The Maintenance Journey of Firefighter Gear at LION TotalCare
February 26, 2024 | KINDRA BECK, MARKETING MANAGER, TOTALCARE
Welcome to LION TotalCare, where the PPE gear of firefighters undergoes maintenance and cleaning. In this blog, we journey through the processes and cutting-edge technology that define LION TotalCare's operations. From the moment firefighting equipment enters our facility, it is handled with care and expertise, ensuring that every piece meets the rigorous standards of NFPA 1851. Join us as we tour LION TotalCare, a space where firefighter gear is not just restored, but reborn, reinforcing our commitment to safety, durability, and the well-being of heroes who protect us.
Step 1: The Equipment Restoration Hub: Primed for Renewal
Upon entering the facility, you are immediately introduced to an environment where gear tainted from firefighting duties across the region is systematically logged into a tracking system. This system meticulously monitors each item throughout the cleaning, inspection, and repair processes while meeting the requirements of NFPA 1851 Standard for Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting.
Step 2: Advanced Cleaning and Decontamination: Ensuring Ultimate Protection
At the core of our facility, the process of revitalizing firefighter gear is elevated through advanced and specialized cleaning. Smoke deposits and residues, embedded within the fibers of protective gear, pose a significant health risk, including exposure to carcinogenic chemicals. These contaminants can compromise the integrity of the gear, reducing its protective capabilities when they are most critically needed. TotalCare addresses these challenges head-on, offering advanced cleaning solutions for all brands of firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE), underscoring our commitment to safety regardless of the gear's manufacturer.
Our approach to cleaning extends beyond the superficial, targeting heavy concentrations of fuels, oils, paint, resins, grease, acids, tar, asbestos, and other hazardous contaminants. Exposure to blood-borne pathogens, including HIV, hepatitis B, and tuberculosis, demands meticulous attention and care. TotalCare leverages exclusive disinfection and sterilization processes designed to address suspected or confirmed contaminants. This rigorous approach ensures your gear is free from viruses and bacteria, providing peace of mind in the face of biohazard exposure.
LION TotalCare incorporates ozone in every extractor cleaning cycle. This method is exceptionally effective against biohazards, offering several key benefits:
- Exceptional Disinfection: Achieves a 99.999% disinfection rate, effectively neutralizing germs, viruses, and bacteria.
- Powerful Soil Dissolution: The oxidation properties of ozone dissolve gear soils upon contact, ensuring a thorough clean.
- Gentle on Gear: Utilizes ambient water temperatures, significantly lower than the conventional 140° to 160°F, reducing the risk of damage to the turnout gear materials.
- Fast-Acting and Biodegradable: Ozone acts 3,200 times faster than chlorine bleach in killing bacteria, all while being completely biodegradable and environmentally friendly.
Central to our cleaning regimen is the LION StationCare 1851, a specially formulated gear cleaner used across the nation at every LION TotalCare facility. Its advanced formula is designed to remove harmful contaminants without compromising the gear's integrity. Unlike other cleaning solutions, StationCare 1851 leaves behind no residue and fully meets the stringent requirements of the NFPA 1851.
By embracing these advanced cleaning technologies, TotalCare not only preserves the physical condition of your gear but also ensures it provides the highest level of protection, reinforcing our unwavering commitment to firefighter safety.
Step 3: Advanced Inspection: Unveiling Hidden Dangers
Next, we find the inspection area, where trained personnel meticulously evaluate each piece of gear. All layers of the gear, including thread, reflective trim, and fasteners are examined for even the slightest sign of wear, ensuring everything is in wearable condition to protect those who wear them.
In the intricate process of ensuring firefighter safety, the inspection stage is crucial. While damage to the outer shell of firefighting gear, such as charring or tearing, may be immediately apparent, other critical issues often remain hidden from the naked eye. These include damages to the liner system or leaks within the moisture barrier—flaws that, if unnoticed, can significantly compromise a firefighter's protection. An integral part of this inspection is the Moisture Barrier Penetration Test, also known as hydrostatic testing. This test evaluates the integrity of the moisture barrier and moisture barrier seams, ensuring that it remains impervious to liquids, which could otherwise seep through and reach the firefighter.
By implementing such thorough and advanced inspection methods, TotalCare ensures that every piece of gear continues to offer maximum protection. This attention to detail underscores our commitment to the safety and readiness of firefighters, ensuring that they are equipped with gear that meets the highest standards of protection and performance.
Step 4. Cost-Effective Maintenance: Prioritizing Repairs Over Replacement
In our repair department, skilled seamstresses make take our inspection findings to produce NFPA 1851 compliant repairs, reinforcing the gear's strength and functionality.
Addressing wear and tear on firefighting gear does not necessarily entail costly replacements. At LION TotalCare®, we advocate for repair as a cost-efficient alternative, ensuring that gear is restored to its optimal condition without altering its foundational design. This approach not only maximizes the gear's performance but also extends its service life.
Incorporating repairs into regular maintenance schedules allows us to address minor issues before they escalate into significant concerns. By proactively managing these small repairs, we prevent the deterioration of the gear's protective capabilities, thereby preventing the need for early replacement.
Should the assessment reveal that replacement is the necessary course of action, our LION PPE team is equipped to provide expert guidance. They will assist you in selecting new gear that aligns with your specific needs and budget, ensuring you receive the best possible protection and value.
STEP 5. Rejuvenation and Quality Check: Ensuring Gear Readiness
Following an extensive cleaning and repair process, each piece is subjected to a final inspection before returning the gear to service. LION TotalCare personnel inspect the turnout gear to ensure the gear's absolute reliability. Once this examination confirms there are no additional findings and all inspection related repairs meets our stringent standards, it is carefully packaged, ready to be returned to duty. This comprehensive approach guarantees that the gear is not only restored to its optimal condition but also poised to offer maximum protection and performance.
LION TotalCare stands as more than a maintenance facility; it's a testament to the bravery of firefighters. By preserving the integrity of their PPE, we provide them with more than just equipment—we offer peace of mind.
Discover more about LION TotalCare's impact on firefighter safety by virtually touring one of the TotalCare locations in Boston or by exploring LION TotalCare.
Popular posts
