Proximity Gear Advanced Inspection

NFPA 1851, 2008 edition

GENERAL NOTES
The Advanced Inspection and required testing shall be performed by a member of the fire department who has been trained by the manufacturer or by a verified ISP.

If using a verified ISP, the ISP shall be trained by the manufacturer.

The member of the organization who has been trained by the element manufacturer or a verified ISP shall be responsible for performing or managing the Advanced Inspection.

The element manufacturer or verified ISP shall provide written verification of training.

Advanced Inspections of all elements shall be conducted at a minimum of every 12 months, or whenever Routine Inspections indicate that a problem could exist.

Universal precautions should be followed until it is confirmed that the garment is safe to handle.

The findings of the Advanced Inspection shall be documented.

The Advanced Inspection shall include inspecting the following items:

Jacket and Pants (all three layers shall be examined)

Soiling
Contamination
Physical damage such as rips, tears, cuts, and abrasions
Damaged or missing hardware
Thermal damage such as charring, burn holes, melting, or discoloration of any layer
To check for weakening of the fabric, aggressively flex the material and attempt to tear by pushing a finger or thumb through the fabric
Loss of seam integrity and broken or missing stitches
Material integrity such as UV or chemical degradation as evidenced by discoloration, significant changes in material texture, loss of material strength, loss of liner material, and shifting of liner material
Loss of wristlet elasticity, and stretching, runs, cuts, or burn holes
Label integrity and legibility
Hook and loop functionality
Liner attachment systems
Closure system functionality
Accessories for compliance with manufacturer and NFPA standards
Correct assembly and size compatibility of shell, liner and DRD
Loss of radiant reflectivity (Proximity garments)
Loss of radiant reflectivity coating(s) (Proximity garments)
Evaluation of system fit and jacket/pant overlap
Perform Light Test on thermal liner system from year one to year three
Use a light source to check for migrating fibers in your thermal liner shining through the moisture side of the liner. The light shall not produce too much heat so that it would damage the material. The light shall be appropriately sized so that it can fit into the sleeves and legs of the liner system.
Perform Leakage Evaluation on moisture barrier from year one to year three
Using a bucket or sink, and a water mixture of 1 part rubbing alcohol (70 percent isopropanol alcohol) with 6 parts water. Testing high abrasion areas, position the thermal liner face down and pour 1 cup of mixture on area and let sit for 3 minutes. If any liquid penetrates through to thermal liner, the moisture barrier shall be repaired or replaced.
Perform Complete Liner Inspection after year 3*

Jacket and Pant elements to include all separable components

*Complete Liner Inspection

Complete Liner Inspection of all garment elements shall be conducted at a minimum after 3 years in service and annually thereafter, or whenever Advanced Inspections indicate that a problem may exist.
Where the moisture barrier, the CBRN barrier, or both have been replaced, the complete liner inspection shall be conducted following 2 years in service and annually thereafter.
Open the liner system to expose all layers for inspection and testing.
The moisture barrier and thermal barrier shall be inspected for the following:
- Physical damage of each layer such as rips, tears, cuts and abrasions
- Thermal damage such as charring, burn holes, melting, or discoloration of any layer
- Loss of seam integrity, broken or missing stitches, and loose or missing moisture barrier seam tape
- Delamination as evidenced by separation of film from substrate fabric, flaking, or powdering
- Thermal Liner material physical integrity; UV or chemical degradation as evidenced by discoloration, significant changes in material texture, loss of material strength, loss of liner material, or shifting of liner material.
The moisture barrier shall be tested using the hydrostatic test specified in NFPA 1851-2008, Section 12.3, Water Penetration Barrier Evaluation, and shall show no leakage.

Hood

Soiling
Contamination
Physical damage such as rips, tears, and cuts
Thermal damage such as charring, burn holes, melting or discoloration of any layer
Shrinkage
Loss of material elasticity or stretching out of shape
Loss of seam integrity or broken or missing stitches
Loss of face-opening adjustment

Helmet/Overcover/Shroud

Soiling
Contamination
Physical damage to the helmet shell such as cracks, crazing, dents, and abrasions
Thermal damage to the helmet shell such as bubbling, soft spots, warping, or discoloration
Physical damage to the ear flaps such as rips, tears, cuts, loss of seam integrity, or broken or missing stitches
Thermal damage to the ear flaps such as charring, burn holes, melting or discoloration of any layer
Damaged or missing components of the suspension and retention systems
Suspension and retention system functionality
Damaged or missing components of the faceshield/goggle system, including discoloration or scratches to the faceshield/goggle lens limiting visibility
Faceshield/goggle system functionality
Proximity helmet overcover for loss of radiant reflectivity properties, and loss of radiant reflective coating(s)
Proximity helmet overcover for damaged or missing reflective trim, if applicable.
Proximity helmet overcover for damage and functionality of the helmet attachment system
Proximity helmet for loss of facesheild radiant reflectivity
Shrouds for damage and functionality of the helmet attachment system
Shrouds for distortion of face opening resulting in gaps around the faceshield
Shrouds for loss of radiant reflectivity and loss of radiant reflectivity coating(s)
Accessories for compliance with manufacturer or NFPA standards

Glove

Soiling
Contamination
Physical damage such as rips, tears, and cuts
Thermal damage such as charring, burn holes, melting or discoloration of any layer
Inverted liner
Loss of seam integrity or broken or missing stitches
Shrinkage
Loss of flexibility
Loss of elasticity and shape in wristlets
Loss of radiant reflectivity
Loss of radiant reflectivity coating(s)
Accessories for compliance with manufacturer and NFPA standards

Footwear

Soiling
Contamination
Physical damage such as cuts, tears, punctures, cracking, or splitting
Thermal damage such as charring, burn holes, melting or discoloration of any layer
Exposed or deformed steel toe, steel midsole, or shank
Loss of seam integrity, delamination, or broken or missing stitches
Closure system component damage and functionality
Excessive tread wear
Condition of lining for tears, excessive wear, or separation from outer layer
Heel counter failure
Loss of water resistance
Loss of radiant reflectivity
Loss of radiant reflectivity coating(s)
Accessories for compliance with manufacturer and NFPA standards

Drag Rescue Device (DRD)

Installation in garment
Soiling
Contamination
Physical damage such as cuts, tears, punctures, cracking, or splitting
Thermal damage such as charring, burn holes, melting, or discoloration
Loss of seam integrity, or broken or missing stitches

Interface components

Soiling
Contamination
Physical damage
Loss of seam integrity, or broken or missing stitches
Loss or reduction of properties that allow component to continue as effective interface such as loss of shape or inability to remain attached to the respective element(s), if attachment is required