In the "ISO 16073 Wild area firefighting personal protective equipment - Requirements and test methods" standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), personal protective equipment covering the body, neck, arms, hands, legs, feet, head, eyes and hearing is provided in the fight against forest fires. Minimum performance requirements and test methods for equipment are explained.
The standard covers the general design of personal protective equipment, the minimum performance levels of the materials used and the test methods used. However, these personal protective equipment are not intended to provide protection when caught in a fire.
The ISO 16073 standard does not cover personal protective equipment for structural firefighting, for use against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards, or for use where a reflective outer surface is required.
Activities that support wildland firefighting, such as felling trees and using chainsaws, may require additional protection to those provided by this standard.
Firefighting is a physically demanding job. It is impossible to fight a fire without exposing personnel to hazards, but in most cases personal injuries can be avoided. The safety equipment issued to firefighters is designed to help protect firefighters when used and maintained properly. Proper use combined with skill and common sense prevents personal injury. Flame resistant clothing is important in this regard. Fighting wild forest fires is not easy and is incredibly dangerous. That's why firefighters need the highest quality firefighter personal protective equipment available.
ISO 16073 standard consists of the following sections:
In general, every personal protective equipment in firefighting is designed to protect against a specific type of fire. For example, structural firefighting protective equipment is often too bulky, heavy, and hot to be practical for fighting wildland fires.
Establishing minimum acceptable standards for personal protective equipment related to the various functions or tasks performed by wildland forest firefighters is intended to ensure the health, safety and effectiveness of wildland forest firefighters.
The ISO 16073 standard provides minimum acceptable performance requirements for personal protective equipment for forest firefighters designed for long-term use when fighting forest fires.
Wildland firefighting primarily involves working in summer temperatures for hours at a time, during which the firefighter can develop high levels of metabolic heat. As a result, personal protective equipment must be lightweight, flexible, and commensurate with the risks to which the firefighter may be exposed in order to be effective without causing heat stress to the user. Accordingly, a risk assessment must be carried out to determine whether the personal protective equipment covered by this standard is suitable for the intended use and expected exposure. This standard does not cover personal protective equipment intended for use in risk situations where personal protective equipment conforming to ISO 11613 or ISO 15538 standards is more appropriate, nor does it cover personal protective equipment that protects against chemical, biological or radiation hazards.
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