[quote name='photog999' post='31578' date='Sep 8 2006, 11:39 ']Coop, I am an equipment dealer with a background in the fire service going back to 1980 so I've worn both long coats with 3/4 boots and also full PPE. Yes the old way is cooler but with fires buring much hotter I feel much better protected in full PPE. The reason guys take more chances is partially to blame on the gear and a lot to blame on training and dept. mentality.
You have to realize not all turn-out gear in made the same. A very few manufactures do any type of research into the gear to reduce stress. When you are wearing full PPE rehab becomes something that is mandatory not optional.
As far as NFPA is concerned, they are not supported by contributions from the manufactures, that is one of the biggest fallacies in the fire service. All technical committees(1971,1901,1982,1851 etc.) are equally represented by 1/3 fire service people (IAFF,IAFC,NVFC and so on), 1/3 Manufacture and 1/3 other industry professionals. Every time a standard is put out for change there are public comment periods where everyone in the fire service can express their opinion. A good example of this is with the proposed changes that were suggested for SCBA's, namely the universal bottle, fire service opinion sank that idea rather quickly. So i guess all I can say at the end of this rant is understand how NFPA works before you criticize (anad no I do not agree with everything they put out including some of the new changes in the turnout gear standard that just went into effect).
Remember NFPA is only a standard making body not a law making one tho their standards can and are adopted by law making and enforcing bodies. You don't have to follow it, but you better have a good team of lawyers if you choose not to follow it and something goes terribly wrong.[/quote]
Thank you, and I really do agree with you about the department mentality. The First fire department I was on was not as agressive as the last department that I was on. And that is one of the reasons that FDNY loses more firefighters that Chicago. The are extremely agressive in their policies on fire attack. And you know what they almost have to be with all of the housing units that are cramed in so tight. If they were not as agressive as they are they could end up loosing blocks and tons of people.
You have to realize not all turn-out gear in made the same. A very few manufactures do any type of research into the gear to reduce stress. When you are wearing full PPE rehab becomes something that is mandatory not optional.
As far as NFPA is concerned, they are not supported by contributions from the manufactures, that is one of the biggest fallacies in the fire service. All technical committees(1971,1901,1982,1851 etc.) are equally represented by 1/3 fire service people (IAFF,IAFC,NVFC and so on), 1/3 Manufacture and 1/3 other industry professionals. Every time a standard is put out for change there are public comment periods where everyone in the fire service can express their opinion. A good example of this is with the proposed changes that were suggested for SCBA's, namely the universal bottle, fire service opinion sank that idea rather quickly. So i guess all I can say at the end of this rant is understand how NFPA works before you criticize (anad no I do not agree with everything they put out including some of the new changes in the turnout gear standard that just went into effect).
Remember NFPA is only a standard making body not a law making one tho their standards can and are adopted by law making and enforcing bodies. You don't have to follow it, but you better have a good team of lawyers if you choose not to follow it and something goes terribly wrong.[/quote]
Thank you, and I really do agree with you about the department mentality. The First fire department I was on was not as agressive as the last department that I was on. And that is one of the reasons that FDNY loses more firefighters that Chicago. The are extremely agressive in their policies on fire attack. And you know what they almost have to be with all of the housing units that are cramed in so tight. If they were not as agressive as they are they could end up loosing blocks and tons of people.
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