One of the coolest things I have ever received in the mail, ever... arrived at my house a couple of days ago. It was from one of the friends I made here on the FFN, and he is from France, where he works as a professional firefighter. Like many firefighters, we both like fire service related things and are involved with trading things back and forth. What amazed me however, was the functional design that I saw first hand. 


Up to this point, I have only seen photographs of french firefighters wearing a very unfamiliar fire helmet style. To be honest, I blew off the design because they just did not look like fire helmets. After having the chance to actually wear one, I offer the following insight for those, like myself, who never have had the chance to see what our brothers and sisters across the Atlantic wear for head and face protection.


The world just keeps getting smaller... I invite everyone to take the time to get to know others around the world with the spirit of sharing and providing the most up to date training and response information available. We are not alone, we have each other.


Prenez garde à rester en sécurité, (TCSS)

CBz


The Casque Pompier (Fire Helmet):



Built in Safety Goggles:


 

Fire Helmet Protective Visor / Heat Shield:


 

View Through Fire Helmet Protective Visor / Heat Shield:



Fire Helmet Heat Shield:




05-25-2010 Update: I made direct contact today with MSA and spoke with one of two sales reps that have knowledge of the French Gallet F1-SF Firefighter Helmet. Here's what I learned:


• These "French" fire helmets are manufactured by MSA, which is 100% USA owned and is based internationally out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

• MSA bought out the french company Gallet 7-8 years ago, which included this helmet design and manufacturing rights.

• Existing USA style fire helmets are rated to no more than 1500˚F, while this particular style is rated to 1800˚F. Why more? The same technology used by NASA for astronaut helmets visors are incorporated into this design. Both the helmet and face shield reflect the heat, keeping the interior of the helmet cool, with maximum interior helmet temperatures reaching around 95˚F.

• The existing F1-SF helmet does not meet NA standards as mentioned in one of the posts. However, there is such a demand now for this style that MSA is working on providing a NA approved helmet that has the same features but also possesses the necessary impact standards.

• What we are looking at is a glimpse of what the 21st century firefighters are going to be wearing, internationally...


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You did translate just fine! Very good advice about the helmet!
Great critique!
There are some American manufacturers of these helmets. I read about it right here in the discussion about this helmet!
Statue of Liberty??? - French Design. whoops...Freedom Design...sorry. I hope my French Canadian translated...
We are the international superstars of firefighting...PERIOD! They take cues from US.
This thread just gets funnier and funnier as I read some of the responses- that's a classic Mike!!!!

Did you guys know there's a whole wide world outside of your borders?

Next you're gonna tell me your shit smells like roses?
Did you guys know there's a whole wide world outside of your borders?

Apparently some didn't get the message.
Nothing wrong with Star Wars...they must have gotten some things right...they fly in space on a regular basis and we don't. To dismiss something because of its 'looks' and not its functionality is a common human error. I did learn by reading that these helmets are not worthy of our impact standards (easy fix, in my opinion).
Ok so it's not made of metal? It sure looks like it's made of metal I've never seen plastic so shiny before:). Ok I can admit when I make a mistake and it won't be the last one. It would be better if it had something more substantial than a hood to keep the embers from going down your back but it don't really look all that bad. I do have the concern that many others have voiced here that it would impair the hearing. And we now have visors similar to this on traditional/metro style helmets. But I won't be really critical until I try one on. And I'm not sure if the dept. I belong to will buy one. But going on looks alone yea they look different but that's not really good or bad. Just different.
Did you guys know there's a whole wide world outside of your borders?

Yeah, but all the people living in other countries are illegal aliens!
Gotcha mate, thanks. Might be because I don't like turkey that I didn't pick up on that "baster" comment :-)
i have read many of these replies and will just say that i purchased my own Morning Pride Ben 2 with a visor and find it comfortable if its set properly many of the guys here feel the same we dont like them esp the fact they totally enclose your head so they cant be cool under the helmet one possible application is maybe ARFF and as always each to his own but i will stick with my Ben2 thanks
i have read many of these replies and will just say that i purchased my own Morning Pride Ben 2 with a visor and find it comfortable if its set properly many of the guys here feel the same we dont like them esp the fact they totally enclose your head so they cant be cool under the helmet one possible application is maybe ARFF and as always each to his own but i will stick with my Ben2 thanks

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