Semmco Life Protection Systems (LPS), a UK-based manufacturer of short-duration breathing apparatus, has secured a new contract with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) worth £10m.

Under the terms of the deal, Semmco LPS will supply HMPPS with 4,500 of its HEAD RPE/CSRE (Cell Snatch Rescue Equipment) escape breathing sets, complete with comprehensive user training, technical support, user manuals, and a fully managed refurbishment and maintenance program.

The equipment is designed and manufactured in the UK at Semmco’s headquarters in Woking, Surrey, and will be delivered to prisons across England and Wales beginning in January 2024. Manufacturing is set to commence in July 2023 to replace all existing sets.

Semmco LPS’s range of escape and rescue breathing apparatus is lightweight, easy to use, and highly reliable, providing essential protection for users working in hazardous and potentially life-threatening environments.

The head-mounted apparatus is designed to avoid constraining the wearer with a cylinder or bag across their body, and its unique design using a latex neck seal and a molded oronasal mask ensures a secure face seal, eliminating the need for a fit test.

HMPPS, an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice, is committed to ensuring safe and supportive environments across all its prisons, with a strong focus on rehabilitation through education and employment. The safety and well-being of both staff and inmates are paramount, and HMPPS strives to ensure the health and safety of all those under its care in exceptional circumstances.

In the event of a cell fire, Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is essential to enable safe resolution of the situation and to protect those involved from harmful smoke and fumes. Since 2009, HMPPS has deployed over 3,000 RPE sets across the prison estate, with an average of two sets used per cell fire event.

Carl Bennett, General Manager of Semmco LPS, expressed his excitement about the contract and emphasised the company’s commitment to providing a full life service and refurbishment program for customers: As a UK design and manufacturing company, we are delighted to be awarded this contract by HMPPS. Our innovative rescue sets are easy to use and totally reliable, ensuring safety for the user in an emergency. We are able to provide a full life service and refurbishment programme for our customers, making the Semmco LPS Head Escape Breathing Apparatus a cost-effective and sustainable solution.”