A new, lighter weight firefighter motorcycle protective garment is a recent addition to Bristol’s firefighter PPE range, which has the flexibility to be used as structural protection to EN469:2005 Level 2 and as a bike suit meeting the appropriate mechanical impact protection required by EN1621-1:2012 Level 2.
The new two piece garment has been designed to provide full front line structural firefighting protection for firefighters using motorcycles to reach fires, particularly in urban environments, where extra rapid response can be achieved using fire bikes to reach incidents. This is especially important where conditions, such as in congested urban environments, may prevent fire tenders achieving the required speed of response.
Based on the latest XFlex™ design platform, the new bike suit offers extra comfort and physical protection when being worn whilst riding a motorcycle. The separate jacket and trouser have, respectively, shaped elbows and knees with special thumb loops on the sleeves. The two garments can be zipped together to form a coverall when required. The new suit is available in 28 sizes suitable for both males and females.
Both garments are specially shaped and constructed with internal pockets to allow removable back, shoulder, elbow, hip and knee protectors to be inserted as required when the garments are being worn on motorcycles. These protectors are lightweight, flexible and breathable. With these protectors in place, both garments meet EN1621-1:2012 Level 2. This is the current European Standard for motorcyclists’ limb joint impact protectors as used in protective clothing against mechanical impact.
Roger Startin, Bristol’s Joint Managing Director, commented, “With the ever increasing levels of urban congestion in major cities in many countries, fire and rescue services are actively looking at alternative means of getting first responders to firegrounds as quickly as possible. Speed of response, particularly important where people may be trapped in burning buildings, is essential if lives are to be saved. The deployment of firefighters through a mix of fast, highly manoeuvrable two wheeled vehicles and fully equipped fire tenders can be part of the solution to overcoming the obstacles increasingly common in difficult to reach locations. In such situations, firefighters need protection whilst on their bikes as well as on the fireground. Our new bike suit provides both”.
For more information, please visit www.bristoluniforms.com
