Firefighter Helmet Band

The LINE2design Rubber Firefighter Helmet Band is used for holding common accessories on your helmet. Fits nicely on both modern and traditional style fire helmets. 1 1/8″ wide. The rubber helmet bands is great for holding firefighter door and sprinkler wedges and a flashlight. The LINE2design helmet bands are custom made and will hold up in the most extreme conditions.Merryweather helmets were used by British fire brigades from the Victorian era until well into the 20th century. These helmets were modelled on the helmets of the Sapeurs-pompiers which Captain Sir Eyre Massey Shaw had seen on a visit to Paris and introduced to the Metropolitan Fire Brigade in London in 1868, replacing a black leather helmet. The design was widely copied by other British and British Empire fire services. These helmets were made of brass, but those belonging to officers were silver plated. Metal helmets are conductive, a safety hazard as use of electricity became widespread, so a new helmet made from a composite of cork and rubber was introduced in London and elsewhere from 1936. However, during World War II, military-style steel helmets were adopted, similar to the Brodie helmet used by the British Army, to improve protection during air raids. A composite helmet was reintroduced after the end of the war. Traditional brass helmets remained in service in Queensland, Australia until 1970.In some countries, most notably the United States and other Anglophone countries, the firefighter’s helmet color often denotes the wearer’s rank or position. In Britain, most firefighters wear yellow helmets; watch managers (two grades above a regular firefighter) and above wear white helmets. Rank is further indicated by black stripes around the helmets. In Canada, regular firefighters wear yellow or black; captains (two grades above regular) are in red and senior command officers in white. Likewise in the United States, red helmets denote company officers (one or two grades above regular), while white helmets denote chief officers (three or more grades above regular).George Neally patented a smoke-excluding mask in 1877 that he marketed to fire departments. This device featured a face mask with glass eyepieces and rubber tubes, allowing respiration through a filter carried on the chest.The color was Wehrmacht black in the beginning or red in Bavaria. The norming process of the 1960s changed color to a fluorescent lime yellow. This helmet uses a white reflecting stripe and black leather neck protection. Most fire brigades use this helmet with an easily mountable visor.

Bernhard Loeb of Berlin patented a respirator (US patent #533854) in 1895 that featured a triple-chambered canister carried on the waist that contained liquid chemicals, granulated charcoal and wadding. This respirator was used by the Brooklyn Fire Department.In 1871, British physicist John Tyndall wrote about his new invention, a fireman’s respirator, featuring a valve chamber and filter tube. This device used cotton saturated with glycerin, lime and charcoal to filter smoke particles and neutralize carbonic acid. The device was featured in the July 1875 issue of Manufacturer and Builder.In Germany, many fire brigades still use the old German DIN fire helmet. Early on, this helmet was simply an aluminium alloy version of the M1942 Stahlhelm used by the Wehrmacht, standardized in 1956 and normed in 1964 by DIN 14940. The material was AL-CU-MG, normed by DIN 1725. At about 800 g, it was lighter than most fire fighting helmets.Invented in 1903 by Dräger & Gerling of Lübeck, Germany, the smoke helmet was a fully enclosed metal helmet with glass face mask, featuring two breathing bags covered by a leather flap worn over the chest. This respirator became so critical to mine rescue operations that rescue workers became known as draegermen. The South Australian Country Fire Service, as with many Australian fire services, use specific colors for specific roles. White helmets are for firefighters (with a red stripe for senior firefighters). Lieutenants have yellow helmets; captains have yellow with a red stripe, deputy group officers and above have red helmets while paid staff have a blue stripe on their helmet. In Germany and Austria lime-yellow phosphorescent helmets are commonly used. Different colours, which indicate different ranks, are rarely used. But it is common to use different kind of identification markings on the helmets. As fire service is mainly organized by the different federal states and in the end is the responsibility of the different communities, there is no standard kind of identification markings for helmets. In Bavaria for example the “Kommandant” (elected fire chief) is marked with a red vertical stripe on the helmet and the “Gruppenführer” (group leaders) with thin black rubber bands around the helmets. It is also quite common to use helmet markings for different possible functions like medic or SCBA. While identification markings according to the rank on the helmet are permanent, officers and sub-officers usually wear coloured vests over their bunker-gear in order to indicate their currently carried leading-position.The German DIN fire helmet does not correspond to the currently valid European EN 443 standard for fire helmets due to its conductivity. German fire brigades are allowed to use existing aluminum DIN fire helmets, but if new helmets are necessary, firefighters must purchase either composite or a newly developed version of the old helmet with EN 443-compatible coating. At about 900 g, coated aluminum helmets are still relatively lightweight. Some manufacturers currently produce fire helmets constructed of glass fibre reinforced plastic, replicating the look of old German DIN fire helmets. However, it is not uncommon that fire brigades move to modern helmets like the F1.

The original American fire helmet was created by a New York City luggage maker who was also a volunteer fireman in the 1830s, seeking a better design more tailored to the unique requirements for firefighting than the “stovepipe” “helmets” then in use. Stovepipe was essentially a top hat made of stiff leather with painted design to identify fire company and provided no protection.Leather was chosen as the preferred material both because it was what the man, Henry Gratacap, was familiar with, but also because thick treated leather was flame-resistant and highly resistant to breaking apart. Leatherhead is a term for evolutions of these leather helmets still used by many firefighters in North America. Leatherhead is also slang for a firefighter who uses a leather helmet as opposed to more modern composite helmets. The leather helmet is an international symbol of firefighters dating to the early years of organized civilian firefighting.Napoleon Bonaparte reordered the various fire fighting organisations in Paris (and later other cities) into a unit of the French Army called the Sapeurs-pompiers. They wore a brass helmet with a high central crest, similar to that worn by dragoon cavalry, with a frontal plate on which a badge representing their city was embossed. This style of helmet was widely copied across Europe and beyond.

In New Zealand, helmet colours were changed in 2013 to assist with identification of the command structure at a large multi-agency incident. Firefighters wear yellow helmets, plain for a base-rank firefighter, with one red stripe for a qualified firefighter, and with two red stripes for a senior firefighter. Station officers wear red helmets with one blue stripe (previously yellow with one blue stripe), while senior station officers wear red helmets with two blue stripes (previously yellow with two blue stripes). Chief fire officers and their deputies wear white helmets; regional and area commanders and their assistants wear silver helmets; and the national commander and their deputies wear black helmets. Trainee and recruit firefighters wear fluro-green helmets (previously red).The eagle’s origins can be traced to approximately 1825. An unknown sculptor created a commemorative figure for a volunteer firefighter’s grave. Firefighters did not wear eagles before that, but eagles became associated with fire helmets ever since. Canadian firefighters adorn their helmets with the beaver because it is Canada’s national animal.

These helmets are used for urban search and rescue, technical rescue, and medical rescue applications and are shaped differently from traditional fire helmets. Most designs are derived from them, but feature a lower profile and elimination of excess protective area to facilitate better freedom of movement for the head in confined spaces. Those derived from North American-style helmets often appear to be similar to a commercial hard hat, while those derived from European styles such as the MSA Gallet F2 appear more similar to rock climbing helmets. As they are made from the same materials, these types of helmet often carry the same flame, impact and heat resistance standards that their larger counterparts do, and still offer mostly seamless compatibility with SCBAs.

These ornaments protrude from the helmet and can catch on window sashes, wires and other obstacles, frequently leading to damage. As a result, many fire departments provide traditional helmets using modern plastic and composite helmets without eagles or beavers, jokingly referred to as salad bowls, turtle shells and slick tops due to their streamlined shape. However, many firefighters and fire departments still retain the leather helmet as a matter of tradition.

Typically, traditional leather helmets have a brass eagle adornment affixed to the helmet’s top front of the helmet to secure a leather shield to the helmet front, though on the original design it also served as a glass-breaking device. Leather helmets have fallen into disuse, only seeing use in some fire departments in North America, such as New York and Houston. Canadian fire departments (e.g. Toronto Fire Services) that use the Leatherhead have a beaver in place of the eagle for the brass adornment. Such leather helmets, as well as modern derivatives that retain the classic shape but use lighter, more modern composite materials, remain very popular in North America and around the world in places that derive their firefighting traditions from North America.However the specific meaning of a helmet’s color or style varies from region to region and department to department. One noteworthy example is the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s use of MSA Safety “Topgard” Helmets depicted in the 1970s television series Emergency!. Firefighters used all black with colored company numbers on the shield below the “L.A. County” in blue on the top half. Engine and squad companies used white numbers, with paramedics switching to green and a two-color “paramedic” decal later affixed to either side of the helmet. Truck companies used red numbers. Captains’ helmets were black with a white stripe down the helmet’s center ridge, and the numeric shield portion in white. Battalion Chiefs helmets were solid white with black numbers. These helmets have since been discontinued in favor of a more modern style using bright yellow, orange, and red, among other colors to denote rank, though the colored number panels persist. This particular setup has been copied by a number of other California fire services. Another example is the San Francisco Fire Department. Engine company helmets are typically all black; truck company helmets are black with alternating red and white quarters on the helmet dome. Most other fire services in the United States and Canada simply use either black or yellow for most firefighters and white for commanders, with some using red for denoting unit leaders. For centuries, firefighters have worn helmets to protect them from heat, cinders and falling objects. Although the shape of most fire helmets has changed little over the years, their composition has evolved from traditional leather to metals (including brass, nickel and aluminum), to composite helmets constructed of lightweight polymers and other plastics. A Denver firefighter known as Merriman invented an early hose mask that was featured in the January 7, 1892 issue of Fireman’s Herald. This respirator featured a tube like that of an elephant trunk connected to an air hose that ran parallel to the firefighter’s water hose.

In Poland it is legally regulated by the National Headquarters of the State Fire Service that paid full-time firefighters from the State Fire Service use red and volunteer firefighters from Volunteer Fire Services use white as the colour of their helmets. However it is common to see Volunteer Services to use different collors such as yellow or somethimes silver, while the State Service sticks to the rule.Modern structural helmets (that is, those intended for structure fires) are made of thermoplastic or composite materials. Such helmets were designed to provide a more modern, sleeker look, and lighter weight compared to the traditional American helmet design, while retaining the distinctive profile. If desired, a face shield can be attached to the front. The Newer “Metro” helmets (the name given by several leading helmet manufacturers) with smaller brims and rounded edges are also much lighter than both leather and composite traditional helmets. However, designs which emulate the original New York-style American helmet design persist due to their continuing effectiveness and a general preference towards tradition or traditional appearance, and remain widely popular in both leather and composite. North American manufacturers continue to make both styles in parallel. The New York and Metro style helmets are worn in the United States and Canada. The Metro style is also used in Australia and parts of Asia (notably Macau, Taiwan, and Guangzhou) however, they do not feature the shield at the front, and instead will often display the crest or logo of the local fire authority. Most countries outside of the continental US, especially Europe, use a different style of fire helmet which covers more of the head, including the ears, and will sometimes have a nape protector at the back. This style is often referred to as a “Euro” style helmet, and most are fitted with a full face visor, eye protection, and a light. Recent examples of a “Euro” style helmet include the MSA Gallet F1 XF, and the Rosenbauer HEROS-Titan Pro.

You spend most of your time in a uniform, and you likely have little input into the look of your firefighter gear. But you do have one opportunity for creativity and individuality — you can wear a Ventureborn silicone ring.

We engineered our silicone rings to be extremely durable. Sure, the bands break under pressure — but with normal wear, they last for many years. And keeping them looking brand new couldn’t be easier. A quick wash with soap and warm water, and your Ventureborn silicone ring will look as good as the day you bought it.

As a firefighter, you don’t have time to worry about your wedding ring when you’re working — your focus is on dealing with the situation at hand. You need a ring that’s safe, secure and comfortable. You need a Ventureborn silicone wedding band. We have a range of design and color options. Love camo? We offer several unique camouflage styles, thanks to our partnership with TrueTimber™. Want a ring that reflects your spirit of adventure? Or would you prefer a bold band in a solid color? We have plenty of amazing silicone wedding bands to choose from. Silicone rings are safer than those made of metal because of their flexibility. If a silicone ring gets caught, it stretches. And when stretched past a certain point, it will break, leaving you unharmed.

Firefighters work hard. Anything you wear is put to the test every day, and you need gear that’s just as tough as you. That’s what you’ll get with a Ventureborn silicone wedding band. Custom Color, Dark Red, Turquoise, Yellow, Gray, Light Blue, Neon Blue, Neon Green, Neon Pink, Neon Yellow, No Stitching, Turqoise, Red, White, Beige, Blue, Black, Brown, Green, Natural (off white), Orange, Pink, Purple, Gold, Silver Avacado, Baby Blue, Beige, Bone, Brown, Burgundy/Maroon, Custom, Custom Color, Dark Green, Dark Grey, Dark Red, Emerald Green Pearl, Grey, Light Grey, Light Pink, Light Purple, Mettalic Bronze, Mustard Yellow, Navy Blue, Neon Blue, Neon Orange, Neon Pink, Neon yellow, Pewter, Rose Gold, Turquoise, Vanilla (off-white), No Color on Text, Red, White, Blue, Black, Green, Neon Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Yellow, Metallic Silver, Metallic GoldChestnut, Chocolate, Oxblood, Turquoise, White, Yellow, Antique Black, Antique Brown, Antique Saddle Tan, Black, Blue, Custom Color, Golden Brown, Green, London Tan, Mahogany, Natural, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Saddle Tan, Tan, Walnut, Waxed Harness

“343” passport, “Engine”, “Rescue”, “Squad”, “Truck”, 12 Gauge Shell, 9/11 Tribute, Air Force, AM/DG halligans, Army, Axe Flag, Celtic Maltese, Christian Fish, Crossed Fireman Axes, Custom (contact for approval), Five Bugles, Flag Maltese, Four Bugles, Glock logo, Harley Border, Hazmat Logo, Horizontal Flag, John 15:13 Maltese, Marriage Set crossed, Mustache, Navy, Punisher, Punisher w/ star, Ruger Logo, S&W Logo, Scope Crosshairs, Sig Sauer Logo, Single Bugle, Smoothbore, Spartan Helmet, Texas Flag Outline, Three Bugles, Two Bugles, Two Crossed Bugles, USMC, Vertical Flag, We The People, 12 guage, American Flag, Buck Head, Bullet, Ducks, Pistols, No Stamp, Blank Maltese, Thin Red Line Maltese, FD Scramble Maltese, Fire/Medic Maltese, IAFF Maltese, 4-Leaf Clover, Awareness Ribbon, CrossYou’ve forgotten several of the advantages of a modular helmet. You don’t have to wrestle with your glasses (sun or prescription) when putting the helmet on or off. It’s also easier when refuelling. Several gasstations want you to remove your helmet (mugshot?), but I’ve never had this problem with a modular helmet. Just flip the chin, smile to the camera and fill her up. It’s also a lot easier when paying. At least, that’s over here in the Netherlands.

After I had a accident , was taken to hospital, where the first thing the emergency trauma doctor asked was did you have a full face or open face helmet-reply open face-he then said good those full face can break your neckI’ve worn 3/4 helmets, full face, and modular. I have to say, if it wasn’t for safety concerns, I’d definitely wear an open face. Having worn all of these varieties, I find that the open helmets are lighter, more comfortable, and have much better peripheral vision.

It always comes down to personal preference, but one should also think of their family, and own personal well being, when riding a bike, and choosing the gear that goes with it. 48 years ago I purchased a Shoei full-face when they were just starting to hit the market. A few weeks later I face-planted the roof of a small car when the drunk driver came straight through a Stop sign. My facial injuries were a cut lip where a snaggly tooth nipped my top lip against the inside of the chin bar. I have managed this type of phobia for many years, by using open face lids, but recently, especially for longhaul holidays, I purchased a Shark evoline 3. Which is used more than 99.9% of the time in the open position, only in the wildest weather events has it been closed, but even then, the visor remained only half closed to manage the effect of claustrophobia.

“I was once told that if you don’t wear an open-face helmet you are not a real biker.” That just shows that some people talk absolute rubbish. I remember Harley-Ferguson riders saying the same thing about bikes with electric start when that feature first appeared on Japanese models. Show me an HD now with kick start – I guess that means none of the people riding HD are now “real bikers” either!A clubmate had a very similar accident just a couple of weeks prior to mine. He was wearing an open face “jet” helmet which was standard wear at the time. He ended up with broken nose, cheekbone and jaw and lost several teeth as a result. Several teeth actually went through his bottom chin area, causing extensive facial scarring that required lots of plastic surgery.

I find full face claustrophobic to wear. However I do recognise the safety benefits and have come off wearing one at low speed. I was all good! My compromise is a modular/convertible helmet made by Nolan. I wanted to buy a Shark, but sadly it won’t fit my fat head. The only modular helmet that does fit me is a Nolan. After I bought it I found that in the British tests, it was the only one that stayed shut in an impact test. When I leave home I start with the thing open. I just have to slowly get used to riding with it closed.. on a trip I like the fact that on hot days I can open it at traffic lights when stopped. Also riding at low speeds through country towns I often open it too for a breeze. My favourite helmet was my Bell Magnum from 1975 as I found it so very comfortable. Wearing the modular is a compromise between what I feel I should wear (full face) and what I want to wear, a jet style. My current Nolan is about due for replacement so unless other makes have expanded their sizing options, it will be another Nolan I guess.

But… I wear a full face when I ride. Why? Because if I do a face plant on asphalt at 50 KPH, I would rather have a chunk of plastic between my teeth and that asphalt.Exactly. Full faces are the go. The article quotes looks for wearing open faces. There is nothing more ugly than form before function. Just look at the open face wearers in the article, it must be so embarrassing for then.

I use my helmet based on the type of ride I’m doing and on which bike. Modular for a longer trip on my tourer, fullface on my MT01 when doing some nice twisty roads, and my openfaces when just cruising on either my vintage motorcycles or MT01 or TRX. Yep I’m lucky enough to have a few.Hay Mark I have both and I use both types one of my open face has a full screen on it for riding on a hot day and to keep the bugs from hitting my face . My full face helmets x2 one has little vents in it one to ducked air onto the inside of the screen the next one opens and allows air to flow onto the inside top of the shell ,And two more one each side and allows air to flow around the inside and out the back . I started riding when there were no helmet laws and you raped a scarf around your head and broke the ice off your eye brows and the scarf where your nose had been running and 3 or four sheets of news paper inside your jeans leg’s so it don’t matter which type of helmets you use as long as it suits your stile of riding ,Iuse the open face around the town so I can hear Them car drivers danger in four wheal’s .

I’ve been riding on the streets legally for 41 years and years before off road as a kid. My first street bike at 16 I bought an Arai full face and have been wearing the same since. They offer wide peripheral view, great air flow in the heat (road trip last summer was 45c on 10 hour ride and head stayed cool). This year’s trip through Canadian mountains, doing 120kmh a dead tree fell onto the road and hit the shoulder, when the top of it shattered and came right at my head. I turned my head to the right as a reaction and pieces hit the left side of my helmet. If I’d have been wearing anything but a full face it could have been catastrophic but I was able to just carry on with nothing more than a stomach ache from the adrenaline. I ride a large cruiser, Suzuki M109R/VZR1800 with a windshield that protects up to just below eye height. It’s mainly there to take the wind off the chest.Great article. However what many fail to recognize, is in the full face open face debate is some of us suffer claustrophobia, and its effects upon the rider to breathe normally, relax, and ride in an aware/safe manner.

Maybe he was treated by a witch-doctor and was confused from concussion. 100 kph in open-face makes me nervous and I’ve been riding 20 years never visiting the ER.One other advantage to modular helmets that probably isn’t legal in my case is that I can flip up and have a drink of water whilst riding. Great in the heat and better than a camelbak.For sure. You could be minding your own business doing 50 MPH and a soccer mum taps you from behind and you’re in a world of trouble. Single vehicle incident risk I can take, but you can’t plan your ride round that, unfortunately.

I must wear prescription glasses and my license is so annotated. I find that a full face helmet is a pain putting it on and taking it off with glasses. I also find it uncomfortable whilst wearing the helmet with glasses. I prefer the open face helmet and find it much more convenient and less crowded. I use prescription safety sun glasses for my eye wear. I know the safety issue is always used in these arguments but I prefer to ride safely and avoid the need for extreme safety equipment.I am on my second Shark Evoline3 in six years – first one was stolen off my bike. I also have a full face AGV – but seldom wear it. I ride with chin bar up most of the time except at highway speeds or if it’s cold. It’s a bit noisy but I’m used to that and wear Earmolds.

It also allows you to hear what is going on around you such as the screeching of tyres which could be a warning. You can also hear horns and the sirens of emergency vehicles.

Hello! Same here. I am diagnosed with GAD, riding is really relaxing but I find full face helmets increase my anxiety, in part because of the lack of safety I feel about not being able to have a good vision. Only other comment would be in relation to weather and temperature. Less likely to wear an openface in the rain and to a lesser extent, extreme cold. Having said that, it is enjoyable to use an open face in the extreme cold with a neck sock. I live above 800M, so can be cold riding to work. Will I replace the Shark evoline 3 with another? With my inability to ride with the chin bar locked down and the visor fully closed, especially in wild weather, an open face with a good depth visor is what would seem, as the only sensible option for me.Iy was flying in from the left, and I had a racing fairing on my bike. However, I looked over it, to see better, and the crow almost took my head off. I was all over that two lane Autobahn, and nearly lost control of the bike. Any traffic besides me, and it would have ended in a nasty crash. My friends riding with me, thought I would be tumbling down the road. That helmet saved my life for sure. I had to change underwear thereafter, though. 🙂

I bought this as a gift for my boyfriend, he loved it. It took awhile to get it but it was well worth the wait. Great quality and turned out better than expected.The Helmet Band looked incredible. The detail of the stars and strips and the lettering was perfect. I was very impressed with the quality of workmanship. Overall looks great. I think some of the glow didn’t make it all the way around the outline, appears to have a dull spot after being in sunlight or light. I did not account for my helmet cam. The band has to rest on top of the mount so therefore the band doesn’t sit all the way flush with the brim. Had a few times the band comes off, if my helmet falls over and hit something to jar it loose. However, it does not come off with regular use. All in all I love the look and concept of the helmet band, I may order another one with nail holders on each side instead of one with a wedge holder. My wedges seem to always fall out if something brushes against it or the helmet is impacted. The heavy duty band looks great on my leather helmet. The craftsmanship is excellent and the quality makes it stand out. I have received many compliments from other members of my department.Transforming the safety of firefighting. Track firefighters and increase safety in smoky or dark environments with illuminating/glow-in-the-dark helmet bands. Newly advanced pigment glows brighter and longer. Redesigned to be stronger and last longer.Made of industrial grade high-temperature-resistant silicone, Foxfire Illuminating Helmet Bands were designed specifically to handle the heat and rigors of firefighting. Each helmet band will illuminate for hours. The helmet bands may be charged repeatedly by any type of light condition, however, the brighter the light the brighter and longer the bands will illuminate and glow. Fully Involved Leatherworks Custom Fire Helmet Band are handmade with a limited lifetime warranty for Firefighters and First Responders. Our 1 1/4” wide leather personalized fire helmet bands exceed what you normally get from a the other guys. They are made from 9/10 oz American Zebu Hides. These hides are brought to our shop and then hand cut. Each piece of leather for our straps are hand dyed using Oil Dye. This Oil dye not only will not come off, but helps ensure that your product will not crack, fades, or lose color over time. Thick enough to take the abuse from the job of fire and EMS, but supple enough to be comfortable. Our handcrafted products feature stitched edges, tough hardware, limited lifetime warranty, and the best customer service in the industry. Each product is sealed to prevent bleeding onto uniforms and the ability to be washable for decon. Being a Firefighter Owned and Operated business we test our products to the max before putting them on your back. Our products are made to last, and will ride with you through many years, if not your entire career. Just about every aspect of the XF1 has been engineered to provide increased protection for the firefighter’s head and neck, more evenly distribute the helmet’s weight and reduce potential snags. Eye and face protection, personal lighting and communications (the latter two available as easily installed options) are all contained inside the helmet or integrated into its design. The result is sleek and seamless design that meets the safety and comfort requirements of today’s firefighters.Nomex, was first developed by DuPont in 1961, and made its way into firefighter protective clothing nine years later. Since then, the structural firefighting protective ensemble (PPE) has undergone quantum leaps in the protective capabilities for firefighters.

So, why do the overwhelming majority of firefighters and officers still wear a traditional-style fire helmet – a helmet style first designed circa 1836 in New York City (e.g., a Cairns New Yorker or Houston leather helmet), a composite helmet in the same style, or a more modern style helmet (e.g., a Cairns Metro or similar models from Bullard, Phenix, or Fire-Dex)?The flexible, noise-cancelling electric boom microphone can be used with or without a firefighter’s SCBA face piece and doesn’t require batteries. This is a good feature because a firefighter always has their helmet on but may not be using their SCBA facepiece. It is also available with a one or two speaker option.

8. Better lighting. With an optional integrated lighting feature, the XF1 can give a firefighter both front and side illumination to reduce snag hazards – no need for a firefighter to strap a flashlight to their helmet with a rubber strap – and improve their situational awareness. The lighting package features a compact light accessory that’s housed inside of the helmet, reducing exposure to heat, flames and impact. Its unique side placement on either side of the helmet rather than at the top of the helmet improves visibility without detracting from the vision of other firefighters working nearby.

4. Better customization of the fit. The size of the headband may be adjusted to fit the wearer’s head by using the ratchet adjustment system. The rear ratchet arms have three (3) adjustable positions so that the angle of the ratchet may be set to accommodate the back of the firefighter’s head. The headband height is adjustable at the front of the helmet via sliding friction tab to provide additional comfort to the wearer and maximize compatibility with the SCBA facepiece. A better fit is not only more comfortable, but it also prevents pressure points from developing, even after an extended period of wear.A new generation for firefighters in the U.S. and Canada anyway. Fire departments around the world have been using the “Euro-style” helmet for decades to more fully protect their head during their duties from the wide variety of hazards they face. Enter the MSA Cairns XF1 firefighter helmet, a helmet designed to not only provide a greater level of protection for a firefighter’s noggin but also increase their level of comfort and overall safety. Here are 8 ways the XF1 Firefighter helmet does that (and why you should consider it for your firefighting helmet): When you still need eye protection, but not necessarily full-face coverage, the XF1 can be fitted with an optional pull-down option, the ocular visor. The visor is ANSI/ISEA-compliant eye protection and articulates forward/backward to optimize fit across a wide range of facial profiles with or without corrective lenses.

Today, the fabric elements of your PPE (i.e., coat, pants, hood, gloves, and even boots) are constructed with the most advanced fire-resistant fabrics (e.g., Nomex, Kevlar, PBI) and provide firefighters with the highest level of protection in history. Shouldn’t the firefighting helmet that you use have a similar level of innovation and technology?2. Better ergonomics. The XF1 helmet was engineered as much for comfort and fit as safety. The most obvious feature is what it lacks – no rear brim! With no brim, there’s less risk for snags when working in close quarters and a firefighter can forget about their helmet’s brim butting against their SCBA cylinder. Plus, the helmet’s accessories, like lighting and communications, can be integrated seamlessly into the design, resulting in a sleeker profile.

Battalion Chief Robert Avsec (ret.) served with the Chesterfield (Virginia) Fire & EMS Department for 26 years. He was an instructor for fire, EMS and hazardous materials courses at the local, state and federal levels, which included more than 10 years with the National Fire Academy. Chief Avsec earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and his master’s degree in executive fire service leadership from Grand Canyon University. He is a 2001 graduate of the National Fire Academy’s EFO Program. Beyond his writing for FireRescue1.com and FireChief.com, Avsec authors the blog Talking “Shop” 4 Fire & EMS and has published his first book, “Successful Transformational Change in a Fire and EMS Department: How a Focused Team Created a Revenue Recovery Program in Six Months – From Scratch.” Connect with Avsec on LinkedIn or via email.

7. Better face and eye protection. With its integrated face shield the XF1 provides a gap-free, full-face protection when you need it – even when a firefighter is wearing their SCBA facepiece – and hidden retraction when you don’t. The face shield gives a firefighter an unimpeded, wide field of vision in all directions and is designed to fit most face shapes, even for those firefighters wearing corrective lenses.For many fire departments, response to structure fires represents an exceedingly small percentage of their emergency responses. Those same fire departments are responding to greater numbers of call for motor vehicle crashes with victim extrication, wildland urban interface fires and situations that require tactical rescue operations (e.g., trench, high-angle rescues).

5. Easier to decontaminate. With its easy-to-clean modular design, a firefighter can quickly disassemble the XF1 for thorough inspection, care and maintenance. All the helmet’s soft goods are removable, washable and replaceable without the use of tools. MSA has engineered all these features so that firefighters using the XF1 are aligned with the cancer prevention directives from the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.1. Better weight distribution. With a traditional style helmet, all the helmet’s weight is on top of a firefighter’s head, but with its wrap-around design the XF1 evenly distributes the helmet’s weight; it not only lightens the load on top of the head but reduces torque on the neck.

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Golfire’s Rubber Firefighter Helmet Band is used for holding common accessories on your helmet. Fits nicely on both modern and traditional style fire helmets. 1″ wide. The rubber helmet bands is great for holding firefighter door chocks and sprinkler wedges as well as a flashlight. Golfire’s helmet bands are custom made to our specs and will hold up in the most extreme conditions. 4 Bands are included in price!!We take intellectual property concerns very seriously, but many of these problems can be resolved directly by the parties involved. We suggest contacting the seller directly to respectfully share your concerns.

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Keep collections to yourself or inspire other shoppers! Keep in mind that anyone can view public collections—they may also appear in recommendations and other places. View Etsy’s Privacy PolicyWithout these technologies, things like personalized recommendations, your account preferences, or localisation may not work correctly. Find out more in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy.Thus, the expectations for a European “rescue aerial” have evolved to create a device that sets up and levels quickly, and can raise, retract and extend at a faster pace to reach and evacuate victims.As we saw with pumping fire apparatus, standards and performance expectations have sent the designs for aerial fire apparatus (e.g., ladders, platforms, scopes) in Europe and North America in somewhat different directions. Many European fire departments prefer a more compact design for 100-foot (32-m) aerial apparatus because they value a smaller and more maneuverable package. A common type of aerial device is a turn-table ladder with limited ground ladders and more truck-mounted “below-grade” performance capabilities.

The term “rescue aerial” is quite common in the European design process for aerial fire apparatus. Whereas aerial fire apparatus designs in the U.S. and Canada use the base vehicle (chassis) to stabilize and level the aerial device (ladder or platform), many European-designed units use the chassis to stabilize but level the device (ladder or platform) using the device itself. A driving force behind European fire departments using this approach is that those fire departments, and the communities they serve, have “hometown” chassis manufacturers within their country (e.g., Iveco in Italy, Renault in France, Mercedes in Germany, Scania in Sweden) that are popular and easily serviced. And while some larger European fire apparatus builders do offer customization using a variety of chassis styles and brands, it is still more common to see regional fire apparatus manufacturers serving their customer fire departments using a locally favored brand that is designed specifically for a department’s needs and response area. To accomplish this, the fire apparatus in those countries avoids the use of the North American-style hose beds and equipment storage areas (e.g., upper coffin compartment) to reduce the climbing risk. Therefore, the fire attack hoselines and supply hose are stowed in lower positions and carried within the lower bodywork. Additionally, long tools and ladders are mounted so that a firefighter can safely access such equipment from the ground or the use of automated lowering systems.For European pumping fire apparatus, the engine output power is typically matched to the pump performance requirements, meaning the relative energy (hp) to drive the pump determines the engine size (hp needed) and chassis component combinations (big enough to accommodate that engine) to be used. The firefighter often stays close to that minimum requirement.

Most North American fire apparatus is designed to accommodate preplanned hose loads for rapid deployment upon arrival. Most European fire apparatus use an “enclosed transit” design where the hoses and firefighting equipment are mounted and stowed within the vehicle. The deployment and configuration of hoses and equipment occurs at the scene and is based on the size-up of the incident.

In Europe, it is not uncommon for a fire apparatus manufacturers to take a commercial cab design and add crew seating and additional space. In a bit of a twist, fire crew seating at the front of the chassis – like that found in custom crew cabs on North American fire apparatus – has gained popularity with European fire departments. The requirements of NFPA 1901 for a 100-foot aerial device (e.g., more ground ladders, equipment and tools) creates a need for a larger apparatus chassis. The “foundation” for aerial apparatus designs used in North America can be found in NFPA 1901’s requirement that aerial fire apparatus must carry a minimum of 115-feet of ground ladders (NFPA 1901, 8.8.1.2). Those ground ladder requirements make for a typical North American aerial fire apparatus body that’s larger, higher and more “boxy,” which limits the capability of the aerial device for use in below-grade operations.

Let’s consider how fire apparatus has evolved on “both sides of the pond” – an exercise that can prove beneficial for a fire department’s apparatus design committee as it makes critical decisions about the organization’s next apparatus.The designs for fire apparatus are constantly evolving, and every year we see a variety of innovative approaches to fire apparatus and firefighter safety. The lessons of safety applied to design, along with innovation in the world of fire apparatus truly being a global endeavor, should resonate with fire apparatus designers and fire departments alike.

The operating environment in which the aerial apparatus will be expected to operate placed has a significant impact on its design. Designs for North American aerial platforms must take into consideration weight capacities, water flow requirements, and ancillary tool stowage because many fire departments in the U.S. and Canada view their aerial platforms as the “Swiss army knife” of fire apparatus.

That point brings us to the safety-driven cultural design requirement for fire apparatus in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. In both those countries, the fire apparatus design requirements seek to reduce the risk of falls that can occur when firefighters climb above ground-level on the apparatus (other than mounting or dismounting the apparatus).

In contrast, European fire apparatus manufacturers offer fewer chassis and cabs, and the options presented are usually configured specifically or exclusively for tactical firefighting purposes. Most chassis and cabs for used for European apparatus are more accurately defined as “commercially available trucks” that are then modified for fire apparatus use.

The first critical task that fire apparatus must be designed for is the safe, effective, and efficient transportation of firefighters to and from the emergency scene. And it’s here that we see a major difference in the approach to cab design by North American fire departments and their European colleagues.A typical piece of European pumping fire apparatus, however, has a rear-mounted pump with a minimum number of discharge valves (two to four), where the pump operator sets the pump pressure and then adjusts each discharge’s output with “turn-down” valves. Once the fire apparatus arrives at the emergency, one can easily see how equipment and hose deployment and pump operations have evolved differently between North American and European fire departments. Whereas the design of North American pumping fire apparatus is based on the use of pre-connected hoselines, the tactical approach for European fire departments is a blank pump (no pre-connected hoselines) with hoses rolled and stowed in the exterior lower compartments, which can be set up on site to handle a specific situation.

While their operating environments and fire apparatus design theories may be different, there is much that can be learned by fire apparatus designers on “both sides of the pond.” Components from both continents (e.g., like roll-up compartment doors, Storz hose connections, large-diameter hose, and compressed air foam systems (CAFS) have become global in fire apparatus design and construction.

So, what’s the takeaway from our discussion today? For me, the saying “Not weird, just different” seems very applicable. When it comes to fire apparatus design theory, we focus on studying any good design and understanding the “why” behind it.