Introduction

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) is seeking information on commercially available modern structural fire helmets for members of the fire service. This information is being sought for the DHS Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) Big City Fire (BCF) Working Group which brings together representatives from some of the largest fire departments in the United States to discussion the most common and critical issues faced by departments in order to enable the development of needs-driven projects and courses of action to address firefighter-identified challenges. Resulting in equipping S&T to better the priority of identifying pressing needs, applicable existing technologies and operational solutions to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and safety of the nation’s first responders.

For reference, this subject equipment falls under the Authorized Equipment List number 01SF-01-HLMT, titled “Helmet, Protective, Structural Fire Fighting, NFPA 1971.” The target audience for this information is the emergency responder agencies and their respective purchasing agents.

NUSTL is requesting information and conducting market research to identify potential vendors, manufacturers, or distributors of commercial off the shelf modern structural fire helmets (e.g., “jet -style”). The products must be available to the first responder community. Products of interest for this effort are/have:

  • Certified to the current versions of the National Fire Protection Association Standard on Protective Ensemble for Structural Firefighting and Proximity Fire Fighting (NFPA 1971), European Standard for Helmets for Fire Fighting in Buildings and Other Structures (EN 443), or other European Standard equivalents
  • Comprehensive protection for entire head (not just top of head)
  • Integrated eye protection (i.e., visor, goggles) or the ability to incorporate eye protection
  • Interoperable with respiratory protection, communications equipment, and other typical firefighter gear
  • Available in a variety of sizes
Responses to this post are solely for the purpose of market research and will be used for a market survey of commercially available modern structural fire helmets. No content in this post shall be interpreted as a commitment on the part of NUSTL to enter a contract with any respondent or to make any procurement.

By submitting a response to this post, each respondent agrees that any cost incurred in responding to this request, or in support of activities associated with this post, shall be the sole responsibility of respondent. NUSTL shall incur no obligations or liabilities whatsoever, to anyone, for any costs or expenses incurred by the respondent in responding to this post.

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