Japanese Firefighters Select New Protective Gear Made of Nomex® and Kevlar®

By adopting a lease system for equipment, firefighters in the Chuwa-koiki firehouse in Nara Prefecture, Japan, are now wearing new turnout gear made with DuPont™ Nomex® and DuPont™ Kevlar® brand fiber much sooner than expected.

The firefighters had asked to switch to separate turnout gear to improve both safety and physical performance. However, the current Japanese budgetary system would have required the turnout gear to be renewed over a five-year period. To expedite the process and quickly provide firefighters with what they need most, the Municipal Congress agreed to use a lease system.

As a result, the Chuwa-koiki firehouse is now providing its firefighters with their choice in protective wear: tri-layer two-piece turnout gear made by Teikoku Sen-i Co., Ltd., using DuPont™ Nomex® and DuPont™ Kevlar®. The lease system is also getting increased attention from other fire departments in Japan that are interested in providing firefighters with improved safety protection.