Innovation on the frontline: MSA G1 XR SCBA targets mobility and endurance
Iain Hoey
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Kate McGraw, Senior Product Line Manager, and Patti Tavelli, Segment Marketing Manager at MSA Safety, reveal how the MSA G1™ SCBA XR Edition improves comfort, mobility and on-scene safety for firefighters
What are the most significant advancements in the MSA G1 XR 2025 Edition SCBA?
Kate McGraw: The XR edition is the culmination of extensive VOC (Voice of Customer), and we’ve spent a significant amount of time talking to our customers.
The original G1 was developed in partnership with our firefighters and what we’ve done with the XR is taken the last 10 years of experience that we have with our firefighters and looked at ways to enhance the comfort and weight of the unit, as well as understand the finer details of that firefighter experience.
We have done everything from a 25% reduction in the weight of the lumbar pad, should you choose the low-profile option, all the way down to the minor details of how we sew our pull strap end terminations so that it’s easier for the firefighter to put on the unit.
We really want to focus on where we’ve advanced weight reduction and comfort and the smaller details to make sure that every day that firefighters who are using this SCBA, they have the best experience possible.
Patti Tavelli: We understand that different fire departments have different needs and preferences.
Through our partnerships working with departments around the world, we’ve incorporated that feedback into the enhancements made in the G1 platform today.
What you’ll see at FDIC is that the G1 platform offers individualised options for departments based on their needs and preferences.
The feedback that we’ve received is that customers really value that ability to customise their experience.
Our goal is to ensure departments have the solutions and support that fit them best.
Weight reduction and comfort are key for firefighters. How have you evolved the SCBA to improve firefighter endurance and mobility?
KM: We know that ounces equal pounds for each piece of equipment a firefighter wears.
Last year we launched the XR edition, featuring our low-profile swiveling lumbar pad featuring a 25% weight reduction compared to our adjustable height lumbar pad.
Each deliver on comfort in a different way.
Our adjustable height allows you to choose which of the positions work best for you.
For example, I would choose the shorter version, but I have stood next to a firefighter who is 6’8” and needs the exact opposite.
That’s a big part of comfort and mobility with the What we’ve been hearing from firefighters is that it almost feels like a back brace and is very comfortable firefighters.
But what we saw was an opportunity to offer a lower weight option.
There are some departments who choose not to change their adjustable height and typically leave it in the middle position.
We took that feedback and the opportunity to remove the metal carrier which removes 25% of weight compared to the adjustable height.
Removing the adjustable assembly also means it is sitting about a half inch closer to the body.
What we’ve been hearing from firefighters is that it almost feels like a back brace and is very comfortable.
Another change we introduced last year is our smaller lumbar pad that allows you to more easily adjust the pull straps to get the SCBA cinched in close to the body.
All these small changes – the smaller lumbar for better adjustment, or the elimination of the carrier for reduced weight – make it significantly more comfortable.
PT: We place strong emphasis on listening to our firefighters.
Details some might overlook; we focus on them as significant because they directly impact how a firefighter performs in extremely challenging conditions.
How have enhancements to end of service time PSI system and soft goods improved usability for firefighters?
KM: These are both driven by NFPA standards.
With NFPA 1970-2025, all porous soft goods have to be removable by the end user so that they can be laundered per the department’s protocol.
This is an advancement focused on health and wellness of the firefighters and all of our soft goods are removable and can be washed.
The end of service time indicator is basically bringing the standard in line with the original intent.
Essentially, there is the actual volume or time remaining, and then there’s what the SCBA unit can read in PSI.
When the NFPA made the change, they wanted to give the firefighters more time to get out of the building once they hit low air.
They had previously changed the end of service time to 35%, but what they realised was when it’s 35% of pressure remaining, you actually have significantly more time remaining.
What they’ve done is change the way that you measure it such that you have 35% of your time remaining, and now the end-of-service indicator makes the unit alarm at a different PSI.
Search and rescue functionality is important. What updates have been made to support firefighters in challenging conditions?
KM: As part of our soft goods updates, we made some changes to the pull straps and some of the soft goods to better enable firefighter removal.
One thing that a lot of departments will do is unbuckle their waist strap and put it through their legs to make a harness so they can drag the person out.
We made some changes to our waist belt, such as extending it, so that people can more easily do that packaging technique.
We also have some exciting changes related to search and rescue that we’ll be bringing to show firefighters at FDIC in Indianapolis.
With the NFPA introducing Bluetooth indicators, how do those features enhance situational awareness and overall safety?
KM: The standard requires that any 1802 radio that is Bluetooth connected to the SCBA have a Bluetooth indication in the HUD as well as on the control module.
We’ve taken the step of any radio that’s connected to the G1 has that Bluetooth indication.
The reasoning was in most after-actions, a common theme is communications.
The G1 is a platform that focuses on crystal clear communication, and we want to make sure that the firefighter is aware if they’ve lost their connection.
Because of this we have repurposed a position in our HUD to use that indication to let a firefighter know that their communication is connected.
How do you go about working with firefighters to come up with a solution that works for them?
PT: We focus on continuous improvement and relentless innovation by building on 10 plus years of the G1 platform.
We have formal solicitation feedback processes in place, in addition to always observing and listening.
We’re always asking for current feedback as well as always looking ahead because we never stop innovating.
We strategically plan far out ahead, addressing what is right in front of us, with every decision based on what matters most to firefighters.
KM: This is a process that is holistic with all of our employees.
Patti is more customer facing and she interacts with people constantly.
Our sales team is always sharing information back.
My job as the product manager is to take all that information from the field and translate it to the engineers so that we can come up with design changes and strategy.
Additionally, even though they’re not customer facing, every one of our designers and engineers is eager to speak with our firefighters to learn how we can improve.
Every single interaction with a customer, whether it’s a formal development process or a research project, is an opportunity to collect more information and to improve that product.
Where do you see the next stage of demands coming from firefighters?
KM: I think the biggest thing is meeting the departments where they are because there’s a wide range of departments, both large and small.
Some are very technological forward, and there are some that are not quite there yet.
We need to make sure we are continuing to innovate and understand where the space can lead us but also recognising that we have to meet our departments where they are in their journey.
There’s a lot of exciting space for exploration.
There’s also a really great opportunity, even with some more basic technology, to help some of the departments that are out there.
