Nomex 3D outer shell with Gore Airlocker moisture barrier (left) and PBI Gold outer shell with Gore Airlocker moisture barrier. Click on each image to download a larger version (70kb).
The CFA Board at its December 2007 meeting affirmed its position on new structural ensemble (coat and trousers) for our firefighters. The Board reinforced that firefighter safety is its first priority.
The Board decision to provide CFA structural firefighters with a choice of two ensembles was based on both ensembles exceeding the required safety standards and the view that individuals should be given a choice depending on their circumstance and preference.
Eight ensembles were initially provided by two suppliers for evaluation by a team of representatives from CFA, the Volunteer Associations, the United Firefighters Union and the MFB. The CFA component of this evaluation team comprised an equal number of career and volunteer participants. The evaluation results were presented to the September 2007 Board meeting, where a preferred supplier was selected, and the four ensembles provided by this supplier were recommended for the next phase of the trials.
Part of the evaluation involved a select number of wearers participating in a combination of specific hot fire and activity based trials held at Fiskville Training College over a four-day period in February 2007. This process was monitored by Deloitte auditors who collected and stored all wearer responses from this entirely subjective component of the evaluation process. At the conclusion of the Fiskville trials all wearers retained their ensembles for a further 60-day on-station trial.
The scientific evaluations conducted by the Human Performance Laboratories at the University of Wollongong, concluded that there were only very slight differences between the ensembles regarding the interaction of metabolically induced heat. However, the subjective Fiskville and on-station trials returned some differences based on personal preference, including fit and comfort levels. The Board took this into account in providing CFA firefighters with a choice of:
- Nomex 3D outer shell with Gore Airlocker moisture barrier; and
- PBI Gold outer shell with Gore Airlocker moisture barrier.
The CFA Board, satisfied that both ensembles could provide the highest standards of structural firefighter protection, resolved to provide CFA firefighters with a choice.
The Board recognised the importance of providing the new ensembles to structural firefighters as soon as possible, and providing firefighters with a personal choice of ensemble was seen by the Board as a means to overcome any possible industrial relations barriers that would prevent this objective being achieved.
Both of these ensembles have now completed final destructive flame envelopment testing in England and the analysis of the test results was given to the Board at its January meeting. The test results confirmed that both ensembles comply with the performance requirements of Australian Standard 4967:2006 and are capable of receiving independent product certification.
The test confirmed that both ensembles experienced no failure of the fabric in the outer shell and the inner liner, and no indication of design faults in the ensembles construction. Analysis of the report concluded that Nomex 3D returned a lower predicted body percentage for pain response, while PBI Gold returned a lower predicted body burn percentage at the conclusion of the destructive flame envelopment testing.
As there were no issues present within the contents of the report which were not previously apparent, the Board at its January 2008 meeting confirmed its previous decision to provide the new ensembles as soon as possible.
The ensembles are now being reviewed by stakeholders to confirm the final design. Once this is complete the ensembles will be subjected to the Australian Standards certification process before roll-out can commence.
The Board wants one colour for both ensembles. However, the supplier has told CFA that it is unable to deliver the Nomex 3D gold-coloured ensemble until November 2008. The Board, still wanting to provide our firefighters with a choice of new ensembles as soon as possible, has agreed to the issue of a Nomex 3D lime-green ensemble as an interim option only until the Nomex 3D gold-coloured ensemble is available.
Communications will be a key factor in the successful roll-out of the new ensembles and it is the Board’s intention that you be kept up-to-date with progress. It is also important that you be given the means to provide feedback, and channels to allow this to happen are being established. CFA Fire Flyer allows for timely on-line feedback and it will be used with other media including The Fireman to provide project updates on a regular basis. The normal regional communication channels will also be used to keep you informed and a DVD and brochure are being produced to help you make your ensemble choice and understand distribution.
Staff are currently being recruited for the project and a project plan is being developed in consultation with stakeholders. The project is expected to run until June 2010.
CFA Board
18 comments:
Will the new PPE be available in 'female sizing'?
The board's decision is disappointing and many within the ranks of the CFA would agree. It seems once again the board has turned and hidden from industrial relations pressure instead of standing ground. The choice being offered to CFA personnel will just drive the wedge between staff and volunteers even further. Staff will be forced to choose one type by their union while sensibility will ensure volunteers will choose the higher ranked garments from the trials. The CFA Board should be trying to unify the organisation and not divide it.
Im wearing a turnout coat witch 10 years old and 2hand .after i had 2 sew it back together .now you want me to wear into fires . come make your minds up . so what on the colors . your asking us to put your lives on the line all over witch colors
Hi thehobbit
Thanks for your question. Yes, the new ensembles will be available in female sizes. AFAC sizing consists of 27 different sizes that cater specifically for men and women. Cheers, Fire Flyer.
Why are the CFA persisting with the absurd "choice" option?
If both ensembles exceed the Standard, why doesn't somebody in the Glass Castle, actually make a proper decision and settle on one specification?
This is an incredible waste of money, 6 years and still no clear answers from anybody. If this was a privately run business instead of a government organisation, heads would have rolled by now and something would be done.
If you are still going to make everyone choose one ensemble or another, when will the results of all the testing be made available, so that people are able to make an informed decision about which one they feel proveds them with the best protection???
Agree wtih the request for CFA to post all test results for both options so an informed decision can be made. Would also like the opportunity to physically try on both first - as this also may become an input to any decision I make
It is extremely disappointing that this PPC project has taken so long.
6 years ? Thank goodness the board is not directly involved in decision making on the fireground.
No doubt, the career staff will be forced to order the PBI ensemble - the UFU favourite for some reason.
The volunteers will get a choice and, by ordering the Nomex, run the risk of putting two
different ensembles on the fireground thus dividing career staff and volunteers even further.
Whilst the flame testing is extremely important, visibility ranks high on the scale of importance.
The lime green (nomex) is superb. I've been wearing one of the Nomex lime green ensembles
for the past 8 months and find it FAR SUPERIOR to the hession bag we wear now.
The board want one colour for all ? So instead of committing to the higher visibility lime green - except for the “interim” - the Nomex will be dyed to a lower visibility “gold” (read cacky brown) just to make it look the same as the PBI.
And in case you’re wondering - the PBI can’t be dyed to a higher visibility lime green colour.
Is this really the way forward?
Clearly industrial relations harmony is more important to the board than providing the best structure ensemble in ALL aspects.
Everytime we pull up to a fire or incident we have the potential to be working in or around traffic. Does the PBI Gold meet AS/NZ 4602 regarding daytime visibility ?
Apparently both sets if gear need to be cleaned twice a year, just for maintenance, and if used at a structure fire it needs to get cleaned again. Yet it can't be cleaned by putting it in the wash or taking it to the local dry cleaners. It has to be sent away to get cleaned by a specialist. Can any one clarify this? If so do vol's get 1 or 2 sets? I know staff will get two sets straight up.
When's this new gear going to be rolled out? Last I heard it was going to be April/May this year, but by the sound of this and like many other things in CFA it doesn't look like that will happen. Again can any one clarify this?
PBI Gold fully complies with all performance requirements contained within AS 4967 – 2006 Protective Clothing Used For Structural Firefighting. Under this applicable standard day and night wearer visibility is achieved by the use of a minimum surface area coverage (0.2m2 ) of retro-reflective trim, or tape. Both CFA personal choice options (PBI Gold & Nomex 3D) will be fitted with the required amount of retro-reflective tape and thus comply with the standard.
Compliance with AS/NZS 4602.4 High Visibility Safety Garments is not currently a requirement for structural firefighters' clothing, however it is under revision at present and may in future better reflect the needs of emergency service workers. Cheers, Fire Flyer.
No decisions have been made regarding any scheduled requirement for cleaning. Neither fabric requires a mandatory cleaning cycle twice yearly, however, it is likely CFA will implement a regular cleaning regime in order to ensure ensembles are cleaned and inspected for damage by the manufacturer.
There is no requirement for these new ensembles to be cleaned after each use, although when cleaning is necessary, as predominately judged by the wearer, the cleaning process is likely to be undertaken by a contracted party that can comply with the manufacturer's cleaning and drying specifications and CFA’s Radio Frequency Identification data capture and tracking requirements.
The allocation criteria is yet to be finalised and the rollout program still planned to commence in May. Cheers, Fire Flyer
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong here but the PBI Gold needs the reflective tape to meet the visibility standard. The Nomex lime green meets the standard without ?? the tape but gets it anyway to further improve the visibility.
You only have to look at the photos of the two side by side at the top of this article to work out which stands out better.
As far as wearing the gear is concerned - members will need to be very aware of the extra heat loading on the body when wearing this gear - either the PBI or the Nomex. Adequate pre hydration, appropriate clothing underneath, minimising time wearing and appropriate cooling off and breaks will be essential to maintaining personal safety.
This should be no different to what we do with the gear we have now but the new ensembles are bigger and bulkier - try wearing the new stuff standing with a hoseline at an MVA in 30C+ heat and see how much fluid you lose.
Alan Millar - Hastings
Does CFA have to comply with the Traffic Management Code of Practice and AS 1742.3?
If we are not getting the Lime Green and have to go with the PBI Gold colour will CFA provide us all with high visibility tabards so we can be seen during the day while around traffic?
If we have to wear tabards will they be nomex and will tabards cause heat issues while wearing either garment?
I would have thought the needs of Emergency Service Workers would require us to be seen easily during all conditions and in doing so create a safer workplace.
Hi Anonymous, AS 1742.3 Manual of uniform traffic control devices – Traffic control devices for works on roads, is concerned with traffic control devices used “to warn, instruct and guide road users in the safe negotiation of work sites, including unsealed roads, footpaths, shared paths and bicycle paths adjacent to the roadway together with requirements for maintaining a safe workplace for workers on site” and therefore not the relevant standard for structural firefighting garments. Cheers, Fire Flyer.
I dont understand all the fuss about whether the PBI brown PPE will be seen during the daytime, if anyone is forgetting we are currently wearing BLACK turnout coats that have thinner Hi-Vis tape than the new PPE will have...
PBI gold for me.....
It's now july has the roll out started yet?? if so what region is it starting in and so on.
And was the may rollout date only for sizing and delivery later in the year??
Do we now know when the third round will be measured up?
When is the Authority going to update the members to the current status of the program. What is happening with the PBI gold problem?
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