Still manually washing your PPE? Why fire services across Europe are switching
Iain Hoey
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MEIKO examines the risks of poorly cleaned PPE, including equipment failure, cross-contamination and technician exposure
Would investing in PPE washing machines be a smart move to help keep your crew safe?
With increasing research revealing the long-term harm of carcinogenic combustion residues, fire crews across Europe are now turning to machines like our TopClean M and TopClean D to transform how they clean their PPE.
The benefits are becoming clearer in terms of speed, hygiene, and overall safety for fire crews and SCBA technicians alike.
At MEIKO, we believe this shift represents a necessary evolution in how PPE is maintained and safeguarded.
Manual cleaning is inconsistent and risky
After each deployment, cleaning respiratory protective equipment is essential.
Validated and repeatable cleaning processes play a key role, especially when dealing with personal protective equipment that comes into contact with hazardous substances.
However, manual cleaning makes it difficult to apply those processes consistently.
Like many tasks performed by hand, manual cleaning is susceptible to human error.
Technicians can use the wrong amount of detergent, fail to wet the PPE properly, or apply chemicals for too little or too much time.
Water temperature and volume can vary from one wash to the next, and the sinks used may themselves be contaminated.
These inconsistencies increase the risk of cross-contamination and reduce the quality of the clean.
There are real consequences to this.
If breathing apparatus (BA) masks remain in cleaning solution for too long, softening agents in the rubber components can dissolve.
This degrades the mask and may leave black residue on the user’s face the next time it is worn.
Inconsistent cleaning undermines both safety and reliability.
A controlled process with MEIKO
This is where MEIKO appliances make the difference.
Our TopClean systems provide a validated, automated process.
All cleaning parameters are predefined and delivered with consistency.
Once the cleaning cycle begins, an integrated door lock ensures it cannot be interrupted.
The TopClean M model also includes an empty indicator, which prevents the machine from running if there is not enough detergent.
As Commander Thomas Happersberger of Lahr City Fire Service explained: “Our previous manual process was reliable, of course.
But the TopClean M and machine cleaning take things to a whole new level by giving us a much more consistent and reliable process.”
Protecting SCBA technicians
Manual cleaning doesn’t just raise concerns around process reliability.
It also introduces risks to the technicians themselves.
If chemical handling protocols are not followed closely, vapours can be inhaled and chemicals can cause irritation through skin contact.
There is also the ongoing risk posed by PPE that remains contaminated after an incomplete clean.
Our machines reduce these risks.
Cleaning and disinfection take place within a closed system.
There are no vapours, no exposure to cleaning chemicals, and the least possible direct contact with contaminated items.
The process is clean, controlled, and safer for everyone involved.
Manual methods also take up considerable time.
Cleaning BA masks by hand, especially when rinsing out all chemical traces, limits how much can be achieved in a technician’s shift.
This has a direct impact on operational capacity.
Reliability backed by approval
We have also seen the dangers of using non-approved processes.
An incident reported in Der Sicherheitsbrief described how a firefighter was hospitalised after an inhalation valve in his mask jammed during a call-out.
He was forced to remove the mask and breathe ambient air.
The investigation later found that the masks had been washed in a drum machine with detergent not recommended by the manufacturer.
They had not been disassembled beforehand, and it was unclear whether the valves had been inspected.
These gaps in procedure contributed to the failure.
The firefighter suffered harm, and the SCBA technician responsible faced professional repercussions.
Cleaning PPE using the TopClean system helps eliminate this risk.
Our process is approved by leading BA mask manufacturers, giving SCBA technicians confidence that the equipment has been properly cleaned and is safe to return to service.
Olaf Fernys, an SCBA technician at Leipzig district fire service centre, is responsible—alongside one colleague—for cleaning 892 BA masks and 661 regulators.
He summed it up clearly: “It is not just about saving time; the improvement in safety and hygiene delivered by the TopClean M from MEIKO is more important.”
Efficiency and sustainability built in
MEIKO is a German engineering company that specialises in warewashing and cleaning equipment.
We believe we are the first manufacturer to introduce automated machines for mask cleaning and disinfection.
Our TopClean system is designed specifically for fire services and delivers Log 5 protection, which means 99.999 percent of pathogens are eliminated in every cycle.
This level of decontamination provides a consistent and dependable outcome.
There are also environmental advantages.
The TopClean M uses exactly 44 millilitres of detergent to clean four masks and four regulators.
A manual clean in a 30-litre sink typically requires around 300 millilitres.
Our process is not only more consistent, but also uses resources more efficiently.
Whether PPE is lightly soiled or heavily contaminated, the result is the same: a reliable clean, delivered safely and with care for the environment.
If you want to learn more about how MEIKO technology can support your team, visit:
https://www.meiko-uk.co.uk/en/products/cleaning-personal-protective-equipment-ppe/ba-mask-cleaning/