NFPA 1851, 2008 edition
GENERALAdvanced Cleaning shall be performed by machine washing only unless specifically prohibited, no hand washing.
Advanced Cleaning shall be performed under the supervision of an individual who has been trained by the element manufacturer or verified ISP.
- Training must be documented by the element manufacturer or verified ISP.
Advanced Cleaning is required every 12 months on elements that have been issued and used or after an event that results in soiling, as determined by fire department guidelines, or when routine inspection indicates a need.
As required by NFPA 1851and OSHA, obtain from the element manufacturer the most current revision of their care and maintenance guidelines.
- Be sure that the manufacturer-provided care and maintenance guidelines are incorporated into the Advanced Cleaning program.
Universal precautions should be followed until it is confirmed that the garment is safe to handle.
Advanced Cleaning must be documented.
Washing Procedures for Garment Components- Separate liner from outer shell.
- If the jacket contains a removable DRD, remove it from the jacket.
- Wash the DRD only if necessary. Use a laundry bag to avoid tangling in washing machine.
- If washing more than one garment at a time you should use a tagging system for ease of matching the correct shell to the correct liner.
- Do not use safety pins as they often open up and will damage all components, especially the moisture barrier.
- Check all pockets and remove all items.
- Do not reach hand into pocket (sharp objects) until interior has been visually checked.
- Secure all closures, pocket flaps, collar tabs etc.
- For garments with hook & loop (Velcro) COMPLETELY cover all exposed hook with loop.
- For washing the liner:
- Turn it inside out.
- Do not wash with outer shell components.
- For washing the DRD component.
- Place in a mesh garment bag.
- Best to wash bagged DRD with outer shell components, not liners.
- Heavily soiled or spotted areas shall be pretreated. Chlorine bleach, chlorinated solvents, active ingredient cleaning agents, or solvents shall not be used without the element manufacturer's approval.
- Load components into the extractor.
- Outer shell components shall be washed separately from liner components.
- Load proper amount based on size of machine.
- Water temperature shall not exceed 105°F.
- Close door and confirm it is secure.
- Select the proper wash cycle per the manufacturer's instructions.
- Use a mild detergent with a pH range between 6.0 and 10.5. This should be indicated on the product container or the product MSDS sheet.
- The g-force on the machine shall not exceed 100g.
- Elements shall be dried in a well ventilated area or in a dryer on a "low" or "no heat" setting. It is important that the basket temperature does not rise above 105°F
- When finished, both washing and drying, initiate the Advanced Inspection.
- Detachable components shall be removed from the helmet and shall be washed and dried separately.
- Helmets shall not be machine cleaned or dried using equipment that produces mechanical action from tumbling or agitation.
- Gloves shall not be machine dried using equipment that produces mechanical action from tumbling or agitation.
- As some manufacturers do not allow for machine washing of their glove, a reminder to check the manufacturer's care and maintenance instructions first.
- Footwear shall not be machine cleaned or dried using equipment that produces mechanical action from tumbling or agitation.
- Hoods shall be permitted to be machine washed and machine dried with garment liners.
- Additional Requirements for Advanced Cleaning of Ensembles Certified to the Optional CBRN Requirements of NFPA 1971.
- The manufacturers shall be consulted to determine if any special handling procedures or the removal of interface components or other components must be undertaken prior to advanced cleaning.
