Lightweight Single Layer Protection can meet the CBRN threat head on

The constantly changing shape of the global terrorist demands like minded fluid thinking to meet its intentions head on. As a world leader in CBRN ( chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear ) personal protective equipment, Lion Apparel is continually monitoring and revising its arsenal of garments in response to the shifting threat and a fresh mindset is emerging regarding the key qualities required to meet new operational requirements. The delicate balance between the highest protection criteria and vital functionality has never been more debated and HazMat teams are starting to re-evaluate their operational readiness to respond to incidents and looking to the new generation of CBRN garments to enhance their existing protection capability.

For a long time, traditional Level A 'gas tight' garments have been considered the optimum choice to wear in the face of a CBRN threat. These garments certainly afford the highest protection but their downside is that they are somewhat restrictive to wear for prolonged periods. In incidents where extended wear is required they are arguably impractical. As we better understand what is required from HazMat teams, other garment options are entering the frame which offer high levels of protection but afford much greater lightweight functionality. A balance between these two elements is now considered to be of the most vital importance in our ability to respond to CBRN terrorism, and the Fire Department City of New York (FDNY), the largest Fire Department in the United States, has taken the lead in upgrading its response protocol, significantly improving safety and decreasing the physical impact on it's First Responders.

As part of an upgrade to its chemical protective clothing programme, the FDNY has selected Lion Apparel’s MT94 CBRN protective ensemble to fit its mission-specific needs and increase it's response capabilities for technical rescue, patient rescue, decontamination and air monitoring. The revamped programme provides FDNY’s HazMat response teams with a more functional alternative than wearing traditional Level A suits to respond to such incidents.

The one-piece single layer MT94 represents one of the most versatile, lightweight, comfortable, easy on/ easy off CBRN protection garments available and is suitable for a range of uses including technical rescue, HazMat, confined space rescue, decon, high-risk entries and bomb (secondary threat protection). Used by over 20 fire service, law enforcement and military agencies in the USA as well as the FBI, the MT94 offers a unique blend of optimum protection integrity whilst providing the wearer with the most convenient functionality, enhanced mobility and dexterity, and very fast donning ( under 5 mins ) and doffing.

The MT94, and its European counterpart the "MiTE", is designed to protect against some of the world's deadliest chemical and biological threats, providing one of the highest protection levels for any single layered garment on the market. Utilising WL GOREtm Chempak® Ultra Barrier Fabric which provides a lightweight tear resistant barrier against a broad range of toxic industrial and chemical agents, the garment allows for a much greater range of unencumbered movement than a fully encapsulated garment, allowing the wearer to crawl, climb and run with significantly less restriction and physiological burden than other garment types. Highly compactable, it can be safely stored for up to 10 years, can be laundered 6 times and can be effectively decontaminated using typical HazMat wet decon methods.

Interestingly, the Northern Ireland Fire Service has also recently purchased a garment consignment from Lion and states " There is undoubtedly a wide choice of CBRN garments out there - offering different characteristics which impact on their wearability and ease of use. We believe that a single layer suit is an essential component in a comprehensive CBRN protection arsenal and can play a vital role in search and rescue operations which require a high-comfort, longer use garment. "

As the threat constantly shifts focus, Lion is continually striving to produce breakthrough products for USAR and Decon, believing that organisations should be able to select from a wide range of CBRN protection to ensure optimum capability to meet different incident requirements. For example, building on the outstanding success of its Technical Rescue Garment produced in conjunction with Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service, Lion is further developing the TRG's capability to potentially offer CBRN protection capability, underlining it's commitment to create the ultimate arsenal of protection for First Responders to choose from.

With a new wealth of options to consider, HazMat teams are invited to trial a range of garments to see what works best for their requirements. Teams may also be interested in finding out more about Lion's groundbreaking fully managed TotalCare® service which takes responsibility for the laundering, repair and maintenance of garments, providing unique peace of mind support to guarantee that garments will always be fit for purpose in the face of the most unpredictable scenario.