MSA Safety, Inc., a renowned manufacturer in the safety equipment industry, has announced the approval and certification of its latest self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), the MSA® G1™ XR 2025 Edition, by the U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI).
This certification confirms compliance with the updated 2025 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1970 performance standard. The new G1 XR 2025 Edition is now available for order by fire departments, with production set to increase significantly over the coming months at MSA's Murrysville, PA factory.
G1 SCBA Platform Evolution
G1 XR aligns with the newly consolidated NFPA standards, promoting enhanced safety
First introduced at the Fire Department Instructor's Conference in Indianapolis, the G1 XR Edition represents the latest iteration of the G1 SCBA platform.
This model includes significant updates to soft goods and Bluetooth® indicators. Developed in response to firefighter feedback, the G1 XR aligns with the newly consolidated NFPA standards, promoting enhanced safety and functionality.
NFPA 1970 Performance Standard Consolidation
The 2025 Edition of the NFPA 1970 performance standard combines elements from previous standards, 1981 and 1982. It outlines three key updates for SCBA systems, now embodied in the G1 XR 2025 Edition:
- End-of-service time indicator: The alarm bell now signals at a 31% remaining air supply in a 4500 psi system, updating the previous 35% threshold.
- Soft goods: Firefighters can easily remove components like straps and emergency breathing pouches for cleaning.
- Bluetooth connection indicators: Depending on the communication radio used, these indicators are found on either the control module or inside the facepiece display.
Enhancements and Innovations
Steve Blanco, President and CEO of MSA Safety, emphasized the company's commitment to innovation, stating, "As the needs of the fire service continue to evolve, our team remains at the ready to continue to innovate and earn the trust of firefighters around the world."
He adds, "The latest enhancements to the G1 SCBA are a reflection of our mission at work – developing solutions that will advance worker health and safety."
Comprehensive Safety Solutions
The G1 SCBA platform is underpinned by 15 U.S. patents covering a wide range of innovations. These enhancements focus on improving safety, comfort, situational awareness, and operational efficiency.
Notable features include standard voice amplification and radio interface capability, a sophisticated electronics system powered by a single rechargeable battery, and an integrated telemetry solution, all of which aim to provide superior support for firefighters in critical situations.
Global safety equipment manufacturer, MSA Safety, Inc., announced that the latest edition of its revolutionary self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), the MSA® G1™ XR 2025 Edition SCBA, has received U.S. government approval from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and certification from the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) as compliant to the 2025 Edition of the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) 1970 performance standard.
Fire departments can order the MSA G1 XR 2025 Edition immediately, and production is scheduled to ramp up over the next several months at the company's manufacturing facility in Murrysville, located just outside of Pittsburgh, PA.
Latest evolution of the G1 SCBA platform
Unveiled earlier this year at the annual Fire Department Instructor's Conference in Indianapolis, Ind., the G1 XR Edition is the latest evolution of the G1 SCBA platform and features enhancements to various soft goods and Bluetooth® indicators.
This latest edition of the G1 builds on 10 years of continuous innovation driven by firefighter feedback and aligns with meeting the new NFPA performance standard requirements.
NFPA 1970 performance standard
The 2025 Edition of the NFPA 1970 performance standard consolidates several prior standard editions, including 1981 and 1982, and mandates three primary upgrades to the SCBA. These upgrades, which are now available in the G1 XR 2025 Edition, include:
- A change in the end-of-service time indicator: An alarm bell on the SCBA will ring when the air supply in a cylinder is at 31 percent remaining for a 4500-pressure-per-square-inch "PSI" system. Prior standard editions called for this alarm to ring when the air supply in a cylinder was at 35 percent remaining.
- A change in soft goods: All soft goods, including the straps and emergency breathing pouches, on an SCBA are now removeable by a firefighter for easy cleaning.
- New requirements to Bluetooth connection indicators: Located on either the SCBA's control module or on the heads-up display inside the firefighter's facepiece, this indicator confirms radio connection to the SCBA. The location of the indicator is dependent on the type of radio the firefighter is using for communication.
Latest enhancements to the G1 SCBA
"As the needs of the fire service continue to evolve, our team remains at the ready to continue to innovate and earn the trust of firefighters around the world," said Steve Blanco, MSA Safety President and Chief Executive Officer.
He adds, "The latest enhancements to the G1 SCBA are a reflection of our mission at work – developing solutions that will advance worker health and safety."
Range of innovative solutions
To address the needs of firefighters, the G1 SCBA platform features 15 U.S. patents covering a broad range of innovative solutions to enhance safety, comfort, situational awareness and operational efficiency.
These features include standard voice amplification and radio interface capability, an advanced electronics platform powered by a single rechargeable battery, and an integrated telemetry solution.
