For both urban and wildland settings, VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has addressed the needs of firefighters to develop a new series introducing two new fire suits to meet new demands for function and comfort.
VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has launched two new generation fire suits which offer higher standards in protective performance, with one designed specifically for structural firefighting and the other for technical rescue and wildland firefighting.
structural fire suits with enhanced performance
The VIKING IGNIS series is being released at Interschutz 2022, in Hannover on June 20-25, with each product designed to surpass relevant performance standards while enhancing comfort, durability, and visibility.
The VIKING IGNIS EN469 reinforces VIKING’s position as a quality supplier of structural fire suits while enhancing performance without compromising breathability.
Comfort, visibility, and movement
The IGNIS WTR suits are new for Europe and deliver protection to exceed technical rescue and wildland fire standards
Meanwhile, the VIKING IGNIS WTR (wildland technical rescue) suits are new for Europe and deliver protection to exceed technical rescue (EN ISO 11612EN) and wildland fire (EN ISO 15384) standards.
“We gave our designers a free hand to start from scratch and deliver high-performance fire suits that go beyond the latest protection standards while bringing gains for comfort, visibility, and greater freedom of movement,” said Gitte Schou Jensen, Product Manager, Fire, VIKING.
Features of IGNIS EN469 suit
Important features of the VIKING IGNIS EN469 suit include reflective piping which follows the contours of the wearer’s outline for higher visibility, as well as 3M® FR Comfort Trim and the stylish shimmer of VIKING’s patented barcode trim.
The new suit also looks good, said Jensen, while adjustable collars, refined sleeve stitching to enhance freedom of movement, and Para-Aramid shoulder pads in a design that does not compromise breathability. Ergonomically designed knees and elbows enhance comfort and mobility. The pants also include a supporting lumbar panel.
Multi-purpose suits
Many of these features are also available to the VIKING IGNIS WTR suit, which has been designed to give technical rescue crews the protection they need to work for long hours, in varying temperatures, and in difficult and changing conditions.
Though completely new to the European market, the VIKING IGNIS WTR builds on VIKING’s experience as a supplier of ‘VIKING Shield' multi-purpose suits in North America. VIKING IGNIS WTR suits can switch rapidly from technical rescue to wildland firefighting using a snap-in, snap-out Gore® Crosstech® Flameliner and moisture barrier.
durable protection and dual-approved suits
VIKING IGNIS WTR suits meet the specific challenges faced in Europe and technical rescue situations"
“As the frequency of wildfires continues to rise, VIKING IGNIS WTR suits meet the specific challenges faced in Europe and technical rescue situations,” said Jensen.
“Designed for constant wear in changing work environments, it has all the features you expect from VIKING for comfortable, durable protection, and is dually approved for technical rescue and wildland firefighting standards.”
Integrated track and trace chip
For both types of suit, Jensen added that VIKING had worked to “achieve the best in everything, right down to the smallest detail”. She cited the attention paid to newly designed side pockets, radio pockets with drain holes, and reconfigured straps for microphones, antennas, and lights.
“What is more, each suit features an integrated track and trace chip to support care and maintenance, tracking status, service, and exposure to potentially harmful particles,” she said. “To meet performance standards VIKING Life-Saving Equipment sets itself, we want our fire suits to be easy to manage to ensure the best protection.”