Firefighter I Fire Service Protective Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

FIRE SERVICE PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND PPE (PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT)

Firefighter I

Fire Service Protective Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

2Copyright and Terms of Service

Copyright Texas Education Agency, 2011. These materials are copyrighted and trademarked as the property of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of TEA, except under the following conditions:

1) Texas public school districts, charter schools, and Education Service Centers may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for the districts and schools educational use without obtaining permission from TEA.2) Residents of the state of Texas may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for individual personal use only, without obtaining written permission of TEA.3) Any portion reproduced must be reproduced in its entirety and remain unedited, unaltered and unchanged in any way.4) No monetary charge can be made for the reproduced materials or any document containing them; however, a reasonable charge to cover only the cost of reproduction and distribution may be charged.

Private entities or persons located in Texas that are not Texas public school districts, Texas Education Service Centers, or Texas charter schools or any entity, whether public or private, educational or non-educational, located outside the state of Texas MUST obtain written approval from TEA and will be required to enter into a license agreement that may involve the payment of a licensing fee or a royalty.

Contact TEA Copyrights with any questions you may have.Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Reasons for PPE UsageFirefighters are exposed to hostile work environmentsEach year more than100 die in the line of duty 1 firefighter every 3 days100,000 are injured8000 injuries each month

3Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.Reasons for PPE UsageProtection of life and property is the mission of the fire service Our first priority is the protection of life, including the lives of firefighters

4Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

NFPA Standard 1971NFPA 1971 is the Standard for Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting

5Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.Personal Protective ClothingFull PPE for structural firefightingHelmet Protective hood Protective coat and pants Gloves Boots/Footwear


Not included in NFPA 1971, but required by NFPA 1500 (Firefighter Safety and Survival)Eye protectionHearing protectionSelf-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) Personal alert safety system (PASS)


HelmetsHelmets should always be worn withChin strap engagedEar flaps down

In addition to this, helmetsProtect head from impactProtect from heat and coldProvide secondary protection of the face and eyes with the face shield or goggles on (only when SCBA is not required)Identify officers, paramedics, and trainees (helps with accountability)

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Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Eye ProtectionInjuries to the eyes are among the most common fire ground injuries and are usually easy to preventEyes should be protected on the fire ground and during other firefighter dutiesEye protection comes in many forms: Safety glasses, Safety goggles, and SCBA masksSafety goggles and glasses protect against approximately 85% of all eye hazards

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Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.Hearing ProtectionMost commonly used by firefighters on apparatuses that exceed maximum noise levels:90 dB in the U.S. 85 dB in CanadaNoise-induced hearing loss is permanent hearing lossPump operators and those operating power tools should always wear hearing protection

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Protective HoodsDesigned to protect the firefighters ears, neck, and face from extreme temperaturesTypically made of: Nomex, Kevlar, or PBIAvailable in long or short stylesThe SCBA face shield is to be secured before the hood is pulled up over it

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Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.Turnout CoatNFPA 1971 requires that turnout coats be made of three layers:Outer shellMoisture barrierThermal barrierCoats are to be worn duringFirefightingRescueExtrication operationsNo skin will be exposed when wearing SCBA properly

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Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.Turnout CoatNewer turnout coats are equipped with a Drag Rescue Device (DRD)

The DRD is a built-in harness used to drag and rescue a downed firefighter

Reflective trim should be maintained according to NFPA standards


Turnout PantsNFPA 1971 also requires that turnout pants be made of three layers: Outer shellMoisture barrierThermal barrierSuspenders must be used to support the weight of wet turnout pantsReflective trim should be maintained according to NFPA standardsIt is typical for structural turnout pants to have reinforced knees and cuffs to increase durability

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Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.GlovesGloves should provide as much dexterity and tactile feel as possible

Protection should not be compromised for dexterity. Safety first

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Foot Protection/BootsKeep feet dryProtect against burns, punctures, cuts, and crushing injuriesProtect from nails, broken glass, and sharp metal by use of a steel sole, or insert, and steel toesPrevent slipping with non-slip solesMust fit well.Poorly fitting footwear causes abrasions, blisters, and other painful injuries

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Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.Wildland Personal Protective ClothingLeather glovesGogglesBrush jacket and pants, or one-piece jumpsuit (natural fiber or flame resistant)Long sleeve shirt (natural fiber or flame resistant)Underwear (100 % cotton)Head and neckwearFootwear, with lug or grip-tread soles, 8 to 10 inches high to protect the lower leg from burns, snakebites, cuts and abrasions

17Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.Structural PPE is too bulky, heavy, and hot for use in wildland firefighting

Wildland PPE is often called brush gear

Wildland Personal Protective Clothing18Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.Station/Work UniformsShould be constructed ofOrganic fibersCottonWoolSynthetic fibersKevlarNomexPBIKynolGore-TexOrlonTeflon

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Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.Station/Work UniformsStation wear must comply with NFPA 1975, Standard of Station/Work Uniforms for Fire and Emergency Services.

The standard requires that no garment components ignite, melt, drip, or separate when exposed to heat at 500 degrees F (260 degrees C) for 5 minutes.

20Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.Care of Personal Protective ClothingAll personal protective clothing must be maintained according to its manufacturers specificationsContamination of your PPE can reduce its effectiveness in a fireOnce contaminated (i.e., with flammable or combustible liquids, blood, bodily fluids), PPE should not be worn until properly laundered

21Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.General Maintenance - HelmetsRemove soot and dirtRemove chemicals, oils, and petroleum products as soon as possibleChemicals can reduce impact effectiveness and cause the shell to become more electrically conductiveReplace helmets that fit improperly or are damagedReplace cracked, scratched, crazed, or cloudy face shieldsCheck suspension system for deteriorationContact manufacturer before repaintingRemove polycarbonate helmets that have come in contact with hydraulic oil from service

22Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.General Maintenance-Coats, Pants, and HoodClean regularlyDecontaminate after every interior fire and all medical callsDry with adequate ventilation, but not in direct sunlight

23Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.General Maintenance Gloves and BootsClean and dry according to manufacturers specifications at least once every 6 monthsNFPA 1581, Standard on Fire Department Infection Control Program

24Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.Physical Limitations With PPECan increase the risk of heat stressDoes not provide chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosive protection (CBRNE)Decreases the firefighters ability to feel ambient heatMay suffer burns with little or no warningPuts you at greater risk when damagedWear according to manufacturers specifications

25Copyright Texas Education Agency 2011. All rights reserved.Images and other multimedia content used with permission.Resources1418001775, Introduction to Fire Protection (3rd Edition), Klinoff, Robert 0135151112, Essentials of Firefighting (5th Edition), International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA)Images used with permission from IFSTA.


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Firefighter I Fire Service Protective Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)