Chicago Fire Department

[photog999]

[quote name='Coop' post='31110' date='Sep 6 2006, 21:49 ']The bunkers vs. 3/4 debate can be beat to death. But what I can tell you from a CFD study and mine own experience. The CFD study showed a lot less heat stress, thus the reason for cancelling the order they placed before. The other much debated thing, bunkers provide you more protection than 3/4's, thus allowing you to get into situations you should not be in. In my opinion that Im sure will be much critisized, less FF deaths would occur if 3/4's were still used, because the FF's would not get into dangerous situations (ie. Flashovers). Let the beating of me commence.... Normally by people who have been brain washed by bunker gear manufacturers. Most of these people are in it for one thing, MONEY!



Lets do the math here:

Long coat $300 + 3/4 boots $75(max)= $375

coat $300 + pants $500 + boots $200 = $1000

if my math is correct that is $625 per FF, and CFD has 5000 FF's now think about that. Its a difference of $3,125,000.00(multiply by 3 for the FDNY).[/quote]



Where in the world can you buy a bunker coat for $300.00??? Trust me even the long coats CFD is currently wearing are probably between $800 and $900 if not more because they are black PBI, which is the most expensive outershell you can buy. Morning Pride is the current manufacture of their coats.



The long boots are closer to $135.00 per pair.



A decent set of NFPA compliant gear (coat and pants) made out of the same spec as CFD and made by Morning Pride would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $1500-$1700 (depending on options)



I actually have a deparment wearing black PBI that the next time they order gear it's going to cost them right around $2000.00 per set.



And no I am not getting rich doing this!!