Bunker gear is critical to firefighters' performance and safety as they navigate hazardous environments. Given the risk of exposure to toxic materials and concerns over efficiency on the job, many in the fire service wonder how long bunker or turnout gear remains safe and effective for use.
While firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturers stipulate an average life span of three to seven years, several factors impact service life, such as unique job conditions and maintenance practices. Continue reading to learn more about maintaining bunker gear performance and longevity while keeping yourself healthy.
How Long Does Bunker Gear Last?
Does bunker gear expire? NFPA 1851 states that firefighters can safely use their protective ensemble and its elements for up to a decade. Note that the date used to determine bunker gear's longevity is its manufacture date, not the date the gear started service. At 10 years past this date, the bunker gear expires and should be retired.
However, the 10-year service life does not account for factors that impair performance and user protection. Understanding how these elements impact bunker gear longevity is key to assessing the true life expectancy.
Here are some of the key factors that affect PPE service life that make determining a specific life span challenging:
- The speed of wear and tear
- Exposure to intense fireground temperatures
- Cleaning and maintenance practices
- The rate of gear usage
- Exposure to contaminants and the duration of exposure
Depending on the above factors and their severity, some firefighters will need to replace their protective equipment sooner. Fire departments should regularly assess their bunker gear and determine whether the components need repairs or replacement. For guidance in this process, NFPA 1851 lists the retirement criteria for protective ensembles.
According to NFPA 1851 standards, firefighters should take the following factors into account when deciding whether to retire bunker gear:
- The item's overall condition
- Deterioration of specific materials or components
- The possibility of adequately removing hazardous materials and other contaminants
- The age of structural or proximity ensemble or its components
- Any excessive soil buildup with the potential to impact the bunker gear's performance
Bunker Gear Maintenance and Care
Today's technology has enabled advanced production and testing, allowing sufficient performance and user protection. However, the level of effectiveness relies heavily on gear care and maintenance.
Here's an overview of practices for maintaining gear integrity:
Routine Cleaning
Since every emergency response poses a risk of contamination, protective gear must undergo routine cleaning to remove harmful vapors, liquids and particles. Additionally, bunker gear is prone to accumulating maud, dirt, ash and other debris that can compromise material protective qualities the longer they remain. Cleaning the gear as soon as possible after every use is the first line of defense against contaminants.
Advanced Cleaning
NFPA 1851 prescribes advanced PPE cleaning at least once a year and anytime the gear is exposed to contamination and soiling.
Advanced cleaning is necessary to remove hazardous substances that can contribute to increased health complications in the firefighting industry. While laundering is effective for cleaning gear soiling, it's not an effective decontamination procedure. Advanced cleaning requires specialized techniques that some fire departments may not have access to.
You may want to partner with a professional protective equipment cleaning service like Bunker Gear Specialists (BGS) to ensure proper gear care. At BGS, we've been cleaning and testing bunker gear for industrial and municipal fire safety clients since 1999.
While we have the expertise to service various bunker gear components, we specialize in cleaning sets of coats, pants, helmets, hoods, boots and gloves. We usually clean in sets, but we can also clean specific items. Our cleaning process normally takes two to three business days. However, depending on the level of cleaning needed, the process may take up to a week to complete.
Over the years, we have developed and perfected our wet-wash bunker gear cleaning protocol, which is fully NFPA 1851-compliant. Here are steps to expect when working with BGS that streamlines professional cleaning:
- We get your items. You can either come to our facility and drop the gear off, or our team can pick it up from you.
- BGS uses industrial extractors to wet-wash each piece of bunker gear — for extremely soiled gear, this process may take longer.
- BGS allows your bunker gear to air-dry prior to returning it in protective, labeled plastic bags.
Bunker Gear Storage Practices
Many people believe that where you store your bunker gear is far more essential than how you store it. The truth is that both factors are equally crucial. While storing gear in a wet or moist environment can lead to mold growth, storing soiled gear may cause impurities to permeate the fabric.
In addition to a clean, dry and contamination-free storage space, you must ensure protective equipment enters storage in an optimal condition. To prevent your bunker gear from becoming even more damaged as it sits in storage, NFPA 1851 outlines the correct way to store protective firefighting gear.
In summary, the storage tips proposed by NFPA 1851 are as follows:
- Clean and dry ensembles before placing them in storage.
- Store your bunker gear in a clean, dry and well-ventilated space.
- Hang ensembles up to prevent creases and folds.
- Store your gear away from any UV-producing lights and direct sunlight.
- Store your gear away from extreme cold or hot temperatures.
- Place gear inside a covering or gear bag before storing it in a vehicle's trunk.
- Ensure the gear container is not airtight.
- Avoid storing your gear in a personal locker or living quarters.
- Keep gear away from areas with oils, solvents, acids, alkalis or other contaminants.
Bunker Gear Inspections
Along with regular maintenance, NFPA 1851 states that bunker gear should be subject to an annual inspection for safety purposes. However, it is best to inspect your bunker gear more frequently than that, especially after each fire. For added safety, NFPA 1851 suggests routine and advanced inspection for the proper and effective functioning of protective gear upon issue and after each use.
Examining your bunker gear after each fire helps you to identify possible contamination or damage caused by specific chemicals, such as hydrochloric acid. Through professional inspection, you address minor issues before they become problems that demand gear replacement.
Enlisting a professional testing service to inspect your bunker gear can help you avoid unnecessary replacement expenses. The bunker gear testing and care services from BGS can help you ensure that your firefighting equipment is always properly maintained and ready to use. The Level A Suit testing services and turnout gear services we provide include pressure testing and rigorous visual evaluations.
At BGS, we offer bunker gear testing services to clients in any sector. Book our services for your next annual or biannual training session.
Purchase New Bunker Gear From BGS
While factors like damage, severe heat and retained contamination can be out of your control, preventive actions like bunker gear maintenance and cleaning are key to minimizing PPE degradation and maintaining efficiency and longevity.
When you need to replace your entire ensemble or one of its components, get your gear from Bunker Gear Specialists. At BGS, we provide made-to-order fire gear to suit our clients' specific needs. Our custom industrial safety gear options allow you to mix and match outer shells, moisture barriers and thermal liners. For durable protective equipment, you can rely on, shop the top-quality bunker gear brands available from BGS.
Linked Sources:
https://firecomm.gov.mb.ca/docs/nfpa1851.pdf
https://www.bunkergear.net/pages/bunker-gear-cleaning-testing
https://firecomm.gov.mb.ca/docs/nfpa1851.pdf
https://www.bunkergear.net/pages/bunker-gear-cleaning-testing
