Earlier this year, Chief Bobby Halton, FDIC education director and editor in chief of this magazine and Fire Engineering, was passionate about firefighter fatigues.
He thinks they should be worn for all our calls except structural fires and hazmat incidents. To illustrate his passion, fatigues were worn by all 130 hands-on training instructors at FDIC International 2016. It is important to understand that when referring to fatigues, the reference is not about cargo pants for station wear. It is about a set of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The types of calls and the percentages for each type are changing. When viewed over the past 30 or more years, the change has been drastic. Refer to Figures 1 and 2 above. Based on the changing responses, the idea of fatigues seems to be a “no-brainer.”
Background and Drawbacks
No discussion about firefighter fatigues would be complete without acknowledging the TECGEN® brand. TECGEN first entered the fire service market in 2009. In 2015, it was acquired by Fire-Dex. TECGEN saw an obvious need for firefighter PPE other than structural firefighting PPE. The product has experienced slow and steady growth. Perhaps that growth will accelerate with strong advocates such as Chief Halton. This will be validated as we start to see other manufacturers offer firefighter fatigues.
If fire service fatigues are such a “no-brainer,” why has the concept seen slow adaptation? First of all, cost. Any piece of expensive equipment, especially when needed for each firefighter, has an uphill battle. If the item has not been a traditional part of a line-item budget for a fire department, it faces even more difficulty. However, on further review, there are cost benefits. UV degradation of turnout gear is reduced, and the need to repair turnout gear is reduced since it is not used as often. And, the cost of repairing fatigues is significantly less than for structural firefighting gear.
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| Figure 1: Comparison of Fire Department Calls in 1980 and 2014. Reprinted with permission from NFPA’s report, “Fire Loss in the United States During 2014,” by Hylton J.G. Haynes, Copyright © 2015, National Fire Protection Association. |
TECGEN uses a unique fiber for its garments that is not found in structural firefighting outer shells. The fiber has an elastic core surrounded by a carbon shell for added flexibility, durability, and breathability. The material in the TECGEN fabric is extremely durable with 35 pounds of tear resistance and about 225 pounds of breaking strength. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents, requires 6.75 pounds and 90 pounds, respectively.
Another difficulty is the logistics of managing fatigues. Combined with structural gear and often wildland firefighting gear, where are fatigues stored? Locker space is already at a premium in most fire stations, and apparatus cabs are already too tight and crowded. However, with some creativity, logistics issues can be overcome. The dual certification to NFPA 1951 and NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, helps with many fire departments. And, some fire departments have taken the approach of fatigu