Turnout gear’s dirty secret: Gear Wash explains contamination risks
Iain Hoey
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Brian Marenco, Director of Major Accounts at Gear Wash, explains how proper PPE decontamination can protect firefighters from harmful contaminants embedded deep within turnout gear
Can you start by telling us what Gear Wash does and what your main services involve?
Gear Wash is the largest fully verified ISP (Independent Service Provider) in the U.S.
specializing in NFPA 1851-compliant inspection, cleaning, repair and rental of firefighting PPE.
That includes turnout gear, hoods, gloves and boots.
We have 14 facilities nationwide, including our fully verified mobile unit in Florida, built specifically for this work.
Our technology is purpose-built and our team is exhaustively trained to the NFPA standard.
We maintain Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) but more importantly, we protect the people who wear it.
What kinds of firefighting gear do you typically work with and how often should it be cleaned or inspected?
Primarily, we handle structural gear including coats, pants, boots, gloves, hoods and helmets.
We also service wildland and tech rescue PPE.
Per NFPA 1851, gear shall be routinely inspected by the firefighter after every use and advanced cleaned (machine washed) at least once every six months.
But honestly, that’s the minimum requirement set forth by the current edition of NFPA 1851.
The short answer is that smoke isn’t what it used to be.
Now there are more plastics, foams and synthetics which emit toxins when they burn that gear can pick up and hold onto.
For someone unfamiliar with PPE decontamination, what exactly are we trying to remove from the gear?
After a fire, your gear carries around what is essentially a chemistry set of stuff that doesn’t belong anywhere near your body, like PAHs, VOCs, heavy metals, diesel residue and all kinds of carcinogens.
That includes invisible contaminants like benzene and formaldehyde that might off-gas for hours after the fire is out.
What we’re really doing is mitigating these very stubborn toxins that don’t want to let go.
What are the risks to firefighters if this contamination is left untreated or not properly removed?
Without regular, proper cleaning, gear can become a long-term exposure source.
Firefighters receive exposure to contamination through everyday use, so every time that gear off-gasses or sheds particles, those toxins can go right back into the air, onto the skin or into the lungs.
And if it’s worn repeatedly without being cleaned, it can compound the problem by pushing toxins deeper into the fibers and closer to the skin.
It’s not just a firefighter’s problem either.
That gear turns into a mobile contamination source unless it’s properly cleaned.
Why isn’t routine decontamination always done properly in department – what are some of the common barriers?
There are a few reasons and they’re usually less about unwillingness and more about challenges on the ground.
Some departments are dealing with tight budgets, aging equipment or simply not enough hands to cover everything.
Others may not have easy access to the right kind of gear-cleaning infrastructure or may be rotating through multiple calls in a shift, which makes it hard to prioritize cleaning in the moment.
It’s also about habits in some cases, where maybe a department’s protocols haven’t been updated in a while, or cleaning has traditionally been seen as a lower priority, then it can be tough to shift that mindset even with good intentions.
Add to that the fact that some contamination is invisible and the gear might look clean and decontamination is sometimes pushed down the to-do list.
How does your cleaning process differ from what departments might do themselves or with general industrial cleaners?
Specialization is the main difference.
At Gear Wash, everything we use, from our machines to detergents and processes, is purpose-built for firefighting PPE and aligned with NFPA 1851.
Departments doing their own cleaning often rely on standard washers or industrial detergents, which may clean the surface but can’t reach embedded contaminants.
We rely on the right tool (or tools) for the right job by utilizing a combination of extractors and gear-safe detergents and we can take it further with ozone treatment, ultrasonic cleaning and CO₂ systems that get deep into the fibres.
For heavily soiled gear, we also pre-treat the problem areas to break down stubborn hydrocarbons.
Plus, we provide advanced inspection that includes inspection of interior liners, seams, closures, moisture barriers—everything—after cleaning.
That level of detail is hard to match without dedicated infrastructure and training.
Departments do their best and we’re here to support that with the tools and turnaround they may not have in-house.
We follow NFPA 1851 across the board from start to finish.
And because all our sites have attained verified ISP status, we’re third-party certified to clean, inspect and repair PPE by the book the right way.
That includes maintaining detailed records for every piece of gear we service.
What impact does repeated exposure to smoke and toxins have on the gear itself, even beyond the health side?
Repeated exposure wears down the gear even if you can’t see it happening.
Contaminants like soot, oil and acid can break down the fibers, weaken the stitching, dull the reflective trim and degrade other components like the moisture barrier and thermal liner.
You might not notice the damage right away, but it adds up.
What you’ll see is the outer shells will develop rips or tears, or you have reflective striping that is fading or cracking.
Eventually, the gear may not meet NFPA standards.
Clean gear lasts longer and performs better, so don’t let toxic buildup go unchecked.
Are you seeing more departments take PPE contamination more seriously today than they did five or ten years ago?
There is certainly more awareness of cancer risks, NFPA education and major health studies in general.
We’ve seen a jump in departments integrating PER (Preliminary Exposure Reduction) into SOPs and more are budgeting for ISP services like ours.
It’s probably fair to say that the needle has already moved.
Looking ahead, what needs to change in the fire service to make PPE decontamination more consistent and reliable across the board?
It’s got to become routine in terms of being embedded in department culture, like something as routine as checking your SCBA.
That means training, leadership buy-in and infrastructure support.
Every department needs a plan for on-scene PER, advanced cleaning, inspection, repair partnerships and gear rotation.
And we all need to keep educating, whether you make the gear, clean the gear or wear it.
Manufacturers, ISPs and departments all play a part in keeping firefighters safe and informed.