Underwriters Laboratories announced a new certificate program for firefighting garment repair organizations. The program allows groups that repair structural and proximity firefighting garments to NFPA 1851, Selection, Care and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, to obtain formal certification.

Effective June 24, the new edition of NFPA 1851 contains new language requiring independent, third-party verification of fire departments and other organizations that perform advanced repair of structural and proximity firefighting garments.

"We understand that first responders need confidence in the integrity of firefighting garments after they've been repaired," said Chris Hasbrook, vice president and general manager of UL's Global Fire & Security Sector. "Specialized, heavy-duty firefighting garments are very costly and require precision, expert repair if damaged during use."

UL is one of the few certification organizations that comply with the recent NFPA 1851 mandate requiring verification only by those accredited in accordance with the international standard known as ISO Guide 65 to certify personal protective equipment. UL has classified firefighting PPE to NFPA standards since 1991.

UL's certification includes independent assessment of the organization's quality-management system and testing of repaired garment samples to validate the effectiveness of repair processes.

This certificate program applies to:

• Repair Service organizations that repair garments for the fire service, and
• Fire department organizations that repair their own garments.

This program also requires that the repair organization:

• Maintain an effective quality-management system;
• Repair specified firefighting garment samples such that the repairs meet NFPA 1971-2008 performance requirements; and
• Undergo two random unannounced inspections per year to demonstrate continued compliance.

Once the repair organization or fire department meets the requirements, UL will issue a Certificate effective for one year and list the certified entity in UL's Fire Protection Directory and on UL.com. Certificated organizations meeting the requirements of NFPA 1851 also state may in their promotional materials that they are a "UL Certificated Firefighting Garment Repair Organization."

For more information about the certificate program or to apply for certification, contact UL's Customer Service Staff at 1-877-ULHELPS or e-mail PPE@us.ul.com.