NFPA Inspect Services

1. Bunker Gear Cleaning
2. Bunker gear Repairing
3. Bunker Gear Inspection
4. Bunker Gear Tracking

5. Bunker Gear Rental
 

1. Bunker Gear Cleaning and Washing

All bunker gear should be cleaned exactly once every six months in order to retain its fire protective integrity. Before any repairs can take place, the bunker gear should be washed using a highly specialized wet-wash process, and then inspected. NFPA Inspect will clean the following in a state of the art wet wash process:

• Turnout Coats & Pants
• Wildland Brush Gear
• Vests
• Aluminized Coats & Pants
• Station wear shirts
• Station wear pants
• Gloves
• Military One Piece Ensembles (FFE)
• Boots (Rubber & Leather)
• Hoods
• Coveralls
• Helmets

This wet wash process does not degrade the integrity of bunker gear.  NFPA Inspect uses the Check6 Aerospace cleaning agent together with a state of the art industrial-size washer/extractor. This system deep cleans your garment while the extractors uses an electrically operated valve system, fresh-water-flushing chemical manifold and a six liquid chemical injection point for a quality controlled wash according to NFPA guidelines.

In the case of severe contamination, NFPA Inspect can provide you with a competitive quote, and if we can’t clean it, we don’t charge.

2. Bunker Gear Repairs and Alterations

NFPA Inspect employs certified professional staff, trained by leading bunker gear manufacturers, to inspect, repair and make alterations to:

• Velcro enclosures
• Moisture barriers
• Reflective trim and lettering
• Burn holes, rips and tears
• Hardware buttons, snaps zippers, and hooks
• Knee and shoulder pad reinforcements

We at NFPA Inspect adhere to NFPA standards at all times and ensure that rips, tears, burn holes, or any other repairs are taken care of professionally in the least amount of time. We use flame retardant Nomex and Kevlar to patch and replace stitching. Repairs to PPE gear made by NFPA Inspect, ensure that the lifespan of bunker gear is extended beyond what might be expected. The repairs to bunker gear is less expensive than purchasing replacements.

3. Customization of Bunker Gear

It is possible to customize all firefighting bunker gear including alterations to sizing, moving a name patch or adding an extra radio pocket. NFPA Inspect staff in the custom alteration shop are properly trained and certified to deal with any alterations according to NFPA standards.

4. Bunker Gear Inspection

It is required by NFPA guidelines that all bunker gear be regularly inspected. There are three levels of inspection that the staff at NFPA Inspect is certified to carry out:

1.  Routine Inspection
2. Advanced Inspection
3. Complete Liner Inspection

Routine Inspection

The routine inspection is carried out by the owner of the bunker gear and should take place on a regular basis. You are required to search for the following problems:

• Soiling
• Contamination
• Physical damage
• Damage to trim
• Missing trim
• Missing stitches
• Loss of seam integrity

Advanced Inspection

According to NFPA 1851 guidelines, an advanced inspection should take place once every six months. This inspection needs to be carried out by a certified third party or personnel in the fire department who are qualified to conduct this inspection. This is where NFPA Inspect plays a role. It can be a real hassle to have bunker gear out of action while being cleaned, repaired and inspected, but this hassle will be worse if the gear is deteriorating or damaged in any way. And, damaged gear will not protect to the best of its ability.
The following procedures have to be followed during and advanced inspection:

• Soiled PPE elements need to be cleaned prior to inspection
• Inspection findings to be documented and tracked
• All fundamentals of routine inspection to be followed
• Light evaluation of liners
• Leakage evaluation
• Assessment of thermal and physical damage
• Look for missing hardware
• Test moisture barrier integrity
• Test seam integrity
• Test material integrity
• Label integrity test
• Reflectivity test
• Test closure system

Complete Liner Inspection

A complete liner inspection is required if bunker gear has been in use for three or more years. This inspection should take place once a year entailing:

• Liner being separated from the main body of the garment.
• Hidden sides of the moisture barrier and thermal liner are exposed
• Investigation of liner is carried out to test the moisture and water penetration barrier
• Results of these tests must be investigated
• Bunker gear is then either condemned or sewn back together dependent on the results of the test.

4. Bunker Gear Inspection

Fire Gear Rental offers rental gear for individuals and entire stations. Give us a ring or visit us online at www.FireGearRental.com and we will provide you with a free rental estimate.