By: Emergency Technical Decon Team
Choosing the right Independent Service Provider (ISP) for turnout gear cleaning is about more than ticking boxes. The right partner should protect firefighter health, preserve gear performance, and support your department’s compliance with evolving standards like NFPA 1850. As awareness of PFAS exposure, gear degradation, and environmental safety grows, so does the importance of finding a provider who can deliver more than a surface clean.
Here’s what your department should consider when evaluating a turnout gear cleaning and maintenance partner.
1. Contaminant Removal Capability
An effective ISP must do more than improve appearance. They need validated performance that shows how well contaminants are removed from gear. Look for lab-tested results confirming removal of:
- PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)
- SVOCs (semi-volatile organic compounds)
- PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)
- Heavy metals
- Biological contaminants
Many extractor-based methods fall short, particularly when it comes to PFAS. Emergency Technical Decon’s Liquid CO2+ system is backed by independent lab results showing 84% removal of PFAS, 99.9% of SVOCs, and 99.8% of heavy metals. This ensures your gear is not just clean, but truly decontaminated.
2. Gear Integrity and UL Testing
Proper cleaning shouldn’t compromise gear safety. Some ISP methods degrade thermal liners, moisture barriers, and reflective elements over time.
Ask whether the provider’s cleaning process has been UL-tested to maintain performance in line with NFPA 1970 standards. ETD’s Liquid CO2+ process has passed these tests, demonstrating no significant degradation even after multiple cleanings—unlike many traditional water-based systems.
3. Environmental Safety
With PFAS now regulated under EPA CERCLA as a hazardous substance, your ISP’s environmental impact matters. A provider that discharges hazardous wastewater can put your community and department at risk.
Seek an environmentally safe process that contains and isolates contaminants. ETD’s closed-loop cleaning system captures and reuses 99% of its CO2 while safely isolating waste, leaving no chemical runoff behind.
4. Compliance with NFPA Standards
The updated NFPA 1850 standard consolidates guidance for turnout gear and SCBA care. Your ISP should:
- Be familiar with NFPA 1850
- Offer recordkeeping and traceability for every cleaning
- Help you maintain inspection, repair, and retirement schedules
ETD is committed to meeting—and exceeding—NFPA compliance benchmarks.
5. Full-Service Offerings
A top-tier ISP should clean all gear components, not just jackets and pants. This includes:
- Hoods
- Gloves
- Helmets
- Base layers
- Boots and accessories
Toxic residue doesn’t discriminate—and neither should your cleaning program.
6. Transparency and Data
Does your ISP provide a detailed service report after each cleaning? Can they show before/after contamination levels? Transparent data isn’t a bonus—it’s essential.
At ETD, we’re working toward integrating service data into tools that help departments monitor gear life and contamination trends.
7. Location and Turnaround Time
A great ISP can’t help you if turnaround is slow or unreliable. Choose a provider with:
- Fast, consistent return times
- Facility access that fits your region or service area
- Flexible service options, like pick-up/drop-off or scheduled cycles
ETD now operates from Eagan, Minnesota, and Portland, Oregon, with national support available.
Choose an ISP That Thinks Beyond the Wash
At Emergency Technical Decon, we don’t just wash gear—we decontaminate it. Our Liquid CO2+ technology is backed by science, validated through accredited labs, and designed specifically for the fire service.
Whether you’re focused on firefighter cancer prevention, gear preservation, or regulatory compliance, we’re here to help you protect what matters most.
Need help evaluating your current provider? Make sure your ISP is doing more than just checking a box. Contact ETD for a consultation and learn how we compare.
