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User Information Guide – Protective Garments for Structural and Proximity Fire Fighting (NFPA 1971)
• Barrier Protection: Your protective garment will
provide limited liquid integrity only when worn
correctly and in combination with other suitably
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chosen ensemble elements. Water and other
liquids may still enter through the top, bottom, or
closures of your protective garment and may
result in exposure to liquid contaminants. The
moisture barrier has not been evaluated for all
chemicals that can be encountered during fire-
fighting operations and information that the effects
of chemical exposure on the moisture barrier are
to be evaluated per the inspection procedures in
NFPA 1851. Your protective garment may not pro-
tect you from all chemical, radiological, or biologi-
cal hazards which can cause death, injuries, dis-
eases, and/or illnesses. Furthermore, this garment
does not offer any protection from hazardous va-
pors or gases, liquefied gases, or cryogenic liq-
uids. Ensure that you have proper interfaces be-
tween your protective garment and the other ele-
ments in your ensemble, such as helmets, hoods,
SCBA facepieces, and gloves with protective
coats, and footwear with protective pants. There
must also be sufficient overlap between your pro-
tective coat and pants (see Adjustment for Fit and
Interface Issues under Wearing Instructions).
• Other Hazards: Your protective garment – wet or
dry – may not protect you from electrical shock.
Your protective garment will not protect you from
all physical hazards. Your protective garment may
be penetrated, cut, or torn by sharp surfaces or
objects. Your garment may also wear through
when in repeated or prolonged contact with rough
surfaces. Your garment will not offer any
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protection to ballistic hazards or objects propelled
at high velocities. Your garment will hinder your
movement and may not allow you full motion to
perform all required fireground functions. The bulk
of your garment together with other ensemble
elements may not permit you to negotiate
confined spaces or narrow passages without
difficulty. If you fall into open water, you garment
may prevent you from being able to swim. If you
are operating in areas of vehicular traffic or
moving machinery, your garment may not offer
sufficient visibility to be seen and result in you
being struck by moving vehicles or equipment.
You must be constantly vigilant of the hazards to
which you may be exposed and your garment
limitations in protecting against these hazards. Do
not use your protective garment if it is
contaminated, cut, punctured, worn, abraded, or
altered from its original condition.
• Need for Complete Ensemble: This garment is
effective only when properly worn, accounting for
a proper interface with the other elements of your
protective ensemble. A complete ensemble for
structural fire fighting includes, as a minimum,
protective garments, a protective helmet, protec-
tive gloves, protective footwear, protective hood,
self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), and
personal alert safety system (PASS) that have
been certified to the appropriate NFPA standard.
A proximity fire fighting protective ensemble
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includes the same elements, except that the
hood is replaced by a protective shroud, which
is attached to the protective helmet.
• Proper Care and Maintenance: This garment
must be properly inspected, maintained, and
cared for by you and your department, organiza-
tion, or employer consistent with these
instructions
and the applicable national, state/provincial, and
local regulations. Your garment must be free of
soiling, contamination, damage, and any alteration
that would compromise the protection it provides
in its original condition. Damage and contamina-
tion of this garment may warrant its disposal. Do
not use your garments unless they have been
thoroughly cleaned and dried.
• Warranty: This garment is NOT warranted to be
fit for a particular purpose. Read carefully the
"Warranty Information" at the end of this guide. If
labels in the garment are missing or become
unreadable, contact Honeywell for instructions for
how to obtain a copy of the label information.
Marking Recommendations – Do not attempt to
alter or modify your garment. For identification
purposes, you may mark your protective garment on
the interior using an indelible marker, if permitted by
your department or organization. Do not write over or
obscure information on the product label.
Testing and Assessment of Performance – Your
protective garment and the materials and compo-
nents used in its construction have been evaluated
for a number of performance properties that are
based on the respective requirements in NFPA 1971
for its certification. These properties include, but are
not limited to, thermal protective performance, over-
all liquid integrity, flame resistance, heat and thermal
shrinkage resistance, conductive and compressive
heat resistance(for shoulder and knee reinforced
areas), thread melting resistance, tear resistance,
breaking strength, seam strength, water penetration
resistance, liquid chemical and viral penetration
resistance, cleaning shrinkage resistance, water
absorption resistance, corrosion resistance, drag
rescue device performance, light degradation resist-
ance, and label legibility. Structural fire fighting
protective garments are also evaluated for trim
performance. Proximity fire fighting protective gar-
ments are also evaluated for different outer shell
properties related to its radiant protective per-
formance and durability. None of these perform-
ance properties can be evaluated in the field, so if
you have questions, check with your department or
organization, which in turn can contact Honeywell.
Preparation for Use
Sizing and Adjustment – All Honeywell protective
garments are offered in a full range of sizes. Protec-
tive coats are provided in chest sizes with at least 2
inch increments and sleeve lengths in 1 inch incre-
ments. Protective pants are offered in waist sizes
with at least 2 inch increments and inseam length
with at least 2 inch increments. The best practice is
to have your garments custom fit for your specific
dimensions. For many purchases, Honeywell pro-
vides services for fitting each individual firefighter
for protective coats and pants. However, some
garments are provided in standard sizes in the size
increments described above.
It is important that you select the appropriate size of
garment. Garments that are too tight will hinder your
movement and reduce the layer of air between your
body and the garment that contributes to your over-
all thermal insulation protection. Garments that are
too loose will also negatively affect your ability to
move. Choose a garment size that gives you the
best functionality. Follow the donning instructions
under Wearing Instructions provided in a following
section to ensure you are correctly wearing your
protective garment. In addition, follow the proce-
dures under "Adjustment for Fit and Interface Is-
sues" to ensure a correct overlap of your coat and
pants and that all additional ensemble elements
properly interface with your garments. If you lose or
gain weight, you may need to have the size of your
garment adjusted to provide proper fit.
Recommended Storage Practices – Store your
garment only when it is clean, dry, and free of
contamination. Storing wet garments will promote
growth of mildew, fungus, bacteria, or other harmful
substances with the potential to cause skin irritation,
rashes, and diseases and/or illnesses. Wet condi-
tions can also lead to deterioration of some garment
materials. Keep garment away from potential con-
taminants such as oils, greases, or other chemical
substances. Store your garment in a clean, dry,
ventilated area away from direct sunlight and away
from tools or other sharp objects. Storage of your
garments in an apparatus bay may subject those
garments to contamination with diesel exhaust if an
adequate diesel exhaust system is not used at the
station. Do not store your garment with your personal
belongings or in a personal living area.
Inspection Details and
Frequency
Routine Inspections – Inspect your protective
garment prior to its first use and following every use.
Prior to using the garment for the first time, ensure
that the garment does not have any construction
flaws and was not damaged when being put into
service. Following every use, inspect your protective
garment for:
• soiling
• contamination
• physical damage such as rips, tears, punctures,
and cuts
• damaged or missing hardware and closure
systems
• thermal damage such as charring, burn holes,
melting, and discoloration of any layer
• damaged of missing reflective trim
• loss of seam integrity and broken or missing
stitches
• correct assembly and size compatability of the
shell, liner, and drag rescue device (DRD)
For proximity protective garments, carefully
check the condition of the aluminized shell for
cracks, flaking, or abrasion that has diminished
the reflective properties of the materials. If these
conditions exist, alert the supervisor of your depart-
ment or organization and request a determination on
the continued serviceability of your protective
garment.
Advanced Inspections – Your protective garment
must be subjected to a more thorough inspection
at least every 12 months, or whenever there is a
concern about their condition for continued service
found during routine inspection. This inspection must
be carried out by Honeywell, an individual within
your department or organization who has been
trained in advanced inspections or by a qualified
and accepted independent service provider.
Garments that are older than 3 years from the date
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