S-Gard: providing protection for fire and rescue services

by Passive

Current topics are weight reduction, breathability and freedom of movement. Another central topic that has been increasingly brought into focus in recent years is the avoidance of contact with hazardous substances. For example, fire smoke contains carcinogenic toxins such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). But other hazardous substances can also be deposited on clothing. There is an enhanced risk of absorbing the toxins, especially when the operational clothing is taken off. Appropriate operational hygiene is therefore of great importance.

On its YouTube channel S-Gard gives helpful recommendations in a video series. To deepen the knowledge, S-Gard regularly holds seminars on operational hygiene, cleaning and maintenance of protective clothing. S-Gard also has a list of cleaning companies certified specifically for the washing of protective clothing.

Ranger 2.0 – the protective suit for fighting wildfires

S-Gard also has new products available on the market, including Ranger 2.0 – the protective suit for fighting wildfires. During wildland operations, task forces are often exposed to high heat for hours and have to cover long distances on foot. Operational clothing must thus not only protect against heat, it should also be light, breathable and suitable for movement. For such applications S-Gard has developed the Ranger 2.0 protective suit. Jacket and trousers can be coupled with a zipper. In order to save weight, material doublings were dispensed with. Instead, a ceramic coating provides increased protection against abrasion.

S-Gard uses the highly breathable Ecodry from Hainsworth as the outer material. The suit also has ventilation openings on the arm and leg sides. Stretch zones made of elastic Nomex material, pant gusset and stretch pleats at the sleeve base ensure exceptional freedom of movement.

Hero 2.0 – The protective suit from S-GARD has been completely revised

The Hero jacket now features segmented reflective stripes, patch radio pockets and checker plate reinforcements at the elbows, cuffs and flaps. The multi-layer material is absolutely heat-resistant and very durable. S-Gard uses the highly breathable Gore-Tex Airlock membrane as a moisture barrier.

Its highlight: small silicone buffers provide space between the membrane and the outer fabric. This improves insulation in extreme situations, and the layer structure is also more flexible and less bulky. The three-dimensional special fabric DR3Lite is used for the lining.

www.s-gard.de

Xtreme Mask – the latest advance in respiratory protection for wildfires

by Products

Wildland firefighters are exposed to several labour risks; heat, humidity, radiation, incandescent particles, microparticles, nanoparticles, smoke, fog, aqueous dispersions, viruses, bacteria, enzymes, proteins, gases, organic and inorganic vapours, acids, amine and formaldehyde in slow combustion.

The lack of solutions to protect firefighters from these contaminant agents limits the time of fire management’s interventions and represents significant damage to the health of firefighters, with short-term consequences (causing discomfort, choking sensation and poisoning) and long-term sequel (continued exposure to CO and formaldehyde can lead to disabling occupational diseases and even cancer).

The Xtreme Mask is an effective solution to protect the face and the respiratory tract in extreme situations*.

A multipurpose device specifically designed for wildland firefighting

The Xtreme Mask adapts completely to every protection need that can occur in a wildfire. It allows the coupling of different filters according to the operative:

  • Firefighting – Reusable P3 particle filter (included). Protection against heat, humidity, radiation, incandescent particles, microparticles, nanoparticles, smoke, fog, aqueous dispersion, viruses, bacteria, enzymes, proteins.
  • Finish and interface – Reusable ABEK1P3 multigas filter (optional). Protection against heat, humidity, radiation, incandescent particles, microparticles, nanoparticles, smoke, fog, aqueous dispersion, viruses, bacteria, enzymes, proteins, gases and organic and inorganic vapours, acids, amine and formaldehyde in slow combustion.

Respiratory comfort with a high level of protection

Set consisting of a half mask with two exhalation valves (so that carbon dioxide escapes faster, increasing respiratory comfort), an interchangeable filter and a textile mask, certified according to EN 15614: 2007, which offers high protection against radiation.

The excellent fit and sealing of the half mask to the face and its direct connection to the filter multiply its degree of filtration, offering protection of up to 99.92%.

Comfortable and lightweight
Low nasal profile mask, adjustable on Caucasian, Asian, African-American and American faces. Compatible with most glasses available on the market.

Perfect integration with the rest of the protection equipment
Quick adjustment without removing the helmet, thanks to its double velcro® system.

All the components that make up this product have been manufactured following the requirements of the European Regulation.

Textile
EN ISO 11612:2015 – Protective clothing. Clothing to protect against heat and flame. Minimum performance requirements
EN ISO 13688:2013 – Protective clothing. General requirements.
EN 15614:2007 -Protective clothing for firefighters. Laboratory testing
methods and requirements for forestry clothing.

Half mask
EN 140:19998 – Respiratory protection equipment. Half mask.

P3 R Filter
EN 143:2004 + A1:2006 – Respiratory protection equipment. Filters against
particles. Requirements, testing, marking.

ABEK1P3 Filter
EN 14387:2004+A1:2008 – Respiratory protective devices. Gas filters and combined filters. Requirements, testing, marking

* Standards and regulations regarding labour risk prevention must be observed, as well as the suitability of their use and possible limitations.

For more information, visit: www.vallfirest.com

FIA works with NFCC to provide PPE for front line firefighters

by PassiveProjects

When the COVID-19 pandemic reaching its peak in late-March, the Fire Industry Association (FIA) sought to collaborate with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) to make sure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was made readily available for firefighters to protect themselves against COVID-19 while undertaking their enhanced role assisting the National Health Service and the ambulance service.

The FIA assisted the National Fire Commercial Transformation Programme (NFCTP) that’s led by Kent’s chief fire officer Ann Millington by engaging its members and asking them to leverage their contacts in wider industry sectors to source PPE such as gloves, masks and hand sanitiser.

The FIA ensured that all suggested suppliers had evidence to prove that they were compliant with the appropriate standards as defined by the technical due diligence process outlined by the Kent Fire and Rescue Service. After these checks, the FIA then forwarded the suppliers to the team in Kent who would complete the due diligence and then liaise with Fire and Rescue Services up and down the country in a determined bid to ensure access to available supply of critical commodities.

Tina Butler, head of commercial and procurement the Kent Fire and Rescue Service and programme lead for the NFCTP, explained: “The NFCTP and the FIA have been engaged for some time prior to COVID-19, building a more professional relationship between the sectors to ensure that we move away from a fragmented approach towards market engagement.”

Butler continued: “The unprecedented global impact on supply chains as a result of the pandemic has been a real test of this new way of working, and I’m incredibly grateful to FIA director Bernie Higgins and everyone involved within the network who have really pulled together with the Fire and Rescue Service to ensure that we can provide the right level of protection for our front line personnel. I look forward to building upon this good work to ensure that, together, we can deliver the most effective and successful recovery possible.”

Ann Millington added: “I’m indebted, as is the national fire service, to the extraordinary work carried out by Tina Butler and her team and the wider team of procurement professionals in this crisis. It’s no exaggeration to say we couldn’t have done the great work in supporting other agencies during this crisis were it not for the PPE supplies. The FIA has been a great partner in this and I thank the Trade Association for its tremendous efforts.”

Bernie Higgins responded: “This is an excellent example of the wider fire sector working together in the national interest to ensure that firefighters can continue to protect the public during this extremely challenging period.”

The FIA and the NFFC paused the arrangement on 15 June to reflect the more stable position of the sector, but have left the door wide open to re-starting this valuable partnership to help protect firefighters across the nation should the need arise.

As the national now enters the recovery phase, the FIA will be working very closely with the NFCC to assist Fire and Rescue Services and suppliers to it in order to ensure the most effective recovery possible.

Rosenbauer America donates 24,000 KN95 facemasks to first responders

by Americas - Featured News

Rosenbauer America has donated 24,000 KN95 facemasks to first responders as a thank you for their dedication through the COVID-19 pandemic – distributed to fire departments across the United States and Canada.

“Our communities rely on first responders answering calls for service; we need to protect their health and safety,” said John Slawson, Chairman and CEO of Rosenbauer America. “COVID-19 is personal; the virus literally follows responders home, subsequently, threatening the family members of our first responders with infection. Never before have our first responders been so concerned that they have chosen to self-isolate away from their families.”

Rosenbauer’s partner network has been surveying fire departments to determine where this donation can fill gaps in KN95 supplies. “In early March our network partners were going on product demo calls to fire departments; their focus has transitioned to that of ally against COVID-19,” said Slawson. “More than 40% of fire departments lack adequate PPE according to industry experts. We wanted to help in whatever way we could to keep our first responders safe. We are all in this together; we are an ecosystem, and we must continue to be vigilant and support our first responders.”

www.rosenbaueramerica.com/

UK fire industry workers demand PPE

by Breaking News

According to a survey by Populus Data Solution, the vast majority of workers across industries believe that it is their employer’s responsibility to ensure they have the right protective equipment in the workplace, with a significant number stating they would refuse to go to work without the right PPE.

The survey, carried out for industrial workwear and protective clothing specialists Ballyclare, also found that a large proportion of workers are still seeking clarity on PPE from their employers and the Government. The results come as Ballyclare publishes a new factsheet, clearly spelling out to employers and employees exactly which PPE should be worn across various workplace settings and how it can be worn most safely.

As the economy slowly reopens, worker safety is a key focus for both employers and employees. When asked who should be responsible for ensuring workers have the right equipment to work safely, 87% of respondents said it is the employer’s role, while 40% also said the Government should shoulder the responsibility. Those working in the retail and consumer, manufacturing, transport, and logistics sectors all pointed to their employers as responsible for making sure they had the right protective gear (89%), while hospitality and leisure followed close by (84%).

In a stark illustration of the issues facing businesses coming out of lockdown, the survey found that if an employer did not provide the employee with personal protective equipment, almost twice as many people would refuse to go into work than would not. 40% said they would be either likely or very likely to refuse to go into work, whilst 23% said they would still attend.

The survey results showed that a significant majority of workers are crying out for clarity on what protective equipment they should wear. 74% said they would feel far safer in returning to work if their employers provide the right PPE – with 81% saying they wanted clear advice from their employer. At the same time, 73% of people said they also wanted clear advice from the Government.

As lockdown measures are relaxing and people consider their back-to-work options, the analysis shows that if people were able to go into work tomorrow, a slightly higher number of people would not feel comfortable doing so than would feel comfortable. 36% said they would not feel comfortable compared with 30% who said they would. The data also shows that 8% of people are already back at work and do not feel comfortable at the moment.

Silke Hendricks, Managing Director of Ballyclare, says: “If people continue to feel insecure about returning to work, we could see a huge impact on the UK’s efforts to reopen the economy. The more employers can do to communicate the steps they are taking to make the workplace safe, the better. We have created a factsheet, based on our years of experience of working with PPE, to provide some practical advice as companies look to do everything they can to reopen their workplace in as safe a manner as possible.”