contain vapor barriers for limiting the risk of scalding create burns or other contact of the hot steam vapor.

In fact, the first use of internal fabric coating layers as "steam" to protect fire steam and other potentially hazardous gases in case of fire in addition to water and corrosive liquids were known. Unfortunately, the benefits of these materials is supplied, they also made heavy clothing and contributed to the physiological stress of the firefighter.

The mid-1980s, new technology available that detects that barrier material does not have to be a rubber material, but may be breathable and still ability to fulfill provide liquid fire.

This has led to the introduction of barriers "moisture" microporous coveralls , which quickly became the popular consumer and sports were out in clothes.