I think this would have quite some special implementations in the RP area of things.
It would be interesting to see the graphical implementations of blast damage - How Nelson plans to animate a “knockback” or “knockdown” especially with items equipt. Would you drop those items and just go to an animation with nothing in your hands as you get launched backwards (or forwards)? Would your character appear burned?
Would blasts knock you unconscious far greater than typical physical damage? Would blasts greatly affect your movement speed, maybe so far as to make you limp or crawl? Would you need special healing items for burns and explosive blasts? Would moving your body into a body of water soothe the burns?
You explained how to “resist” heat damage such as from an explosive, but you never explained how you would “heal” from it.
I think if all of these effects and ideas were implemented, it would cause explosions to become a genuine force to be reckoned with, and provide so much more detail, immersion, and balance to the game.
now I cant help but think of car bombs
EDIT:
Furthermore, it would be very cool if players could extract and exploit resources of acid to use it against other players. It is an all-too-common sight in Zombie Apocalypse movies and shows where one faction may use the virus as a weapon against enemies. Or when medieval Europe was catapulting dead bodies of the infected into enemy kingdoms.
All of the armor you suggest would be even cooler if you could make make-shift varients of all of them. Cheaper, craftable, but of course worse at the job than professional versions, but better than nothing. Some things could of course be crafted, such as rubber boots from the fireproof section, or of course any heat/cold related clothing, rainproof clothing, possibly pressure resistant armor.
While others would require a lot more skill to craft, such as the hazmat suit or respirators. Though I’m sure with enough duck tape anything is possible.