U.S. - NEW NFPA 1901 STANDARD - 1/1/2009

New NFPA 1901 Standard Brings Clarity to Firefighter Hi-Vis Requirements

NFPA 1901 Requires ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 Compliance - Effective January 1, 2009.

From Ergodyne's Technical Bulletin:

Recently, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) published NFPA 1901: Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, 2009 Edition, an updated standard effective on January 1, 2009. In defining requirements for new firefighting apparatus, this 2009 version of NFPA 1901 includes authoritative new guidance regarding hi-visibility garments for firefighters.

Clarity on Hi-Vis for Firefighters

The Miscellaneous Equipment section of NFPA 1901 requires “one traffic vest for each seating position, each vest to comply with ANSI/ ISEA 207-2006 Standard for High-Visibility Public Safety Vests, and have a 5-point breakaway feature…” Therefore, the January 1st effective date for NFPA 1901 Standard will bring clarity by plainly requiring an ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 certified garment with 5-point breakaway for every fire truck seat. This position brings badly needed clarity to a previously muddled situation regarding firefighters and high-visibility garments. In addition, by basing their high-visibility guidance on ANSI 207-2006, the NFPA has further enhanced the authority of the ANSI/ ISEA high-visibility standard set.

Clarity on FHA Rule 23CFR-634

The well-known Federal Highway Administration rule 23CFR-634 mandates ANSI 107-2004 Class 2 garments for anyone working on a federally funded highway. It DOES NOT include an allowance for ANSI 207 garments for firefighters or other emergency responders. Because of subsequent confusion about the rule in the public safety community, the FHA recently issued an interim rule EXEMPTING firefighters from 23CFR, including the requirement to wear an ANSI-certified garment of any kind.