CFA is about to begin a program to measure operational structural firefighters for the new PPC structural ensemble. This follows the completion of the consultation process with the Volunteer Associations and the United Firefighters Union.
Priority for the rollout of the new PPC will go to those brigades that respond to a high level of structural incidents in their brigade response area.
Allocation of the new structural ensemble for CFA volunteer structural firefighters will be based on the number of structural incidents attended during a year. All CFA career firefighters will be issued the new ensemble.
CFA volunteer and career structural firefighters will have the choice of selecting one of two "outer shell material" ensembles - lime green coloured Nomex 111A/D or the gold coloured PBI Gold.
All firefighters are entitled to make their own individual choice of the outer shell material. Those firefighters that are entitled to two or more sets of the new structural ensemble can only choose one of the outer material types for multiple sets of PPC.
Volunteer firefighters who attend more than 51 or more structural incidents per year will be entitled to two sets, or three sets where they attend more than 150 incidents over a 12 month period. Most volunteer firefighters will be issued with one set only of the ensemble of their choice.
The regional Operations Manager, in consultation with the OIC of your brigade, will arrange dates and times for individual sizing of firefighters.
The first sets of the new structural ensembles are expected to be delivered in about October this year. Once full production is underway by the suppliers, new ensembles will be manufactured and delivered about 8 to12 weeks from the time of individual measurement.
The structural ensembles in both Nomex and PBI Gold outer shell fabrics have been tested and meet the minimum performance criteria contained within the Australian Standard AS 4967:2006 (Protective Clothing for Firefighters - Requirements and Test Methods for Protective Clothing used in Structural Firefighting).
