The International Association of Fire Fighters has received a federal government contract from the Department of Homeland Security to develop, prototype and field test new structural firefighting personal protecive gear with "enhanced chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protective qualities to account for today’s new threats," according an IAFF statement released Wednesday.

Firefighters currently do not wear structural firefighting PPE that can protect them in an environment where there has been a release of CBRN agents.

As part of its “Project HEROES” (Homeland Emergency Response Operational and Equipment Systems) initiative, the IAFF has received a federal government contract by the Technical Support Working Group with funding from DHS for the project. The IAFF has put together a project team of leading fire service organizations and major academia, including:

• The International Association of Fire Chiefs;
• Total Fire Group/Morning Pride Manufacturing;
• The National Personal Protection Technology Laboratory of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health;
• International Personnel Protection;
• The University of Massachusetts; and
• The University of Arkansas. 

The IAFF said the project team is pursuing a two-track development, which will involve the selection of ensemble materials for the garments, gloves, footwear and hood combined with the design of ensemble element interfaces to afford protection consistent with current protective clothing standards.

The short-term track involves identifying and selecting available materials to optimize a composite with barrier material that provides thermal, physical and chemical performance.

Prototype ensemble designs will undergo extensive laboratory testing to validate the overall product performance and the impact of the ensemble of wearer human factors. Personnel in major metropolitain fire departments will help evaluate the prototypes. At the end of its contract term, the IAFF plans to deliver complete specifications for a field-ready firefighting protective ensemble.

The goal is create certified protective clothing that is as indistinguishable as possible from current structural firefighting gear and affords improved CBRN protection without sacrificing thermal protection, comfort and functionality.

“Fire Departments do not have the resources to provide multiple garments for each responder, so one multi-purpose suit will offer the best way for firefighters to ensure they’re protected against any hazard,” said Harold Schaitberger, general president of the IAFF. “The Project HEROES prototype will be revolutionary because it will offer the highest level of protection without the burden of extra weight, loss of mobility and added stress, so our fire fighters can do their job.”