COMBINATION OF HARNESS AND RESPIRATORY PROTECTION DEVICE


During firefighting operations, there may be dangers from breathing poisons as well as from falling. Both hazards interact, especially when working on roofs.

Many risks of falling during firefighting operations can be effectively minimized by means of restraint and workplace positioning. A restraint harness in accordance with EN 358 can be used for this purpose, as a restraint harness in the hip area or integrated into turnout gear or breathing apparatus.

However, there are numerous operational scenarios, especially when fighting fires on roofs or in the field, where a spatial restriction by means of restraint cannot prevent a risk of falling.

In these cases, a combination of harness and breathing apparatus is essential.

If a breathing apparatus and a harness have to be worn together during a firefighting operation (specifically the breathing apparatus over the harness), then several items of personal protective equipment are worn at the same time. For the safety of the emergency services, it must then be ensured that the different items of protective equipment do not interfere with each other.

Section 2 (3) of the PPE Usage Ordinance (PSA-BV), for example, stipulates: “If several items of personal protective equipment are used simultaneously by one employee, the employer must coordinate these items of protective equipment in such a way that the protective effect of the individual items of equipment is not impaired.”

Together with a renowned manufacturer of respiratory protective equipment and external experts, we have investigated whether the products continue to provide their protective effect when used simultaneously.

To assess the functions during / after a fall, several fall tests were carried out at a DGUV test center, which simulate falls with a fall height of up to 4 m into a fall arrest system in accordance with EN 363 (energy absorber and lanyard). The fall tests were carried out using both the front and rear attachment points of the ARAX harness (ARAX harness with ALLY energy absorber, both made of thermally and flame-resistant ARAMID material). A configuration was selected for the respiratory protection system that represents a high and at the same time practical load (PSS AirBoss flex, single-bottle device, 6 l steel cylinder).

Initial position 4m drop height
End position front fall arrest lug
End position rear fall arrest lug

Findings

The tests showed that the type of breathing apparatus used and the type of safety harness do not restrict each other's function and protective effect either in typical use or in the critical case of a fall. The breathing air supply and the fall arrest function were guaranteed at all times.

To support our customers, Dräger and A. Haberkorn have each drawn up a manufacturer's declaration. This manufacturer's declaration can help our customers, for example, to document compliance with the requirements of § 2 (3) of the PPE Ordinance with regard to the combination of PPE.

Manufacturers declaration - A.Haberkorn & Co GmbH Airboss-series

Manufacturers declaration- Dräger Safety AG & Co. KgaA Airboss-series

 

Manufacturers declaration - A.Haberkorn & Co GmbH PSS7000-series

Manufacturers declaration - Dräger Safety Ag & Co. KgaA PSS7000-series

 

ADVANTAGES OF NON-COMBINED SYSTEMS:

This fulfills the requirement of the PPE Ordinance for the safe use of multiple items of PPE, while at the same time offering users various advantages of a combination of individual breathing apparatus and harness compared to an integrated system:

  • No special breathing apparatus required, interchangeability between vehicles, pool solution etc. is maintained
  • Safety harness is only put on in the event of a risk of falling, meaning less effort and strain during normal breathing protection operations
  • Less material wear, as the harness is not worn during every respiratory protection operation
  • A correctly fitted harness can restrict the air cushion (protective effect) of the fire protection clothing, which is why a breathing apparatus with a harness may not be suitable for indoor firefighting. The harness should only be worn for fall protection.
  • An integrated system consisting of breathing apparatus with a harness requires additional testing and qualification of the equipment operator (PPEgA) compared to a normal breathing apparatus

Product information ARAX

Product information SET Safety Belt