By: Emergency Technical Decon Team
When a department’s primary turnout gear is out for cleaning or repair, backup gear steps in to fill the gap. It’s a critical safety net ensuring firefighters always have the protection they need. But here’s a question many departments don’t ask often enough: Is your backup gear truly safe, or is it quietly putting your crew at risk?
Backup gear, especially older or less frequently used sets, often carries hidden hazards. Without proper decontamination, inspection, and recordkeeping, it can become a weak link in firefighter safety.
The Hidden Risks of Backup Gear
Backup turnout gear is often overlooked during standard maintenance schedules. It might sit in storage for months or even years before being called into service. The problem is that age and contamination don’t disappear with time.
- Chemical Contamination: Older backup sets often hold residual toxins such as PFAS, hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from previous fireground exposures. These contaminants remain embedded in the gear’s fibers, posing health risks long after the last call.
- Degraded Thermal Protection: Over time, thermal liners and moisture barriers break down, especially if the gear has been improperly stored or subjected to repeated wash cycles.
- Fit and Mobility Issues: Backup gear may not fit as well as primary sets, leading to reduced mobility and increased physical strain during operations.
- Outdated Standards: Gear manufactured before the implementation of current NFPA 1850 standards may not provide the same level of protection as newer gear, leaving firefighters vulnerable.
Why Backup Gear Gets Overlooked
There’s a misconception that because backup gear is used less frequently, it doesn’t need the same level of care. Departments often focus their cleaning and inspection schedules on primary sets, while backup gear sits untouched in storage.
Many backup sets are hand-me-downs from previous firefighters or acquired from other departments, which means service history and decon records are often incomplete or nonexistent. This lack of documentation makes it nearly impossible to know whether the gear is safe.
The Importance of Comprehensive Decontamination
Backup gear deserves the same level of care and decontamination as the gear firefighters wear every day. Without proper cleaning, gear can become a reservoir for dangerous substances that firefighters re-expose themselves to during calls.
Advanced decontamination methods, like Liquid CO2+, provide a deeper clean than traditional water-based washing. This process removes up to 84% of PFAS and 99.9% of other toxic residues while preserving the gear’s structural integrity. For departments that rotate gear frequently or rely on older backups, this type of cleaning can mean the difference between safety and unnecessary exposure.
Ensuring NFPA 1850 Compliance Across All Gear
NFPA 1850, which governs the selection, care, and maintenance of turnout gear, doesn’t differentiate between primary and backup sets. All PPE must meet the same safety and maintenance standards to ensure firefighter protection.
To remain compliant, departments should:
- Inspect backup gear at the same frequency as primary gear.
- Keep accurate records of cleaning and inspections for every set of PPE.
- Retire gear that no longer meets safety standards, regardless of whether it’s a primary or backup set.
By treating backup gear with the same level of attention, departments can protect firefighters from both chemical and operational hazards.
ETD’s Approach to Backup Gear Safety
At Emergency Technical Decon (ETD), we understand that all gear, primary or backup, must be cleaned, maintained, and documented with precision. Our Liquid CO2+ cleaning technology not only removes harmful contaminants but also ensures that backup gear remains structurally sound and ready for service.
We provide:
- Advanced decontamination validated by third-party testing.
- Digital service records for every piece of gear, making compliance with NFPA 1850 easy.
- Pickup and delivery services to keep both primary and backup sets in rotation with minimal downtime (depending on location).
It’s Time to Take Backup Gear Seriously
Backup turnout gear is meant to protect firefighters, not put them at risk. If your department hasn’t inspected or decontaminated its backup sets in months or even years, it’s time to reevaluate your gear strategy.
Don’t let hidden contaminants or outdated gear compromise your crew’s safety. ETD’s advanced decon services ensure that all your turnout gear is cleaned, documented, and fully compliant.
Ready to assess the safety of your backup gear? Contact ETD today to schedule a cleaning and compliance check with our Liquid CO2+ technology.
