User Information Guide – Protective Garments for Structural and Proximity Fire Fighting (NFPA 1971)
Introduction
This guide addresses Honeywell garments for both
structural and proximity firefighting (NFPA 1971
)
. It
is
important to check the label on your garment to
determine the type of fire fighting operations to
which
your garment has been certified. Some
garments
may also be certified to other standards.
If this is the
case, you must check the label on your
garment to
determine what other standards apply to
your
garment and obtain the appropriate user guide
for
additional instructions for its care and
maintenance.
Where there are differences related
to selection,
care, and maintenance between
structural and
proximity fire fighting garments, this
information is
highlighted.
Your protective garment is intended to provide
limited protection to your torso, arms, and legs as
part of a properly selected and configured protective
ensemble during structural fire fighting or proximity
fire fighting. While your protective garment is designed
to provide protection against hazards encountered in
either structural or proximity fire fighting, or other
emergency operations,
your
protective
garment
will
not
protect
you
against
all
exposures
and
under
all
conditions
, even when worn properly.
This user information guide provides information
and instructions related to the selection, use, care,
and maintenance of your protective garment. How-
ever, this guide does not tell you when and under
what circumstances you should wear your protec-
tive garment. Rather, this guide tells you how to
wear your protective garment and provides an
understanding of the limitations of your garment and
how this garment may or may not protect you. De-
termining the suitability of your protective garment
for specific emergency operations rests with your
department or employer, who has the legal respon-
sibility to conduct a hazard assessment and decide
if your protective garment provides appropriate
protection against identified hazards.
While this guide provides you basic information
to adequately care for and maintain your protec-
tive garment, there are certain additional proce-
dures – such as advanced inspection, advanced
cleaning, decontamination, special incident
procedures, and retirement – that should be per-
formed only by trained and qualified personnel.
Information and instructions for these additional
procedures are provided on our website. Go to
www.HoneywellFirstResponder.com.
Pre-use Information
General Construction and Features
– Your protec-
tive garment has been manufactured to comply with
and is certified to either the requirements for struc-
tural fire fighting protective garments or the require-
ments for proximity fire fighting protective garments
in NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for
Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting.
Honeywell offers garments as a coat
,
pants
or
fullbody coverall. In each case, these garments are
constructed
of three layers that include the outer
shell, moisture
barrier, and thermal barrier:
• The outer shell is the exterior layer of your
clothing. On this layer, a number of features are
provided, which include but are not limited to,
reflective trim, lettering, pockets, and closure
hardware. The outer shell can be separated from
the liner, which consists of the moisture barrier
and thermal barrier sewn together.
• The moisture barrier layer is the next layer of your
clothing that is next to the outer shell. This layer
consists of a film and textile and is intended to
keep liquid from penetrating your garment.
• The innermost layer is the thermal barrier, which
provides the majority of your thermal insulation.
All three layers must be worn together to provide
protection during structural or proximity firefighting.
Honeywell protective garments for structural and
proximity fire fighting are available in, but not
limited
to, Morning Pride
®
TAILS™, VIPER,
and
RANGER™
,
EDGE and VE Gear
. Features and
options for your garments may include:
• A front closure for coats and a fly closure for
pants, which may consist of different hardware
such as a zipper, snaps, hooks and dees,
combined with hook and loop closure tape.
• High visibility trim for daytime and nighttime
visibility placed on the outer shell of your coat
and pants; lettering and flag emblems may also
be present on your coat.
• Pockets at various locations, some for specific
purposes such as for carrying a radio or selfcon-
tained breathing apparatus (SCBA) facepiece.
• Reinforcements on the shoulders and elbows of
coats and knees for pants. Coat sleeve
cuffs
and
pants cuffs can also be reinforced with additional
materials. Various options exist for the types of
materials, areas of coverage, and placement for
these reinforcements.
• In addition, coats provide different types of
collars
and chin straps, sleeve
cuffs
, and
wristlets.
• Pants may include a built-in belts, escape belts,
a
harness system, side take-up straps, boot
access
side zippers, and different types of
suspenders.
Coats are also provided with different types of a
Drag Rescue Device (DRD), which is installed in the
clothing such that the pull strap (hand loop) exits at
the top back of the coat. The DRD consists of
webbing or cordage which is positioned in a looped
fashion underneath the arms between the outer shell
and the liner. Coats and pants include an
inspection
port that permits the examination of the
liner interior.
Proximity firefighting garment
s
share many of
the
same materials and features as structural
firefighting garments, except that the outer shell
is
replaced with an aluminized material and trim
is
not used.
The aluminized outer shell is
intended
to provide additional protection from
exposure to
high levels of radiant heat
associated with proximity firefighting.
Trim,
lettering, and non-aluminized materials are not
placed on the exterior
of proximity fire fighting
protective garments.
Specific information about the materials and
features
of available garments is provided on the
Honeywell
website at
www.HoneywellFirstResponder.com.
Safety Considerations and Limitations of Use
–
It is critically important that you do not use this
protective garment until you have read and under-
stood this entire guide and the labels provided on
your protective garment. In order to reduce – but not
eliminate – your risks, do not wear this protective
garment unless:
•
You Understand Labels, This Guide, and
Applicable Standards:
You have read, fully
understood, and strictly follow this guide and all
labels for this garment; the NFPA 1971 standard;
and applicable national, state/provincial, and local
regulations pertinent to emergency operations.
•
Your Use Is in Accordance with Applicable
Standards and Regulations:
Your use of this
protective garment is consistent with NFPA1500,
Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety
and Health Program, Title 29, Code of Federal
Regulations Part 1910.132, General Requirements
of Subpart I, “Personal Protective Equipment,” and
any specific regulations that pertain to your local
area.
•
Need for Hazard/Risk Assessment:
Your
department, organization, or employer has
conducted a hazard/risk assessment and deter-
mined that this garment provides an acceptable
level of protection for the particular emergency
operations consistent with applicable national,
state/provincial, and local regulations.
•
Your Garment Fits Properly:
Your garment must
be appropriately sized to provide an adequate
range of motion and permits you to complete
required tasks without overexertion.
•
Limitations of Protection:
You have been trained
and understand that not all garments provide
protection from all hazards, and you have been
trained and understand how to select and prop-
erly use the appropriate garment to meet the
expected exposure.
•
Heat Stress:
Wearing your protective garment
together with other ensemble elements may
increase your risk of heat stress which may cause
heart attack, stroke, dehydration, or other health-
related conditions. At the first sign of heat stress,
immediately seek medical help.
•
Burn Injury:
Your protective garment will not
protect you from all burns and injuries. If your
protective garment is exposed to radiant, convec-
tive, or conductive heat, or comes in contact with
a hot environment or hot object, you may be
burned underneath the protective garment with no
warning and no sign of damage to the protective
garment.
•
Heat Sensation:
Your protective garment will
lower your ability to feel heat. Do not be misled by
the absence of heat or discomfort underneath
your protective garment. Even though you do not
feel heat or discomfort, you can be burned or
injured suddenly and without warning. If you feel
heat or some slight discomfort or unusual sensa-
tion under your protective garment, you may
already have been burned or are about to be
burned. Be constantly alert to the possibility of
exposure to heat and other hazards.
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