HOW IT WORKS
Why Advanced Decontamination
Clean and decontaminated are not always the same thing. Advanced decontamination is a deeper, documented process for personal protective equipment (PPE), performed by trained technicians and matched to what the gear has actually been exposed to.
ROUTINE VS. ADVANCED
Two Levels of Cleaning, Two Different Jobs
Both matter. Routine cleaning limits what spreads after a call. Advanced cleaning reaches what routine cleaning can leave behind. Advanced liquid CO2 decontamination is a technology already available on the market.
ROUTINE CLEANING
After Every Use
WHO
Firefighters, on scene or at the station
WHAT
Brushing, rinsing and spot cleaning of surface soiling
LIMITS
Not designed to reach residues embedded in the gear's layers
ADVANCED CLEANING
On Schedule and After Heavy Exposure
WHO
Trained technicians, in house or through a qualified provider
WHAT
Machine processing of the full garment with validated methods, water-based or liquid carbon dioxide (CO2)
PAIRED WITH
Advanced inspection of the gear's condition and integrity
CONTAMINANT CHALLENGES
What Makes Gear Hard to Get Truly Clean
01
Embedded Residues
Soot and combustion byproducts work into fabric fibers and seams, not just onto the surface.
02
Fluorinated and Semi-Volatile Compounds
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) behave differently from ordinary dirt and can persist through routine cleaning.
03
Heavy Metals
Fire residue can carry metal particulates from burning building materials, vehicles and contents.
04
Biological Contaminants
Blood and body fluids from rescues and medical calls call for their own decontamination steps.
05
Lithium-Ion Battery Residues
Battery fires in vehicles, devices and energy storage can leave fluorinated compounds and metal-laden particulates.
06
Layered Gear Construction
Outer shell, moisture barrier and thermal liner each hold contamination differently, and each must survive cleaning intact.
STANDARDS AND PROCESS
Qualified Processes, Backed by a National Standard
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets the standard for how protective gear is cleaned, inspected and maintained.
NFPA 1850
Consolidates the earlier NFPA 1851 and NFPA 1852 standards for protective ensembles and breathing apparatus.
ADVANCED CLEANING
Performed by trained personnel on a regular schedule, with liquid CO2 recognized when the gear manufacturer approves.
QUALIFIED PROCESSES
Afterburn funds providers that meet certification and performance-based standards, not any single brand or machine.
INSPECTION
Advanced inspection finds damage to seams, barriers and components that cleaning alone won't reveal.
EXPOSURE-DRIVEN CARE
Cleaning Should Follow Exposure, Not a One-Size Schedule
Two firefighters at the same department can have very different years. Funding and service flex to match.
BASELINE
Scheduled Advanced Cleaning
Regular cycles keep gear from accumulating residue over a season.
AFTER HEAVY EXPOSURE
Additional Decontamination
A working structure fire, a battery fire or extended overhaul can call for cleaning outside the schedule.
SEVERE CONTAMINATION
Full-PPE or Heavy Decontamination
Gross contamination may need specialized processing, and inspection decides whether gear stays in service.
WHAT WE DON'T CLAIM
Straight Answers About What Decontamination Can Do
- No cleaning method, CO2 included, can promise to prevent cancer. Decontamination reduces one exposure pathway among many.
- Water-based advanced cleaning is an established, essential method. This isn't a water-versus-CO2 argument.
- Testing results apply to the contaminants and processes tested. We say which is which.
- Not every firefighter needs identical service. Frequency and method depend on exposure, gear and manufacturer guidance.
- We don't endorse a single manufacturer or provider. Qualification is based on standards and performance.
- Decontamination works alongside on-scene practices, screening and everything else departments already do.
WANT TO HELP?
Sponsor a Firefighter
$500 provides one firefighter with a year of advanced decontamination access.
NEED HELP FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT?
Apply for Funding
If cost is limiting your department's access, Afterburn may be able to help.