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| Gatwick has taken the opportunity to use Bristol’s latest lightweight design, XFlex, to re-equip its 80 on-site firefighters |
Gatwick Airport’s fire service is upgrading its firefighter clothing and has chosen Bristol Uniforms as its new PPE supplier.
Gatwick has taken the opportunity to use Bristol’s latest lightweight design, XFlex™, to re-equip its 80 on-site firefighters. The contract includes 150 sets of XFlex™ incorporating a Nomex® Hainsworth® TITAN 1220 Paris Blue outerlayer in combination with a Gore CROSSTECH® Fireblocker breathable moisture barrier and will be deployed at the UK’s second busiest airport in the autumn of 2013.
The new kit has been chosen after careful evaluation of a number of alternatives with particular emphasis on style and comfort where XFlex™, an EN469:2005 Level 2 standard firefighter coat and trouser combination, scored well. Gatwick has also chosen to include head-to-toe PPE including boots, gloves and helmets on a replacement basis with a view to sourcing all these protective garments from Bristol as existing items come to the end of their service life.
Gatwick’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Barry Alderslade, commenting on the airport’s fire services decision to opt for Bristol PPE, said, “The PPE market is extremely competitive, our team spent over 12 months evaluating a number of products from a range of suppliers. Apart from performance, equally important was the quality of the after care service and product supply times. I am happy to say Bristol PPE fulfilled all our requirements.”
Philip Tasker, Bristol’s National Sales Manager, added, “Gatwick’s decision to use Bristol’s XFlex™ further strengthens our position as the leading PPE supplier to UK airports and is a notable landmark as the airport becomes the first in the UK to choose our latest lightweight design which was created to focus on delivering class leading flexibility, manoeuvrability and wearer comfort”.
