Twiceme and SCHUBERTH add digital safety to firefighting helmet range

by Featured NewsPPEProductsSafety

Twiceme enters firefighting market with SCHUBERTH

Twiceme Technology has partnered with SCHUBERTH to integrate digital safety data into professional firefighting helmet designs launched in Germany on Tuesday 18 November 2025.

The company said the collaboration marks its move into the firefighting market from its existing focus on digital safety for jobsites and outdoor activities.

According to Twiceme Technology, the integrated system allows users to record equipment health, inspection dates and compliance information directly within the helmet.

The data structure is intended to support tracking of certifications and expiration dates so that helmet condition and documentation remain current.

Twiceme Technology stated that this approach aims to support safety standards, reduce the risk of incidents linked to equipment issues and cut costs by streamlining safety management.

Christian Connolly, Chief Executive Officer of Twiceme Technology, said: “This is a historic step for Twiceme and for the firefighting community.

“We turn to firefighters when we need help the most, yet we rarely think about how dangerous their profession is.

“For the first time, they will have access to integrated digital safety information directly in their helmets, empowering action when seconds matter.”

Digital data built into firefighting helmet range

According to SCHUBERTH, the new F300, F220 and F130 models are the first professional firefighter helmets to include integrated digital safety information technology.

Each helmet is described as a high-performance model for use under extreme thermal stress in structural firefighting, rescue operations and traffic-accident response.

The manufacturer said the shells incorporate HighTemp-Fibre materials designed to resist high temperatures while maintaining impact protection.

All three models are certified to Deutsches Institut für Normung and European Committee for Standardization EN 443: 2008 structural firefighter helmet standards.

SCHUBERTH noted that all three helmets are Type A, with the F220 using a modern three-quarter shell, the F130 retaining a traditional half-shell and the F300 tailored to tasks requiring work overhead or extended upward vision.

Helmet design based on SCHUBERTH experience

SCHUBERTH said its firefighting helmet range draws on its long history of developing protective headgear for professional users in Germany.

The company described the HighTemp-Fibre shells as delivering protection against heat and impact while allowing for comfort and modularity.

Florian Brunck, Head of Business Unit industrial safety and firefighting at SCHUBERTH, said: “Our high-performance firefighter helmets were developed specifically to withstand increased thermal stress and meet the highest standards of safety and performance.

“We’ve always worked to set the benchmark in head protection, and now with Twiceme, we’ve introduced a bridge that connects the firefighter, the equipment, and the responder.”

Availability in Germany and industrial helmet rollout

According to SCHUBERTH, the firefighting helmets featuring Twiceme Technology are now available via authorised SCHUBERTH distributors and firefighting equipment partners in Germany.

The company added that Twiceme Technology has also been integrated into its CROSSGUARD and BOP industrial safety helmets.

These industrial models include functions for logging helmet inspections and keeping records of training certifications for workers.

Both companies direct interested users to their websites for more information about Twiceme-enabled helmets and wider digital safety features.

Operational impact of digital helmet data

Fire and rescue chiefs and senior officers may use this development to assess how digital records embedded in helmets could support fleet-wide oversight of structural firefighting PPE across German crews.

Procurement officers and equipment specifiers may examine whether integrated tracking of inspections, certifications and expiration dates within each helmet can simplify compliance checks and budget planning for helmet replacement cycles.

Standards and certification bodies can reference the DIN and EN 443: 2008 compliance of the F300, F220 and F130 models when reviewing how digital data layers sit alongside established structural firefighter helmet requirements.

Training officers and instructors, particularly in organisations that also deploy CROSSGUARD and BOP industrial helmets, could apply Twiceme-based records to verify that personnel training certifications align with helmet status before operational deployment.

Industrial facility managers responsible for high-risk environments may review the industrial implementations of Twiceme Technology as examples of how helmet-based data can be used to document inspections and workforce training in day-to-day operations.

Firefighter’s helmet reflectivity study reveals thermal risks from colour and soot

by Featured NewsPPEResearch

Helmet heat protection reduced by colour and soot, says French research

A new study has found that firefighter helmets lose their ability to reflect heat depending on their colour and surface condition.

According to Fire Safety Journal, Volume 155, chrome plated helmets reflected up to 83 percent of radiative heat, while coloured variants showed reflectivity as low as 3 percent.

When contaminated by soot or combustion deposits, reflectivity dropped to around 36 percent, even for chrome helmets.

The research, led by A. Collin and colleagues in France, analysed 16 helmet samples currently in use by Fire and Rescue Services across France, England and Canada.

The study focused on directional-hemispherical reflectivity and absorptivity across infrared wavelengths, measuring how helmets performed at temperatures up to 1000 K (727°C /1340°F).

Helmet types and thermal performance examined

The study used infrared spectrum analysis to examine heat reflection in helmets used in emergency response.

Chrome plated helmets showed the best thermal protection by reflecting most radiative energy and limiting absorption.

Coloured helmets had much lower reflectivity, depending on pigment, with red helmets absorbing nearly all heat exposure.

Soot or other residue significantly reduced reflectivity, regardless of original surface, suggesting that maintenance and cleaning influence thermal protection.

The findings build on earlier experimental work, including that of Barnett (2003), who studied abrasion and surface degradation in helmet materials under high heat.

Sample and standards used in testing

Sixteen helmets were tested as part of the research.

All samples met EN 443:97, the European standard for firefighter helmets.

The helmets were sourced from French fire departments including SDIS 54 (Meurthe-et-Moselle) and SDIS 49 (Maine-et-Loire), as well as from LCPP (Laboratoire Central de la Préfecture de Paris).

The helmets varied in colour and manufacturer, but none were named for confidentiality reasons.

Measurements were taken across different points on each helmet to assess consistency in performance.

Research context and motivation

The study responds to concerns about rapid helmet deterioration during use or training.

Infrared reflectivity, especially in contaminated helmets, is a major factor in heat protection for personnel in radiative environments.

The authors cite previous studies into garment protection, water spray use and nozzle dynamics, noting that helmets remain under-studied in heat transfer literature.

The research was intended to quantify radiative properties across real-world helmet types and provide data for future equipment design and policy decisions.

According to the authors, all raw data are available in a publicly accessible database.

Implications for firefighter safety and equipment design

The study reinforces the thermal advantage of chrome helmets under clean conditions.

It also highlights the need for regular cleaning to maintain heat protection levels during live incidents and drills.

The reduction in reflectivity from surface contamination may increase the risk of thermal injury in high-flux environments such as flashovers or backdrafts.

The researchers recommend greater awareness of surface degradation and cleaning protocols.

Future helmet designs may need to incorporate materials or coatings that retain reflectivity even after exposure to soot or abrasion.

Helmet reflectivity study reveals thermal risks from colour and soot: Summary

Fire Safety Journal has reported that helmet colour and soot contamination reduce the ability of firefighter helmets to reflect heat.

The study was conducted by researchers including A. Collin and Z. Acem in France.

It tested 16 helmets currently used by fire services in France, England and Canada.

Chrome plated helmets reflected an average of 83 percent of radiative energy at 1000 K.

Coloured helmets reflected between 3 and 14 percent of heat depending on pigment.

Soot reduced reflectivity to around 36 percent, even for chrome helmets.

The study used infrared spectrum measurements to assess heat reflection and absorption.

All tested helmets met EN 443:97 standards.

Previous research has shown helmets degrade during use, causing blistering and reduced surface performance.

The findings highlight the importance of cleaning and maintenance.

Raw data from the study are available in a public-access database.