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6 INSPECTING YOUR HAIX
®
NFPA COMPLIANT
FOOTWEAR
6.1 PREPARATION
Read the Information Label (See Section 5 of this Guide for location).
6.2 FREQUENCY
You should inspect your Footwear at the following times: 1.) Upon receipt of your new
Footwear or replacement component; 2.) At least monthly thereafter during the useful
life of the Footwear; 3.) After exposure to heat, flames, chemicals, or fire fighting agents
(including AFFF foam and water); 4.) After exposure to body fluids (including blood); and 5.)
After washing, repair or decontamination. You must inspect your Footwear, at a minimum,
at the above frequency intervals to detect more obvious damage and deterioration. In
addition, you might sense deficiencies in thermal protection by feeling heat more quickly
or more easily than before, or get wet from rain or hose streams leaking through the
moisture barrier materials or seams. Whenever you detect a potential problem through
your own inspection, or suspect that the protective qualities might be degraded, your
Footwear should be inspected by trained personnel at the Fire Department or EMS Station
or at a HAIX
®
North America Authorized Clean and Repair Center.
6.3 INSPECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA
1. Criteria
Inspection of NFPA Footwear should be done in compliance with NFPA 1851 Standard
on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire
Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, Section 6.2.2.5 and 6.3.5.5
2. Preparation
A. Wear appropriate protective gloves during inspection.
B. Place Footwear on a clean surface in a brightly lighted area.
3. Outer Layers
A. Leather Layer, Rubber Toe Cap, and Sole: Examine for dirt, thin spots, holes,
tears, embrittlement, burns, abrasions, melted areas, and worn spots.
a. Discoloration could be a sign of overexposure to light or heat.
b. Embrittlement, cracking, or burns are a sign that other layers may be worn out
or damaged and may need to be replaced.
c. If leather is punctured or cracked, the Footwear must be repaired by an HAIX
®
North America Authorized Clean and Repair Center, or retired and disposed of
in accordance with Disposal Procedures in this Guide.
Most performance properties of the Footwear and its components cannot be tested by the user in the field.
WARNING
!
