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Black turn outs and safety
What color of turnouts do you use and why. I can't imagine using black because if I go down in a fire, It will be harder to find in black.Yes , I get you have the pass device but sometimes hearing where the sound is coming from in the comotion is hard.I prefer the normal tan color.I clean mine after every fire.Be safe and God Bless all of you.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by BillySFCVFD on
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We use Old School yellow. That color seems to have proven itself after many years of use. It appears that some departments are interested in fashion rather that practicality.
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Permalink Reply by Ray Edwards on
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I agree. The black does look good.We received black helmets last year.The ones that got excited and wanted one learned rather quickly that they get hot.Not good to stand in the sun.Be safe.
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Permalink Reply by Tom Chmielowiec Jr. on
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we have black gear, and your right, it does get hot quick, and it is harder to see in smoke.
Junior
Omnis Cedo Domus
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Permalink Reply by Kenneth Holley on
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Black seems to be a serious safety issue. I didn't think anyone was still using it.
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I see it at alot of depts.When you ask the newer fire fighters, they like it because it looks "cool".Also , at a show a couple of months ago, black was the only color they were showing and selling there.Yes, black hides dirt and stuff but safety is more important.Be safe.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on
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When I first got my tan Morning Pride gear a bunch of us were standing on a roof taking a break. It was a warm sunny day, and those of us who had this color remarked that it didn't seem as hot as the black gear others were wearing.
It's not scientific, I know, but it was interesting that we had the same conclusion at that call.
If true, then there would be an advantage with non-black gear absorbing less radiant heat energy than the traditional black turnouts. The result is less heat transferred to the firefighter within and therefore less chance for heat exhaustion.
Also, firefighters wearing tan or yellow gear may be more visible at night than those wearing black, however neither is good enough when working in and near traffic.
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Permalink Reply by Damon Dyer on
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Got to go with you on this one Ray . Yellow is what they had before i got here we use tan now .
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I didn't consider the night time use at mva's. You are correct. It would be alot harder to see at night .Another reason I can't believe someone would use it.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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Ed,
Actually black is a firefighter safety issue. Black absorbs more heat than lighter colors. The reason that it isn't a NFPA issue is that the original standard was going to allow four colors - white, yellow, red, and natural tan. Some of the larger, traditional departments liked their black, and didn't want a transitional period where some of their firefighters wore a different color than others. So...they lobbied the NFPA gear committee, and SURPRISE, black suddenly wasn't a safety issue. In fact, PBI originally only came in natural tan, and the departments that wear black PBI actually paid more for the original black turnouts, because they cost more than tan because of the research and development of the black dye process.
There is no reason other than tradition to wear black gear.
Most turnout gear is now natural tan, because it's the cheapest to make, as that's the natural color of most of the heat-resistant aramid fabrics, especially PBI and PBI blends.
Black gear can also hide the presence of contaminents that might be visible in lighter-colored gear.
Interestingly, navy blue was not one of the colors that was initially approved for structural firefighting. It seems that it's primarily used for EMS turnouts. It seems that navy blue was too dark for safe use, and...well, it just wasn't traditional, or something.
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Permalink Reply by Butch McCurdy on
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Both of my departments use tan gear. One used to be black. I think FDNY has still uses black
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