By Alan M. Petrillo
Technical rescue personal protective equipment (PPE) is designed specifically for rescue tasks rather than for structural firefighting. While it provides protection for the wearer, PPE manufacturers say it also allows greater mobility and flexibility and puts less stress on the firefighter.
Not a New Concept
Rob Freese, senior vice president of marketing for Globe Manufacturing Inc., says Globe was first involved with technical rescue PPE being flame retardant in the 1990s. “We were supplying PPE to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) rescue teams, and a few teams complained about having to wear either turnout gear or coveralls for long-duration events,” Freese says. “They had a need for gear with a tough outer shell, especially in the early stages of a situation where they might be dealing with unknown chemicals in a building, bodily fluids, or other liquid challenges.”
Freese notes that Globe personnel worked closely with FEMA rescue teams to better understand the environment they work in. “We were part of a group that included Lion, W. L. Gore and Associates Inc., and PBI Performance Products Inc., which developed prototype technical rescue gear that was the basis for National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1951, Standard on Protective Ensemble for Technical Rescue Operations.”
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| 1 Globe Manufacturing makes its technical rescue PPE in a selection of flame-resistant outer shells with an inner liner that protects against blood and bodily fluids, common chemicals, and other liquids. (Photo courtesy of Globe Manufacturing Inc.) |
It was high-profile events that spurred the development of technical rescue gear further, says Freese. “Our first order for this type of product was during the Oklahoma City bombing,” he points out. “Our technical rescue gear also was deployed on September 11, 2001, at the Pentagon because of the kinds of environments they were dealing with.”
Today, technical rescue gear is designed for situations where there is a potential fire hazard but where self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is not needed, Freese says. “About 87 percent of what a fire department does is not structural firefighting,” he observes. “Fire departments respond to a broad range of activities, and that’s what technical rescue PPE is designed for-situations like flash fire assault, chemicals, and auto extrications.”
On the Market
Alysha Gray, product manager for fire PPE at Lion, says Lion’s technical rescue PPE is custom constructed much like Lion’s structural turnout gear. “The outer layer is inherently fire-resistant, made from one of two fabrics: Millenia SR, a TenCate product, or six-ounce Nomex® and 5.3-ounce PBI Triguard®, made by PBI Performance Products Inc.,” Gray points out. “The inner layer is made from CROSSTECH® S/R by W. L. Gore, which protects against blood-borne pathogens, water, and other liquids.”
Gray notes that Lion’s technical rescue gear has a bi-swing back in the jacket to allow for easier flex and range of motion, a zippered leg in the pant for easier donning and doffing, and reinforcements as an option in high-wear areas like the knees and cuffs.
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Posted: Feb 10, 2017
The Ready Rack Bench provides a stable base to prepare gear and remove gear before and after a call. It measures 48” x 9 ½” x 17” and weighs 37.4 pounds. The freestanding bench will not take up valuable space inside your compartment, and its steel legs feature a heavy-duty black powder coat finish. The seat is constructed of hardwood butcher block with a clear stain to provide wear resistance. It ships knocked down.
For more information, visit www.readyrack.com.
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