MSA Safety Launches New Traditional-Style Fire Helmet

As one of the most recognized and treasured pieces of firefighting safety equipment, the fire helmet stands as a point of pride and tradition in the fire service. 

MSA Safety, Inc. launches the new MSA Cairns® 1836 Fire Helmet. In the North American fire service market, the Cairns 1836 is one of the lightest weight traditional-style fire helmets available that meets National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.

Cairns 1836 features 

The Cairns 1836 features a reduced ride height, enhancing comfort, fit, and balance for the wearer. Additionally, the new helmet includes a patent-pending slide-lock system, which eliminates the need for any special tools to disassemble the helmet, ultimately enabling quicker and easier maintenance.

Coupled with the slide-lock system, the Cairns 1836 also features removable soft goods, making the ear covering, interior liner, and ratchet pad easier to clean. Finally, the helmet is adaptable to a wide range of head sizes fitting 95 percent of firefighters, based on National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) head size test data.

lightest weight traditional-style

“We’re proud to bring to North America the Cairns 1836 helmet, which is one of the lightest weight traditional-style choices firefighters can make on the market today," said Stephanie Sciullo, President of MSA Americas.

Stephanie Sciullo adds, "The Cairns 1836 was developed with feedback from firefighters top of mind – decreased weight, increased comfort, ease of maintenance, and attention to fit. We are excited to add this to MSA's product portfolio that provides head-to-toe protection for firefighters.”

RFID technology

Cairns 1836 helmet benefit firefighters help simplify inventory management and automate compliance

The Cairns 1836 helmet has several features to benefit firefighters help simplify inventory management and automate compliance for cleaning, inspecting, and retiring helmets. 

Each Cairns 1836 helmet comes with embedded radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, making it easier to track and manage the helmets through MSA FireGrid™ Inventory Management software.

Additional Cairns 1836 features

• New eye protection options, including an articulating integrated Defender® Visor, with NFPA Bourkes, a 4-inch faceshield, and ESS goggles as options;
• Laser-etched product and certification information in the helmet, which eliminates the need for labels;
• A pivoting ratchet and headband with three adjustable positions for additional comfort and excellent compatibility with a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) facepiece;
• Two sizes of customizable leather fronts, with several front holder options, including a new silkscreened eagle; and is
• Available in traditional black, red, white, and yellow, plus a variety of painted colors.

The Cairns 1836 Fire Helmet meets National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1971 requirements. The helmet will be making its debut at the 2024 Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) International in Indianapolis, Indiana, in April 2024.