Turnout Gear Wash Services

Washing Turnout Gear

For turnout gear integrity to remain within NFPA guidelines, it should be washed once every six months. Turnout Gear Wash has developed and perfected a system that washes your turnout gear in a state-of-the art industrial washer/extractor. The electrically operated valves flush fresh water through the chemical manifold and six liquid chemical injection points to ensure the best quality wash possible for all products:

• Turnout Coats & Pants
• Wildland Brush Gear
• Vests
• Aluminized Coats & Pants
• Station wear shirts
• Station wear pants
• Gloves
• Military One Piece Ensembles (FFE)
• Boots (Rubber & Leather)
• Hoods
• Coveralls
• Helmets

This is a specialized wet-wash process has been perfected by Turnout Gear Wash.  This wet wash process deep cleans gear and will not degrade any fire retardant properties, void warranties or compromise the integrity of turnout gear garments in any way whatsoever. 
In cases of severe contamination, Turnout Gear Wash, can perform custom stain removal. You simply need to contact us to let us know how extensive the contamination is and we will provide a free, competitively priced quotation. If we can’t clean it, we don’t charge.

Turnout Gear Inspection

The Turnout Gear Wash, care and repair facility uses certified and fully trained staff to perform the following inspections according to NFPA guidelines:

  1. Routine Inspection
  2. Advanced Inspection
  3. Complete Liner Inspection

Routine Inspection of Turnout Gear

A routine inspection of turnout gear is performed by the firefighter, and he/she is expected to perform this inspection as often as possible. The routine inspection can take place after the fire uniform has seen active service, and during periods of inactivity. The firefighter looks for soiling, contamination, physical damage, damage to the integrity of the trim, or trim that is completely missing, stitches that are missing and loss of seam integrity. The firefighter also has to check that that all the components of the turnout gear are correctly assembled.

Turnout Gear - Advanced Inspection

According to the National Fire Protection Agency, advanced inspections of turnout gear must be carried out once every six months by a certified third party. During advanced inspection of turnout gear, the following processes are required to take place:

  • Soiled turnout gear elements must be washed
  • Inspection findings tracked and documented
  • Elements of the routine inspection must also all be adhered to

NFPA required tests to be conducted on garment elements:

  • A light evaluation test of liners 
  • Evaluation for leakage 
  • Assessment of physical and thermal damage
  • Turnout gear inspected for missing hardware
  • Tests for moisture barrier integrity
  • Seam integrity tested
  • Material integrity tested
  • Label integrity tested
  • Reflectivity test  
  • Closure system test

Turnout Gear - Complete Liner Inspection

Turnout gear has to undergo a complete liner inspection when garments have been in use for three years or longer. The complete liner inspection takes place annually after three years of service of the garment. NFPA regulations dictate that the inspection must be carried out by a certified third party. Turnout Gear Wash is a certified third party who uses qualified and certified staff to conduct the complete liner inspection. This inspection is intensive as the turnout gear garment needs to be taken apart, tested and sewn back together, provided the integrity of the garment is still in tact.
A complete liner inspection entails:

  • Separation of the liner to expose the inner thermal liner, and hidden sides of moisture barrier
  • Required moisture barrier test
  • Evaluation of water penetration barrier
  • Turnout gear must be sewn back together

Turnout Gear Repairs

There are varying degrees of damage that occur to turnout gear during its life-span. These vary from small rips and tears to large tears, burn holes and severe contamination. The end product, after the wash, inspection and repairs adhere to NFPA standards, and the turnout gear garment is returned to the owner, as good as, if not better than the original. Trained Turnout Gear Wash staff makes all alterations and repairs according to leading safety standard protocols.
Turnout Gear Wash performs the following code compliant repairs and alterations to:

  • velcro closures
  • burn holes
  • rips and tears
  • moisture barriers
  • reflective trim
  • lettering
  • customized pockets
  • custom alterations
  • hardware such as buttons, zippers, snaps and hooks
  • knee and shoulder pad reinforcements

Turnout Gear Wash repairs garments with flame retardant Nomex and Kevlar, and can refurbish turnout gear at a fraction of the cost of replacement.