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HomeMy WebLinkAbout311.006 - Structural Firefighting Personal Protective EquipmentEffective Date: October 2007 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.006 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 1 of 6 Fresno City Fire Department 300 Training and Equipment Manual SECTION 311.006 STRUCTURAL FIREFIGHTING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) PURPOSE This policy provides general information regarding the care and maintenance of structural firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE). APPLICATION These Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) standards and procedures are to be followed while engaged in all forms of Department activities. OPERATIONAL POLICY The Department shall provide all sworn fire suppression personnel with the proper PPE for a variety of hazardous operations, train users in its proper use, and provide means to repair/replace unserviceable items. Unapproved modifications, additions, and/or alterations to, and/or removal of any component from Department issued structural firefighting ensemble and other PPE is prohibited. When on duty, sworn safety members shall have a complete structural firefighting PPE ensemble in serviceable condition and available for immediate use. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE Members are responsible for the maintenance and care of the following PPE items issued to them, to include the performance of routine inspections, routine cleanings, and advanced cleanings. Structural Firefighting Ensemble includes one each of the following: • Structural firefighting helmet complete with approved eye protection, chin strap, outer reflective material, liner, and shroud (ear protection) with extra brow pad. Effective Date: October 2007 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.006 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 2 of 6 • Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) facemask with extra head net. • Particulate-blocking Hood (2) • Structural firefighting jacket (2) • Structural firefighting pant (2) with suspenders and/or belt • Structural firefighting gloves (2 pair) • Hearing protection General Guidelines for Care of Ensemble Garments Usage and care for all ensemble items should comply with manufacturer's guidelines. Users should avoid unnecessary exposure of PPE ensemble items to mechanical damage, thermal damage, ultraviolet light (includes fluorescent lighting as well as sunlight), and chemical or biological contaminants. Use only Department approved disinfectants and detergents to clean/disinfect PPE ensemble items. The use of any product containing bleach or solvents, any abrasive cleaner, as well as any dry-cleaning process is prohibited. Structural Firefighting Jacket Employee name should be affixed to the lower rear of the jacket shell in reflective lettering as per the current purchase contract. For reasons of accountability, loaner jackets, or jackets re-issued to another member should not display an incorrect name. The manufacture label for structural firefighting jacket shell and liner includes the name of the member on the label. The manufacture label is not to be removed. Optional equipment (such as glove holders or radio strap retainers) may be affixed to the jacket, subject to approval of the Fire Chief or designee. Any repairs and/or alterations which penetrate the outer shell of garment should be performed by Logistics or by a Department approved ISP. Effective Date: October 2007 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.006 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 3 of 6 Structural Firefighting Pant The manufacture label for structural firefighting pant shell and liner includes the name of the member on the label. The manufacture label is not to be removed. Employees may choose to wear either the Department issued belt or suspender, or both. Employees also have an option to wear NFPA compliant leather suspenders and/or belt, black in color, either of which may include embossed and/or painted name, subject to approval of the Fire Chief or designee. Optional equipment (such as glove holder or radio strap retainer) may be affixed to the pant, subject to approval of the Fire Chief or designee. Any repairs and/or alterations which penetrate the outer shell of garment should be performed by Logistics or by a Department approved ISP. Structure Firefighting Helmet Employees may choose to wear either the Department issued or an approved optional leather helmet. Helmets should include NFPA compliant eye protection, shroud (ear flaps), chin strap, reflective panels, and Department issued leather helmet shield. Employees choosing to purchase and place in service an approved leather helmet shall maintain their leather helmet in a serviceable condition at their own expense. Members shall maintain a Department issued helmet in a serviceable condition and available to be placed in service at any time. See PROCESS section below for approved helmet specifications. Helmet color is used to designate rank as follows: chief officers, white; fire captains, red; firefighter specialists and firefighters, black. Reflective panels are to be yellow/green in color, except probationary firefighters are to wear orange panels. Non-probationary firefighters and engineers have an option to wear black reflective panels, and captains have an option to wear red reflective panels. All reflective panels are to be provided by Supply. Unit Identifier panels are to be displayed on each side of the helmet; these Unit Identifiers may replace 2 reflective panels. To maintain visibility, reflective panels and Unit Identifiers may be repositioned above approved rubber flashlight holders or leather name band. Helmets may incorporate an optional leather chin strap, black in color. Leather chin straps must include NFPA compliant breakaway buckle. Shroud should not be rolled or folded up during firefighting operations. Effective Date: October 2007 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.006 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 4 of 6 The Department issued leather helmet shield, indicating name and rank, should be affixed to the front of the helmet shell, centered approximately 1/4" above brim. Shield color is used to designate rank as follows: chief officers, white; fire captains, red; firefighter specialists and firefighters, black; and probationary Firefighters, orange. Only Department issued shields are to be affixed to an in-service helmet (Figure 1). A hook and loop (such as Velcro brand) field should be added to underside of rear brim to hold unit identifier tags (Figure 2). Employees have the option to personalize the underside area of the rear brim of helmet using paint, vinyl, stickers, or photographs. Images may not be political, sexual, or otherwise offensive in nature and are subject to approval of the Fire Chief or designee. Employee's last name shall be added to rear of helmet shell, centered 1/2" above rear brim using 1” tall reflective lettering in all capital letters. All labeling will be provided by Supply section. In addition to Department issued lettering, employees have the option to affix a leather band, black in color, around the body of the helmet with name embossed and/or painted legibly at rear of helmet band, subject to approval of the Fire Chief or designee. Leather bands should not interfere with the functionality of other helmet components. An optional American flag decal or sticker may be added to rear of helmet shell. Approved stickers will be provided by Supply section (Figure 3). Figure 1 - Department issued leather helmet shield Figure 2 - Hook and loop on underside of rear brim Figure 3 - Optional American flag decal or sticker on helmet Effective Date: October 2007 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.006 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 5 of 6 To reduce exposure to products of combustion, it is recommended that Department issued NFPA compliant goggles be detached from helmet and stored in a jacket or pant pocket, available for immediate use. The addition of a Bourke-style eye shield is optional but is not an approved replacement for other approved NFPA compliant eye protection. Employees may choose to wear ANSI Z87.1 compliant safety glasses in lieu of the Department provided goggles or face shield during operations requiring eye protection. A small digital camera and/or flashlight may be affixed to the helmet, subject to approval of the Fire Chief or designee. Addition of such equipment should not compromise the functionality of any helmet component. Firefighting Gloves The employee's ID number should be written legibly on the cuff of each structural and wildland firefighting glove using black permanent marker. Firefighting Boots The employee's ID number should be written legibly on the inside of each structural and wildland firefighting boot using black permanent marker. Particulate-Blocking Protective Hood Employees should maintain a clean and dry protective hood as part of their structural firefighting PPE ensemble. Protective hoods should be labeled with employee ID number near hood label, using black permanent marker. PROCESS ITEM MANUFACTURER AND ITEM NUMBER NOTES STRUCTURE FIREFIGHTING HELMET Cairns 1044 Traditional Composite Equipped with integrated Defender visor. Must include shroud when in use. Phenix TC1 Traditional Composite Equipped with NFPA compliant goggles and shroud. Must include both shroud and goggles when in use. Effective Date: October 2007 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.006 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 6 of 6 ITEM MANUFACTURER AND ITEM NUMBER NOTES STRUCTURE FIREFIGHTING HELMET Phenix First Due 1500 Structural Contemporary Equipped with NFPA compliant goggles and shroud. Must include both shroud and goggles when in use. Phenix TL2 Traditional Leather Approved leather helmet (optional). Available from All Star Equipment. Must include NFPA compliant goggles and shroud when in use. INFORMATION This section intentionally left blank. DEFINITIONS This section intentionally left blank. CROSS-REFERENCES Training and Equipment Manual Section 311.005, Structural Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program Section 311.008, Protective Footwear Section 311.009, Structural Firefighting Protective Clothing Cleaning Procedures Section 311.010, Structural Firefighting Protective Clothing Inspection and Repair