Every firefighter needs to inspect their gear before and after use. If you notice any of your PPE is damaged or worn, it’s time to switch it out for something new. Here is a guide on how to check for damage on firefighter gear.
Reasons To Check for Damaged Firefighter Gear
Every emergency worker needs to check their gear, including firefighters. One reason you need to inspect your firefighter gear is that the NFPA 1851 Standard requires it for all ISP-certified equipment.
Inspecting it isn’t difficult and doesn’t take too long unless you skip steps. Make sure to be thorough; it’s essential for your safety so you don’t get in trouble during inspections with higher-ups.
How To Check for Damage
We want to ensure you have the right info when learning how to check for damage on firefighter gear for the first time. When you’re looking at your garments, make sure to take note of discoloration, heat damage, and seam damage.
Here are the steps to inspecting your garments:
- Lay everything out on a flat surface—if you’re using the ground, make sure nothing is in the way so you can fan it out.
- Start by looking for discoloration. The clothing will fade with use. You can check if a shirt or jacket has lost tensile strength by stretching the fabric with your thumb and finger.
- Check for heat damage next. You must inspect every piece of equipment, not just shirts. You can examine each piece of clothing by looking at the colors. If a dark-colored piece of clothing looks beige or brown, it has heat damage.
Aside from garments, you should also look for signs that your firefighter hat needs replacement, like cracks. If the cracks have gotten bigger to where if you push down hard enough, it could break the inner shell, it’s time to replace it.
How To Check for Leaks
You should also check equipment and clothing items for leaks. Many pieces of firefighting garments have moisture barriers that break down. You can check for leaks by pouring a water and alcohol mixture onto the liners—before pouring, make sure to remove the liners first.
After you’ve poured the mixture, it should soak without leaking from the sides or bottom. Otherwise, replace your garments. You must take these steps every time you use your firefighter garments and helmet.
