PURCHASE OF PROTECTIVE CLOTHING FOR STRUCTUAL FIRE FIGHTING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

 

Recommendation:

Staff recommends that Council:

• Authorize the purchase of nineteen (19) sets of Turnouts, Protective Clothing for Structural Fire Fighting from L.N. Curtis & Sons, in the amount of $18,090.34.

 

Analysis:

The 2000/2001 budget provides for the replacement of Safety Gear, "Turn-outs".

It is recommended that Council authorize staff to purchase these "Turn-outs" from

• L.N. Curtis & Sons of Oakland, California. The bid price quoted by L.N. Curtis & Sons is based on the purchase by the City of Carlsbad of protective clothing for structural fire fighting which meet our required standards and specifications. The price quoted will expire with the Carlsbad contract during July 2000 and the price increase is guaranteed but the amount is not known.

 

Justification

The current turnouts that personnel are using were designed to have a life of 5-7 years. They were purchased in 1992 and have been in service for over 8 years. Several of the jackets have had to be removed from service and replaced because degradation of the outer material has caused them to fall apart, creating a critical safety hazard. Per OSHA recommendations each firefighter should have a spare set of turnouts in case of hazardous materials or bloodborne pathogen exposure, laundering requirements per NFPA 1500, and after use in a structure fire, wet turnouts pose a burn risk. Purchasing new sets for all personnel and maintaining the current sets as spares provide the margin of safety and compliance the City needs to provide to its firefighters.

 

Fiscal Impact:

Council approved $20,812. in the Equipment Account for the replacement of Safety Gear "Turn-outs"

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