Decontex’s appointment to the NFCC National Firefighter PPE Framework follows a comprehensive evaluation process, in which Decontex achieved an outstanding score of 98.5/100 in the National Fire Chiefs Council’s assessment
Decontex, the Global specialist in the decontamination and maintenance of firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE), has been awarded a place on Lot 9 (Specialist Decontamination) of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) National Firefighter PPE Framework, following a competitive procurement process conducted by Kent & Medway Towns Fire & Rescue Authority on behalf of the NFCC.
The appointment enables Decontex to provide decontamination services for Fire Structural Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Lightweight Firefighting PPE through the national framework.
The award followed an extensive assessment process in which suppliers’ decontamination capabilities were evaluated against technical and quality criteria set by the NFCC. The framework is designed to help fire and rescue services access approved suppliers that meet recognised standards for firefighter PPE maintenance and safety.
During the evaluation, Decontex achieved an outstanding score of 98.5% , earning a weighted result of 192.50 out of 195.50 and a raw totalscore of 217 out of 220. This provides independent validation of the quality and reliability of its decontamination service.
Contaminant removal
Decontex is a leading developer of proprietary supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) decontamination technologies for firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE), combining superior decontamination performance with preservation of protective functionality and environmental sustainability.
The process removes contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals and other carcinogenic residues, from deep within fabric and membrane layers that may not be fully addressed through conventional water-based washing methods.
The technology is designed to preserve the protective performance of garments while operating in line with the decontamination tier of NFPA1850 and BS ISO 23616, the international standard covering the care and maintenance of firefighter PPE.
Decontex is currently preparing to introduce its proprietary supercritical CO₂ technology to UK fire and rescue services through a dedicated PPE decontamination service, with operations scheduled to commence latest in the fourth quarter of 2026.The rollout is expected to provide firefighters with access to specialist decontamination technology aimed at reducing long-term exposure to potentially harmful contaminants encountered during operational duties.
The company said it looks forward to working with fire and rescue services across the UK to support firefighter health and safety through enhanced PPE decontamination.