How to perform an NFPA 1850 routine turnout inspection on your own—and when to call the experts.

Taking proper care of your turnout gear can feel like an overwhelming task. With so many standards, certifications, and protocols, it can be hard to even know where to start. However, the real goal of all these rules and regulations is your safety.

And every firefighter should be actively involved in advocating for that safety.

One way you can do this is by regularly completing routine inspections on your turnouts. By taking the initiative of searching for wear, tear, and overall fit, you can prevent future expenses and potential exposure. Not only will this save your department money but also potentially save you from fireground injury.

Why Inspect Your Turnouts?

So, why should you inspect your turnouts? It should be clear when they’re no longer useable... right?

Unfortunately, damage to your turnouts may not be easily visible, or only noticeable upon careful examination. And just because these incidents of damage may be small, it doesn't mean they’re harmless. This is why it’s important that you are as familiar as possible with all the layers of your turnouts and how they appear when in proper working condition. This way, you can recognize the beginning signs of wear and tear before they develop into serious problems.

While inspecting your gear yourself is not a replacement for professional advanced inspection by your verified Independent Service Provider (ISP), it’s a wise first step that can direct you through the proper course of action as soon as possible.

How to Inspect Turnout Gear

Ideally, you should inspect your gear when reporting for duty and after every incident, allowing you to catch areas of potential failure before they become costly to repair or hazardous to your health or safety. But if you notice any difference in your gear or begin to notice signs of wear and tear, be sure to bring it to the attention of your company officer. Even seemingly minimal areas of damage can signal a significantly compromised interior. After identifying any instances of damage, the company officer will contact your ISP to request an advanced inspection and repair service.

A thorough inspection involves all three layers of your turnout: the outer shell, moisture barrier, and thermal liner. Each layer must be searched carefully for signs of damage. While you may be used to inspecting only the outer shell of your turnout, it’s important to review all three layers, as some damage may present in the interior layers without ever showing from the outside.

While you can take a good look at all three layers of your gear, it’s important to remember that certain spaces on your turnout can only be reached by a professional or other individual trained by the equipment manufacturer or a verified ISP and should be left to advanced inspection. That’s why getting advanced inspections is key, even if you have done a remarkably thorough job on your own. You can learn more about advanced inspections in the section below.

When conducting routine inspections, be sure to check for the following types of damage:

Physical Damage

Physical damage can present itself in many ways, some seeming obvious, and others less so. Rips, tears, cuts, and abrasions are easy to see, and clearly signs of damage. When inspecting the outer shell of your turnout, you should also check the security of closure systems and pockets. Another important thing to check for is thermal damage. This type of damage typically presents as char marks, burn holes, melting, or discoloration in any layer of your gear.

Loss of Seam Integrity

The seam integrity of your garment is incredibly important to its functionality. As part of your routine inspection, look for broken or missing stitches throughout all layers of your garment, and firmly flex and manipulate seam areas. If any signs of wear are found, bring it to the attention of a company officer.

Material Physical Integrity

Many factors come into play when it comes to the material integrity of your gear. Fabric can be compromised by chemical or UV degradation. These types of damages can present as discoloration, significant changes in material texture, loss of material strength, loss of inner liner material, or the shifting of liner material.

Some of these material-specific issues can be hard to catch, which is why the expertise of your ISP professionals is so important. When you send your gear in for a professional advanced inspection, technicians with expert experience will conduct appropriate NFPA 1850 tests for the things you're not able to view during a routine inspection.

Advanced Inspections

After finding any sort of damage during routine inspections, your turnout should be sent for an advanced inspection with your verified ISP. During the advanced inspection, trained technicians will look for the root cause of any wear or tear you've noticed and formulate a repair plan. These are some of the more technical inspection procedures and how they are performed.

During an advanced inspection, technicians will inspect the very innermost parts of your turnout. But how do you access the interior layers of your turnout? After separating the outer shell from the liner layers, the inspector will use the inspection port, located at the side/bottom of the jacket, to invert the liner. This port is specifically designed so that the liner can be inverted, making each layer visible. Once this step is completed, they can take a good look at each layer and search for damage.

Seam Tape

One important area that will need inspection is seam tape. Seam tape is a special waterproof barrier that is supposed to line all the seams of your moisture barrier. It prevents any kind of liquid from being able to penetrate between the pieces of fabric. It should be firmly stuck down and glossy in appearance.

If the seam tape on your turnout is coming loose, or even missing in places, this is a serious problem. In the case that large portions of the seam tape are missing completely, it may have been a manufacturing issue and subject to warranty protocols through your turnout supplier.

Even a small area of missing seam tape can compromise your safety.

Delamination

Another thing the professionals will search for is delamination. Delamination occurs when the separate layers of the turnout begin to come apart, or when the layers of each individual fabric begin to show signs of separation. This can appear as film coming undone from the substrate fabric, which is a thin layer of film in the moisture barrier. Delamination can also look like flaking, or powdering fabric.

Testing

A full advanced inspection by ISP professionals will take the material integrity inspection process further by performing a hydrostatic pressure test. This test shows fabric integrity (or damage) at a level that might not be readily visible. However, if you happen to notice dark or thin areas in your moisture barrier during a routine inspection, be sure to send your turnouts in for the test.

What Role Do Firefighters Have in the Inspection Process?

Your ability to complete a routine inspection may be the best way to ensure your safety and the longevity of your PPE.

Routine inspections aren’t a replacement for your yearly advanced inspections, but they are a way for you to take an active role in the maintenance of your turnouts and your own health.

If you notice any of the above signs of damage in your turnout gear, send it to your ISP! The experts at Gear Wash are there to help you with advanced inspections (and any necessary repairs). We work to determine your needs and ensure that your gear is ready for the next call.