It’s nearly impossible to find two fire departments with exactly the same priorities. While some might mirror each other in how they operate or the number of people on their crews, each agency has its own way of determining what’s most important. When it’s time to invest in new turnout gear, these priorities tend to differ even more.
“Fire departments all have a lot of things in common, but they vary on where they fall with turnout gear,” said Jeff Sedivec. Sedivec is the mid-channel business development for emergency response at TenCate Protective Fabrics and has 32 years in the fire service. Some might be working with budget changes or trying out new types of materials, but most of them are looking to make an improvement from their last purchase, he explains.
These purchases hold immense weight, not only because funds are often limited and gear is used for many years before being replaced, but also because each departmental decision can be made public quickly if a catastrophe occurs. “Leaders realize that if they make a bad decision it can result in injury and liability,” Sedivec said.
Rather than struggle with wondering where to start when selecting turnout gear that meets every situational need, fire leaders can help narrow their choices by considering these five factors.
1. BUDGET
Money is naturally a large part of making any purchasing decision, especially for departments with large crews or those who have limited funds. Sedivec says that when there’s a finite amount of money available, departments will try to get the best bang for their buck based on their needs.
“It would be nice if everyone could have top-of-the-line gear, but sometimes people have to figure out what their priorities are,” he said. “To maximize a budget, firefighters assess which performance elements are the most important. If your department rarely experiences flashovers and thermal incidents, you might say, ‘Because of my limited budget, instead of having both an expensive outer shell and an expensive thermal liner, maybe I could downgrade the protection of the outer shell and upgrade my thermal liner or vice versa.’”
By figuring out which elements of turnout gear are most important, deciding what to purchase becomes a mix-and-match equation that’s a bit easier to solve.
2. DURABILITY
Many departments will try to get a full decade out of their turnout gear before replacing it, not only because it’s costly, but because – theoretically – it’s supposed to last that long. While today’s modern turnout gear options are all carefully designed to withstand the rigors of the fire service, it’s important to take into account how often you may end up needing to repair your gear before fully replacing it.
Durability, while important, may not end up topping the priority list for some, though. “Ten years ago, durability was king – that was the number one thing everyone worried about,” Sedivec shared. “Then, for a long time, it kind of took a back seat to immediate gratification, what I call ‘that feel good out of the gear bag’ – nice, comfortable, easy to move in. Departments were willing to sacrifice a little bit of durability for that.”
3. CLIMATE CONCERNS
Fire crews in Arizona just aren’t going to have the same priorities when it comes to their turnout gear as those in Maine. When shopping for new gear, take the time to think about the basic effects of your area’s weather. If you’re in a four seasons state, says Sedivec, you’ll need something that’s going to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
“If you’re somewhere with extremely cold winters, you do a lot more in your gear than fight structure fires,” he said. “A lot of people don’t have extrication gear or special gear, so in the winter, they’re going to be wearing structural gear out on the highway for a wreck and need to stay warm.”
Since it’s often a wish list item to have multiple sets of gear for varying situations, departments limited to purchasing one set of turnout gear per crew member should do their best to balance all climate factors. Warmth should certainly be considered, but equally important is the concept of moisture-wicking fabric – TenCate’s COOLDERM Technology helps keep you cool and dry when you’re sweating in the summer and dry and cozy in the winter.
4. HEALTH AND SAFETY
Every member of the fire service knows how integral turnout gear is, no matter what type of call they’re working. “Whoever is in charge of PPE realizes that this is a health and safety issue and it has to do with protecting the members of the fire department,” said Sedivec. “They all take it very seriously.”
Not only are firefighters exposed to extreme temperatures and the risk of getting burned, but they also may encounter repeated exposure to an array of harmful substances at any given scene. If their gear comes in contact with harmful substances, the gear should be cleaned as soon as possible, making it important that turnout materials can withstand frequent laundering.
“I call it exposure to harmful substances, but what that really means is an increase in washings,” Sedivec explained. “NFPA 1851 [selection, care and maintenance of turnout gear] has become very mainstream and there’s a lot of awareness around this topic. In the fire service they’re doing clean cab [keeping exposed turnout gear out of the cab of the trucks], on-scene decontamination, and accelerated washings, so there’s a question of, ‘Is this going to last if I’m washing it more than I used to?’”
5. OPERATIONAL TACTICS
Despite the ever-changing nature of being a first responder, there’s a good chance you can narrow down your calls to a handful of scenarios. Take some time to consider the factors involved in each, and then figure out what turnout gear elements will be most beneficial.
“Let’s say you’re a small rural department – if you have longer response times, typically by the time you get to the scene, anyone that can get out is out and it’s not really a rescue situation,” said Sedivec. “In that instance, a lot of your firefighting may be done externally and you’re not going in as much. Some of those people can look at different fabrics. If you have a rapid response time you’ll be more apt to be exposed to a flashover so you’re going to think more about thermal protection.”
THE FINAL FACTOR
The quality of your turnout gear will play an important role in your department’s effectiveness and the safety of your crew, but making the initial purchase is only part of the equation. Once you have your gear, making sure any problems are addressed is also key.
“The manufacturer matters a lot, but the customer service aspect is huge,” said Sedivec. “When you have a problem with your gear, you need a responsive manufacturer to address it head-on, answer questions and resolve the issue.”
“TenCate Protective Fabrics offers support to dealer and manufacturer representatives, assists departments in the selection of the proper fabric and works with its partners to resolve issues with turnout gear,” noted Sedivec. “I encourage them to come to us with any fabric questions or concerns. At TenCate the partnership extends long after the garments have shipped.”
Visit TenCate Protective Fabrics for more information.
