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Home My WebLink About311.010 - Structural Firefighting Protective Clothing Inspection and RepairEffective Date: April 2007 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.010 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 1 of 8 Fresno City Fire Department 300 Training and Equipment Manual SECTION 311.010 STRUCTURAL FIREFIGHTING PROTECTIVE CLOTHING INSPECTION AND REPAIR PURPOSE This policy provides information and procedures related to the inspection and repair/replacement process for structural firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE) items. Routine inspections are required to ensure the serviceability of structural firefighting PPE and the safety of Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) members. APPLICATION This policy applies to all sworn suppression members. OPERATIONAL POLICY Users of structural firefighting PPE shall be responsible for routine inspections of all Department issued structural firefighting PPE ensemble components issued to them. All repairs shall be performed by a certified Independent Service Provider (ISP), or by a manufacturer trained/certified technician. Unapproved repairs or modifications to any component of the structural firefighting PPE ensemble are prohibited. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE Routine Inspection of Structural Firefighting PPE Each user of structural firefighting PPE should inspect all in-service ensemble components at the beginning of each work period, after use, when damaged, and after any repair. Advanced Inspection of Structural Firefighting PPE Advanced inspections should be performed at least annually, and only by properly trained personnel. Effective Date: April 2007 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.010 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 2 of 8 PROCESS Routine Inspection of Structural Firefighting PPE Protective coats and pants should be inspected for the following: • Soiling and contamination • Physical damage such as rips, tears, cuts, and thermal damage • Damaged or missing hardware and closures • Damaged or missing trim • Seams becoming un-sewn and missing or broken stitches • Correct assembly of shell, liner, and Drag Rescue Device (DRD) DRDs should be inspected for the following: • Proper installation in coat • Soiling and contamination • Physical damage including tears, cuts, punctures, cracking, or splitting • Thermal damage • Seams becoming un-sewn, and missing or broken stitches Hoods should be inspected for the following: • Soiling and contamination • Physical damage including rips, tears, cuts • Thermal damage • Stretching or elongation of the face opening • Seams becoming un-sewn and missing or broken stitches Helmets should be inspected for the following: • Soiling and contamination • Physical damage to the shell including cracks, crazing, dents, abrasions, and thermal damage • Physical damage to the earflaps including rips, tears, cuts, and thermal damage • Damaged or missing components of the suspension and retention systems • Damage or missing components of the face shield or goggles • Damaged or missing reflective trim • Seams becoming un-sewn and missing or broken stitches Effective Date: April 2007 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.010 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 3 of 8 Gloves should be inspected for the following: • Soiling and contamination • Physical damage including rips, tears, cuts, thermal damage, and inverted liner • Shrinkage and loss of flexibility • Loss of elasticity of the wristlet • Seams becoming un-sewn and missing or broken stitches Boots should be inspected for the following: • Soiling and contamination • Physical damage including cuts, tears, punctures, and thermal damage • Exposed or deformed steel toe, steel midsole or shank • Loss of water resistance • Closure damage or not functioning • Seams becoming un-sewn and missing or broken stitches Members who know or suspect that a problem exists with any component should remove the item from service, enter information into Department RMS describing known or suspected damage, and route item to Senior Storeskeeper using Administrative Manual, Section 106.048, Wired Repair Tag Form (FD-37). Members may also request a comparable loaner item from the Supply Section using Department RMS. Advanced Inspection of Structural Firefighting PPE Coat and Jacket should be inspected for the following: • Soiling • Contamination • Physical damage o Rips, tears, and cuts o Damaged or missing hardware o Thermal damage • Loss of moisture barrier integrity o Rips, tears, cuts, or abrasions o Discoloration o Thermal damage • Evaluation of system fit, and coat/pants overlap • Seams becoming un-sewn and missing or broken stitches Effective Date: April 2007 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.010 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 4 of 8 • Loss of material integrity o Discoloration o Change in texture o Material strength o Loss or shifting of liner material • Loss of wristlet integrity o Loss of elasticity o Stretching o Runs, cuts or burn holes • Damaged or missing trim • Label legibility and attachment • Hook and loop functionality • Liner attachment systems • Closure system functionality • Accessories for compliance • Correct assembly of shell, liner, and Drag Rescue Device (DRD) • Proper labelling (user’s name and/or ID number) Protective coats and pants should receive the following additional evaluations: • Light evaluation of liners (all garments). • Leakage evaluation (garments in service less than three years). Drag Rescue Device (DRD): • Installation in coat • Soiling • Contamination • Physical damage o Tears, cuts, punctures, cracking, or splitting o Thermal damage o Seams becoming un-sewn and missing or broken stitches Hood: • Soiling • Contamination • Physical damage o Rips, tears, and cuts o Thermal damage • Shrinkage Effective Date: April 2007 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.010 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 5 of 8 • Loss of material elasticity or stretching out of shape • Stretching or elongation of the face opening • Seams becoming un-sewn and missing or broken stitches • Label legibility • User’s Employee ID number near label is present and legible Helmet: • Soiling • Contamination • Physical damage to the shell o Cracks, crazing, dents, and abrasion o Thermal damage • Physical damage to the earflaps o Rips, tears, and cuts o Thermal damage • Damaged or missing components of the suspension and retention systems • Functionality of the suspension and retention systems • Damage or missing components of the face shield or goggles • Functionality of the face shield or goggles • Damage to the impact cap • Damaged or missing reflective trim • Accessories for compliance • Seams becoming un-sewn and missing or broken stitches • Label legibility • User’s name in vinyl lettering added above rear brim • User’s Employee ID number is present on underside of rear brim • Approved leather shield affixed to front of helmet • Hook and loop (Velcro) base are present on sides of helmet as well as under rear brim • Spare Passport accountability system name tags are present (minimum of 2) Gloves: • Soiling • Contamination • Physical damage o Rips, tears, and cuts o Thermal damage o Inverted liner • Shrinkage • Loss of flexibility and/or loss of elasticity of the wristlet Effective Date: April 2007 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.010 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 6 of 8 • Seams becoming un-sewn and missing or broken stitches • Label legibility • User’s Employee ID number on glove gauntlet is present and legible Boots: • Soiling • Contamination • Physical damage o Cuts, tears, and punctures o Thermal damage o Exposed or deformed steel toe, steel midsole or shank • Loss of water resistance • Closure damage or not functioning • Excessive tread wear • Condition of lining o Tears o Excessive wear o Separation from outer layer • Heel counter failure • Accessories for compliance • Seams becoming un-sewn and missing or broken stitches • Label legibility • User’s Employee ID number inside boot is present and legible Protective coats and pants in service three years or more should receive a complete liner inspection that requires separating the moisture barrier from the thermal liner and inspecting for: • Physical damage to all layers (all sides) o Rips, tears, cuts, and abrasions o Thermal damage • Seams becoming un-sewn, missing, or broken stitches and missing or loose seam tape • Material physical integrity o UV or chemical damage o Changes in material texture o Loss of material strength o Loss or shifting of liner material • Delaminating of film from substrate, flaking or powdering • Label legibility • Water barrier penetration evaluation (hydrostatic testing) Effective Date: April 2007 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.010 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 7 of 8 Repair/Replacement of Structural Firefighting PPE Any repairs or alterations to structural firefighting garments should be performed by the Logistics section or an approved Independent Service Provider (ISP). The ISP will determine the cost effectiveness of repair versus replacement. If determined to be damaged, defective, or otherwise unserviceable, PPE items should receive an advanced cleaning, dried, bagged, and routed to Supply using Form 37 Routing Tag. If exposed to a known or suspected chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear contaminant, PPE items should be immediately placed out of service and isolated in a safe location to prevent cross contamination. Notify an on-duty battalion chief and be guided by his/her direction. Advanced cleaning and drying should be completed before routing any PPE ensemble item for advanced inspection or repair. Keep shell and inner liner of jacket and/or pant together when routing to Supply for inspection or repair of either component. Supply of Loaner/Replacement Items The department Supply Section should maintain an adequate inventory of loaner/replacement PPE items, including NFPA compliant structure firefighting boots to be available to loan. Loaner or replacement PPE items can be obtained from Supply through normal channels, or through a battalion chief if needed immediately. INFORMATION This section intentionally left blank. DEFINITIONS This section intentionally left blank. CROSS-REFERENCES NFPA 1851 Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting NFPA 1971 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Firefighting Effective Date: April 2007 Thomas Cope, Battalion Chief Current Revision Date: 05/23/2025 Section 311.010 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/23/2029 Page 8 of 8 Administrative Manual Section 106.048, Wired Repair Tag Form (FD-37) Training and Equipment Manual Section 311.006, Structural Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment Section 311.009, Structural Firefighting Protective Clothing Cleaning Procedures