GEAR CLEANING AND SANITIZATION

WHY YOU SHOULD CLEAN YOUR GEAR

• The NFPA 1851 Standard recommends bi-annual Advanced Cleaning of all issued bunker gear by a verified ISP (that’s us)
• Containments and biological hazards from fire grounds contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals which pose a risk to firefighter health. Advanced cleaning removes these contaminants from turnout gear which minimizes the health risk
• If you do not wash your dirty gear, cancer causing agents can get absorbed into the fibers of your bunker gear and can even transfer the contamination to those around you
• Dirty gear diminishes the garment’s ability to reflect heat. Materials saturated with hydrocarbons are more likely to conduct electricity and become flammable
• Turnout gear and PPE which is not cleaned frequently may wear out sooner. This can shorten the lifespan of your gear…and as we’re sure you know – turnout gear is not cheap!
• When left in clothing, chemicals, oils, and soot can weaken the fibers. They can also make the gear more susceptible to tears and punctures. This will reduce the ability of the gear to properly protect you during a fire
• The reflective trim on gear may not be as visible when dirty which can reduce firefighter safety on the foreground and at disaster sites
• THE KEY TAKEAWAY – CLEAN GEAR IS SAFE GEAR!

ADVANCED CLEANING

​
Firefighter protective clothing must be kept clean to ensure its proper performance. It will require a more frequent washing depending on how extensively it is used and on the nature of the incidents at which it is worn. Firefighter gear and PPE require an advanced cleaning when the clothing is soiled to the extent that it cannot be cleaned through routine cleaning. This also is necessary when there is an obvious odor or visible contamination that cannot be adequately removed with routine cleaning. In addition, if gear has been supposedly exposed to contamination, the gear must go through an advanced cleaning. Garments suspected of contamination by hazardous materials should go through a specialized cleaning that is performed by a verified ISP.

NFPA 1851 dictates the standards for the advanced cleaning of firefighting turnout gear and PPE. For issued turnout gear to remain compliant, an advanced cleaning is required AT LEAST twice a year or whenever the gear is exposed to soiling at a fire. The advanced cleaning also needs to be carried out by either a verified ISP or by trained individuals of the fire department. Your department or ISP must keep a record on file of the advanced cleaning for each piece of turnout gear.

WHY CHOOSE 911 CLEAN FOR ADVANCED CLEANING AND SANITIZATION

As a third party verified ISP, our deep cleaning service is held to the highest standard of quality and care. Not only do we thoroughly wash your gear, but we also use ozone to sanitize the gear.

When your gear arrives at our state of the art facility, the liners are removed from the shell and laundered separately. This is to prevent any contaminants on the shell from being transferred to the inner portions of the garment during the cleaning process. 

We then machine wash your turnout gear in our state of the art industrial-size washer/extractor with electrically operated valves, fresh-water-flushing chemical manifold and six liquid chemical injection point, and pump ozone into the machine to sanitize the gear.

We know that improper care and cleaning of gear will reduce its protection ability, so our team of professionals ensure that garments receive the best advanced deep cleaning and sanitization services.

WHEN SHOULD I SEND MY GEAR TO YOU FOR ADVANCED CLEANING?

Ideally, turnout gear and PPE should be sent out for a deep cleaning whenever gear is visibly soiled or contaminated and it should be sent to an ISP for an advanced cleaning at a minimum of twice a year.

However, even for a regular cleaning, it is important that your gear is properly cleaned according to NFPA 1851 and manufacturer standards. If you are wondering whether you should send your gear to us for cleaning, look at the list of questions below and see if you know the answers.

Can I use chlorine bleach or solvents on my turnout gear?

What is the correct PH range for cleaning solutions?

What is the correct temperature for washing my gear?

Does the cleaning agent harm the fabric?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, give us a call. We’ll be happy to answer them for you over the phone. OR you can save yourself a phone call by filling out our New Customer Registration Form and Order Form, emailing it to support@911se.com , and sending your gear to us for cleaning.

GEAR CARE AND MAINTENANCE

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR GEAR

Based on NFPA 1851 standards, issued turnout gear must be retired after 10 years. Since turnout gear is not cheap, it is vital that you take care of your gear to make it last as long as it can. Daily wear and stress from outside environments can severely shorten the life of PPE, so it is important to take the necessary steps and precautions to keep your gear in top shape. After all, your gear is your protection. If it is not functioning properly, it can severely hinder your job performance and make you susceptible to injury. Below are some ways to keep your gear lasting longer.

• Make sure you abide by NFPA 1851 Standards. The standards include how protective ensembles for structural firefighting and proximity fire fighting should be selected, cared for, and maintained
• Do a routine inspections and cleaning of your gear after exposure 
• Send your gear to a verified ISP for an advanced inspection AT LEAST once a year and an advanced cleaning AT LEAST twice a year
• Inspect your gear in a clean and well lighted room to better see any rips, tears, discoloration, or peeling of the seam seal tape
• Never store your gear in direct sunlight, indirect sunlight, or fluorescent light. This can reduce the strength of the fabric, limiting the garment’s ability to provide protection
• Don’t leave protective clothing out in the sun to dry. Garments should be air dried in a room with proper air circulation to allow for off-gassing of absorbed toxic gases
• Make sure that your gear is completely dry before storing. Damp gear can promote the growth of mildew and bacteria, which can damage gear
• Never use chlorine or a chlorine based products to clean your turnout gear because it will damage the protective fibers
• Never store bunker gear in personal vehicles unless it is clean and in a gear bag
• Clean and dry storage area and well ventilated

Manufacturers of the garment should be contacted anytime there is a question regarding cleaning or contamination of gear. When in doubt, call your manufacturer or just send your gear to a 3^rd party verified ISP (like us). We’ll take care of any inspection, cleaning, or repairs needed.