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NFPA 1851 Guidelines

 
 

Safeguard lives on the line with correct selection, care, and maintenance of protective ensembles as required by NFPA 1851.

To provide the necessary protection for fire fighters, careful selection of the appropriate ensemble and its correct care and maintenance are essential. The 2008 edition of NFPA 1851 embraces two fire fighting protective ensembles that are certified as compliant with NFPA 1971: Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting. Up-to-date requirements in the 2008 edition specify the proper selection, care, and maintenance of fire fighting ensembles including coats, trousers, helmets, shrouds, hoods, gloves, and footwear elements.

Rules cover inspections, cleaning and decontamination, repairs, storage, and recordkeeping. Important changes in this edition:

· A new Section 4.6 in Chapter 4 addresses personal protective equipment health and safety concerns. Supporting Annex material is also included.

· Revised and rewritten Chapters 6, 7, and 8, with new corresponding Annex material that provides guidance and suggested checklists for inspection, cleaning and decontamination, and repair activities

· Revised rules in Chapter 10 that require ensembles be retired not more than 10 years from the date ensembles or ensemble elements were manufactured. New supporting Annex material helps departments determine a program for ensemble retirement.

· New Chapter 11 with requirements for Independent Service Providers (ISPs) who provide one or any combination of advanced inspection, advanced cleaning, or repair services. ISPs are required meet the requirements specified, and compliance must be verified by a third party certification organization.

· New Chapter 12 provides requirements for test methods to be used by the organization or the ISP responsible for ensemble elements. Provisions address the evaluation of liner composites, moisture and thermal barrier liners, and moisture barrier water penetration.

Protect department members by making sure protective ensembles are ready for the fire ground. Order your copy of the revised NFPA 1851 now. (Softbound, 50 pp., 2008)

Document Scope: 

1.1 Scope.

1.1.1 This standard shall specify the minimum selection, care, and maintenance requirements for structural fire fighting protective ensembles and the individual ensemble elements that include garments, helmets, gloves, footwear, and interface components that are compliant with NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting.

1.1.2 This standard shall also specify the minimum selection, care, and maintenance requirements for proximity fire fighting protective ensembles and the individual ensemble elements that include garments, helmets, gloves, footwear, and interface components that are compliant with NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting.

1.1.3 This standard shall also specify requirements for both structural fire fighting and proximity fire fighting protective ensembles, ensemble elements, clothing, and equipment certified as compliant with previous editions of NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting; NFPA 1972, Standard on Helmets for Structural Fire Fighting; NFPA 1973, Standard on Gloves for Structural Fire Fighting; NFPA 1974, Standard on Protective Footwear for Structural Fire Fighting; or NFPA 1976, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Proximity Fire Fighting.

1.1.4 This standard shall also specify the minimum selection, care, and maintenance requirements for structural fire fighting protective ensembles with optional CBRN protection and for proximity fire fighting protective ensembles with optional CBRN protection.

1.1.5 This standard shall not specify requirements for other organizational programs such as appropriate use of structural fire fighting or proximity fire fighting protective ensembles for training, for operations, or for infection control, because these programs are under the jurisdiction of other NFPA standards.

1.1.6 This standard shall not apply to protective ensembles or protective clothing that are compliant with NFPA 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents; NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting; NFPA 1991, Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies; NFPA 1992, Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Ensembles and Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies; NFPA 1994, Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents; and NFPA 1999, Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations.

1.1.7 This standard shall not be construed as addressing all the safety concerns associated with the use of compliant protective ensembles or ensemble elements. It shall be the responsibility of the persons and organizations that use compliant protective ensembles or ensemble elements to establish safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.1.8 This standard shall not be construed as addressing all the safety concerns, if any, associated with the use of this standard by testing or repair facilities. It shall be the responsibility of the persons and organizations that use this standard to conduct testing of protective ensembles or ensemble elements to establish safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to using this standard for any designing, manufacturing, and testing.

1.1.9 Nothing herein shall restrict any jurisdiction from exceeding these minimum requirements.

To purchase the current 2008 edition of the NFPA 1851 Guidelines please visit NFPA.org.

 
 
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