What is one requirement of structural firefighting gloves?

Structural firefighting gloves are crucial pieces of personal protective equipment designed to protect the hands from heat, cuts, and other hazards encountered during firefighting operations. One essential requirement for these gloves is that they must meet the applicable National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard, which ensures that they have undergone rigorous testing and evaluation to confirm their effectiveness in real-world firefighting conditions.

The NFPA standards set specific criteria for the materials used, thermal protection, dexterity, and comfort of firefighting gloves. Meeting these standards helps ensure that the gloves provide adequate protection against the extremes of firefighting environments, thereby enhancing the safety of firefighters during their operations. This requirement for compliance with NFPA standards also gives firefighters confidence in the performance of their gear, knowing it has been tested to withstand the risks associated with their work.

In this context, the other options do not align with the primary protective function of structural firefighting gloves. For instance, while positive electrical grounding and flexibility are important in certain contexts, they are not universal requirements under the NFPA standards specifically for structural firefighting gloves.