19
WARNING
!
Avoid storing your Pants in temperature extremes. Repeated cycles of heating and
cooling can reduce the protective qualities and useful life of the Pants. See Section 14
of this Guide for limitations on useful life.
WARNING
!
NEVER STORE YOUR GARMENT IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT, INDIRECT SUNLIGHT,
OR IN FLUORESCENT LIGHT
. Exposure to light (particularly light in the sun’s rays and
fluorescent light) will severely weaken and damage the components in your Pants after
only A FEW DAYS. Damage caused by exposure to light cannot be repaired, nor will the
manufacturer cover such damage in its warranty. (See Warranty Information, Section 16
of this Guide.)
13. STORAGE
Between incidents, and for longer-term storage, hang your
Pants out of light and away from sharp objects that may
cause tears or snags in the fabric.
Use fans to provide good ventilation to dry Pants that may
have absorbed water or sweat after an incident, and to
assist in the removal of contaminants that may not have
been removed by washing.
Always wash and dry your Pants in accordance
with Section 11 of this Guide and before hanging in
long-term storage.
!
CAUTION
Never store your Pants
in living quarters with
personal belongings,
or within the passenger
compartment of a
vehicle. Prolonged
exposure to
contaminants remaining
in the Pants may
increase the risk of
cancer or other diseases.
14. RETIREMENT
14.1
USEFUL LIFE AND RETIREMENT
NFPA 1951 Utility, NFPA 1977, and NFPA 1975 performance requirements are
based on new, unworn Pants and Composites. Useful life is the period of time
that Pants, which have been properly cared for, can be expected to provide
reasonable limited protection. Useful life is normally 4 years, depending on the
materials and the conditions of wear, maintenance, and storage. Useful life is
highly unlikely to be more than 5 years. A general rule recommended by SAFER
and provided in the appendix of the NFPA 1851 is that a Pants should be retired
when the costs of repair would exceed 50% of the replacement cost.
The useful life of a Pants will vary according to the following factors:
•
Weight and type of weave of fabric
•
Age and frequency of use
•
Type of work the wearer performed
•
The length of exposure to extreme heat, and the intensity of the heat
•
The length of exposure to direct or indirect sunlight, or other light sources
such as fluorescent light
•
Pants more than 5 years old
Assess your Pants at each regular inspection to determine whether it has
exceeded its useful life and must be retired
Trained professionals with in-depth knowledge of Pants and their limitations
should handle the details of a retirement program. If you have any questions
about the useful life and retirement of your Pants, get assistance before
wearing it into any emergency situation! Contact a trained expert within your
organization, LION, or a LION TotalCare
®
Center.
Summary of Contents for NFPA 1975
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