Helmets: Suggestions?

[caleb_berkebile]

I have a lion/conway American classic. It's fiberglass. I personally like the look of leathers but I don't have the money. I love my helmet though. One piece of advice I will add, is that if you get goggles for your helmet, Don't get bourkes. I did and it is a pain in the *** trying to put my goggles on my face with the bourkes. I bought my helmet here:

http://www.thefirestore.com/store/pr...Shield-Holder/

[FyredUp]

I ended up getting my clarification from someone 'NFPA does not exist in this department'.. lol okay then... I will try and keep with it, but I will probably end up with something along the lines of a New Yorker or something...

Let me be brutally blunt, and if you can't handle that I suggest you stop reading at this point and continue to live in fantasy land.

NFPA is a standards making organization and whether you like it or not it is commonly used in litigation whether or not your fire department chooses to say things like "NFPA does not exist in this department." Ignorance of the standards or choosing to pretend they do not apply to you or your departmentis not a viable defense. It surely didn't work for Alan Baird when he chose to completely ignore NFPA 1403.

The part so many refuse to accept is even if your state or fire department hasn't adopted these standards a sharp attorney will use them against you. Personally, I couldn't begin to pretend to care less what you wear for a helmet, but flippantly ignoring standards doesn't make you look cool, or tough, or avant garde. It makes you look foolish. Especially if you are counting on things like insurance coverage if you are injured.

[firedan525]

I ended up getting my clarification from someone 'NFPA does not exist in this department'.. lol okay then... I will try and keep with it, but I will probably end up with something along the lines of a New Yorker or something...

Right on brother!

[Highschoolvolunteer]

I ended up getting my clarification from someone 'NFPA does not exist in this department'.. lol okay then... I will try and keep with it, but I will probably end up with something along the lines of a New Yorker or something...

[firedan525]

I think the important thing here for the high school volunteer to remember is although you are well served to keep your own best interests in mind both on the fireground and in selecting your safety gear, there are some people that have been doing this a lot longer, with some really good reasons for adopting these codes. Although you may not have experienced anything to the contrary, don't let the opinions of those around you direct your actions regarding your own personal safety. I'm not saying follow all the rules to the letter, just don't be so quick to dismiss them, especially when it comes to selecting a brain bucket, very significant piece.

Well said!

[CATruckie81]

I think the important thing here for the high school volunteer to remember is although you are well served to keep your own best interests in mind both on the fireground and in selecting your safety gear, there are some people that have been doing this a lot longer, with some really good reasons for adopting these codes. Although you may not have experienced anything to the contrary, don't let the opinions of those around you direct your actions regarding your own personal safety. I'm not saying follow all the rules to the letter, just don't be so quick to dismiss them, especially when it comes to selecting a brain bucket, very significant piece.

[firedan525]

I wear a Cairns N5A Leather New Yorker w/ Bourkes god himself couldn't see through. I always keep a pair of safety glasses in my bunker coat for vehicle extrications and or other various ops where eye protection is needed. NFPA is, has, and always will be changing and it seems hard to keep up at times. I just am a fan of the traditional helmet. Ive actually heard that you can take a Cairns 1010 thats NFPA compliant and throw a sticker on it like many people do and it becomes instantly Non-compliant.

[Highschoolvolunteer]

Sorry, I haven't actually been paying attention to this; kinda got busy. I appreciate the responses.

Just a side note Fyred-- I spoke to someone and they told me there is no actual clear cut answer to the NFPA thing; all I know is people above my paygrade don't enforce/require compliance. I agree on the Bourkes, they are traditional but not really worth a damn-- I keep a set of safety glasses for anything that I may need eye-pro.

[FyredUp]

Frankly, as cool as they look Bourkes are damn near worthless. They don't offer much protection and generally end up a curled melted blob.

But heck, who am I to tell anyone not to buy them.

[Rhode House]

My Phenix TL2, manufactured 5/13 with goggles and bourkes, is compliant. Must be a Cairns thing.

The goggles are stashed in my tool bag, where they'll stay. Out of several helmets over 12 years, I've used them once EVER. The bourkes on the other hand...

I don't think it's just a Cairns thing, your helmet was made in May, the cut off was August.

[ToDaRoof]

My Phenix TL2, manufactured 5/13 with goggles and bourkes, is compliant. Must be a Cairns thing.

The goggles are stashed in my tool bag, where they'll stay. Out of several helmets over 12 years, I've used them once EVER. The bourkes on the other hand...

[Rhode House]

When I bought my 1044, it had an NFPA sticker on it. I have the "for looks only" Bourkes and defender shield. Does that mean that due to a back door compliance change, my 5 yr old helmet is non-compliant?
Also what about the newer, bigger, supposedly NFPA compliant, Bourkes? I was unaware of any of the new changes. I'm not being a dick, I'm honestly curious.

you should be good, it's only for new helmets I believe. The EZ-flips are only compliant direct from the factory installed on the Ben II


I also believe that eye pro is now being allowed to be kept in a pocket and doesn't have to be on the helmet, but I haven't confirmed that.

[fhvnwaterboy]

When I bought my 1044, it had an NFPA sticker on it. I have the "for looks only" Bourkes and defender shield. Does that mean that due to a back door compliance change, my 5 yr old helmet is non-compliant?
Also what about the newer, bigger, supposedly NFPA compliant, Bourkes? I was unaware of any of the new changes. I'm not being a dick, I'm honestly curious.

[Snarff]

I have two traditional helmets a cairns 880 Chicago and a Phenix TL2 leather. I like both the phenix is by far the most comfortable I have ever worn. That being said they both are definitely in different price ranges.

Now to NFPA, do I agree with some standards NFPA puts out? absolutely I think some are great. I also believe some of their standard are ridiculous and they are treated like the word of god by the safety Nazis.

With that being said both of my helmets do not meet NFPA standards, because I do not have eye protection on them. I don't have bourkes either. I don't want the extra weight or price for something I will never use, just for a sticker. I do have a pair of safety glasses in my pocket provided for free by the department. I could go on and on about my gripes with NFPA but I am sure many have the same feelings and would rather not hear my opinions.

[FyredUp]

The traditional helmet has been around a heck of alot longer than the Bourke eye shield.