scope:

This standard shall specify the minimum selection, care, and maintenance requirements for structural fire fighting protective ensembles and the individual ensemble elements that include garments, helmets, gloves, footwear, and interface components that are compliant with NFPA 1971.

This standard shall also specify the minimum selection, care, and maintenance requirements for proximity fire fighting protective ensembles and the individual ensemble elements that include garments, helmets, gloves, footwear, and interface components that are compliant with NFPA 1971.

This standard shall also specify requirements for both structural fire fighting and proximity fire fighting protective ensembles, ensemble elements, clothing, and equipment certified as compliant with previous editions of NFPA 1971.

This standard shall also specify the minimum selection, care, and maintenance requirements for structural fire fighting protective ensembles with optional liquid and particulate contaminant protection and for proximity fire fighting protective ensembles with optional liquid and particulate contaminant protection.

This standard shall not specify requirements for other organizational programs such as appropriate use of structural fire fighting or proximity fire fighting protective ensembles for training, for operations, or for infection control, because these programs are under the jurisdiction of other NFPA standards.

This standard shall not apply to protective ensembles or protective clothing that are compliant with NFPA 1951, NFPA 1977, NFPA 1991, NFPA 1992, NFPA 1994, and NFPA 1999.

This standard shall not be construed as addressing all the safety concerns associated with the use of compliant protective ensembles or ensemble elements. It shall be the responsibility of the persons and organizations that use compliant protective ensembles or ensemble elements to establish safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

This standard shall not be construed as addressing all the safety concerns, if any, associated with the use of this standard by testing or repair facilities. It shall be the responsibility of the persons and organizations that use this standard to conduct testing of protective ensembles or ensemble elements to establish safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to using this standard for any designing, manufacturing, and testing.

Nothing herein shall restrict any jurisdiction from exceeding these minimum requirements.

Purpose.

The purpose of this standard shall be to establish a program for structural fire fighting protective ensembles and ensemble elements and for proximity fire fighting protective ensembles and ensemble elements to reduce the safety risks and potential health risks associated with poorly maintained, contaminated, or damaged protective ensembles and ensemble elements.

The purpose of this standard shall also be to establish basic criteria for selection, inspection, cleaning, decontamination, repair, storage, and retirement of structural fire fighting protective ensembles or ensemble elements and proximity fire fighting protective ensembles or ensemble elements.