| The kit will represent a marked contrast with the previous PPE which incorporated outer fabric |
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (WYFRS), one of the country’s largest fire services, is adopting Bristol as its new partner for the supply of its next generation structural fire kit. The new kit for West Yorkshire’s 1300 firefighters is being rolled out during January.
Following intensive product assessments of available alternatives, Bristol’s Ergotech Action 2™ has been chosen. In addition to a full technical and performance assessment, the tendering process also involved firefighter wearer evaluations across all WYFRS fire stations. The chosen specification incorporates a 205gm2 Ripstop™ outershell combined with a GORE-TEX® CROSSTECH® Fireblocker moisture barrier. Visually, the new kit will represent a marked contrast with the previous PPE which incorporated a navy coloured outer fabric.
Supplied through the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO), the largest formally constituted public sector buying organisation in the UK, the new contract involves the supply of 2200 sets of fire coats and trousers. This will provide for one designated set for each firefighter and a pool of a range of sizes for backup and short term replacement for any kit damaged beyond repair.
Station Manager Gary Clare, responsible for Operations Equipment, said, “West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is delighted to be working in partnership with Bristol Uniforms in the supply of new kit to its firefighters. This modern, ergonomically designed fire kit provides improved protection to firefighters during operational incidents along with enhanced wearer comfort that reduces the effects of heat stress by reducing internal body heat build-up. WYFRS firefighters were particularly impressed with flexibility and movement offered by the design of this garment.”
Philip Tasker, Bristol’s National Sales Manager, said, “This is a major success for us and comes at the end of a very thorough assessment process in which the feedback from individual firefighters from the wide ranging wearer evaluations was given substantial weighting in making the eventual choice of supplier. Bristol has committed itself to building on its reputation for comfortable firefighter PPE, in terms of both fit and flexibility, and the overall comfort provided by our Ergotech Action 2™ style, in combination with its technical performance, has proved to be a winning combination”.