Bunker gear is protective clothing worn by firefighters in hazardous areas. It includes a coat, pants, helmet, boots, and other protective gear. The gear is made of thick flame retardant material and must withstand high levels of heat, flame, smoke, and toxins. Firefighters also have protective items like boots, a helmet, and a respirator. Standards are in place to ensure the gear is safe and effective. In the firehouse, firefighters wear station number shirts or uniform shirts and regular pants.
Bunker gear, also known as turnout gear, is the protective gear that firefighters wear when working in hazardous areas. Equipment includes items such as a coat, pants, helmet, boots, and other protective gear and clothing. Firefighters also have clothing that they mostly wear in the firehouse. The name “bunker equipment” comes from the fact that firefighters often keep their equipment near their bunks so it’s easily accessible in an emergency. The standards apply to bunker equipment because it must be able to withstand high levels of heat, flame, smoke and toxins.
Most firefighters wear a jacket, glove, and pant combination, often with heavy braces. Bunker equipment in general is made of extremely thick flame retardant material. Both the jacket and trousers have many pockets which are used to store tools and rope which may be needed during a fire. The cuffs of the jacket are made from a flexible material that holds the gloves worn by firefighters in place, which helps prevent burns along the wrists.
Firefighters also have protective items as part of their bunker gear, including boots, a helmet, and other small safety items. The helmet and boots are both made from tough materials like rubber, leather, or reinforced plastic. Steel-toed boots are common in case an object should fall on a firefighter’s foot while they are handling an emergency. Other protective gear that is part of bunker equipment includes a whistle and respirator for smoky situations.
While in the firehouse, firefighters typically wear station number shirts or uniform shirts and regular pants. This gear allows them to easily don protective gear when called in an emergency, because it can go directly over their clothing. The equipment in the bunker is extremely hot, so in non-emergency situations, firefighters can take off their jacket and still have a shirt identifying them as a firefighter.
In many places, there are standards for the bunker gear worn by firefighters. Items often need to be tested by a third-party organization to be approved for use, and need to be retested whenever a material or design change is made. These standards are put in place to ensure that firefighters are as protected as possible due to the dangerous situations they often have to work in.
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