Short answer: Firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE) should be cleaned according to applicable standards, manufacturer instructions, and the department’s written procedures. Contaminated gear may require cleaning after an incident rather than waiting for a scheduled service. Departments should also distinguish routine washing from advanced cleaning, decontamination, and inspection, because each addresses a different part of equipment care.
A busy fire department can respond to dozens or hundreds of incidents between scheduled equipment-care checks. During that time, turnout gear may encounter smoke, soot, combustion byproducts, and other potentially hazardous substances.
That creates a practical question for every fire chief and PPE officer: how often should the gear be cleaned?
The answer is not simply once a month, twice a year, or after a certain number of calls. Cleaning frequency depends on the type of exposure, the equipment involved, applicable requirements, and the procedures established by the department.
Getting that schedule right means knowing when routine cleaning is needed, when additional attention may be appropriate, and how to keep equipment-care decisions consistent across the department.
How often should firefighter turnout gear be cleaned?
There is no single schedule that adequately covers every type of firefighter PPE and every exposure.
Departments should follow the applicable edition of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, the equipment manufacturer’s instructions, and their own written care procedures. They should also respond to contamination that occurs between scheduled cleanings.
Three considerations help establish a practical approach:
- Exposure: What happened during the incident, and what contamination may remain on the gear?
- Equipment requirements: What do the applicable standards and manufacturer instructions require for this specific equipment?
- Department procedures: Who determines when cleaning is needed, arranges the service, documents it, and confirms the equipment is ready for use?
A schedule provides consistency, but it should not become a reason to postpone cleaning when an incident or contamination warrants earlier action.
What does NFPA say about firefighter PPE cleaning?
The National Fire Protection Association publishes standards covering the selection, care, and maintenance of firefighter protective equipment.
The 2025 edition of NFPA 1850, Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural and Proximity Firefighting and Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), consolidates the previous NFPA 1851 and NFPA 1852 standards.
Departments should consult the current edition for requirements applicable to their equipment and procedures rather than rely on older guidance or an informal cleaning schedule.
What about the familiar six-month cleaning interval?
The 2020 edition of NFPA 1851 established a framework for advanced cleaning of issued structural firefighting ensembles, including an interval of at least every six months. That historical guidance is one reason departments often associate advanced cleaning with a twice-yearly schedule.
However, departments should not assume that a historical interval alone describes every current requirement under NFPA 1850. The applicable requirements should be verified against the current standard, the equipment involved, and the circumstances of use.
A scheduled interval also does not mean a department should leave contaminated gear untreated until the next date on the calendar.
For current requirements, consult NFPA’s official standards information and your department’s PPE-care resources.
When should firefighter PPE be cleaned sooner?
A routine schedule is only one part of gear care. Some circumstances call for cleaning outside the normal cycle.
After exposure to fireground contamination
Structural fires can expose protective gear to soot, particulates, and chemicals produced by combustion. Wildland fires, vehicle fires, and other incidents can create different contamination profiles.
Departments should follow their post-incident procedures for handling contaminated equipment, including appropriate initial decontamination and subsequent cleaning.
The absence of obvious soot does not prove that equipment is free of hazardous substances. Decisions should account for the incident and the department’s established procedures, not just what the gear looks like.
When contamination is visible or suspected
Visible contamination is a clear reason to assess the equipment and follow the appropriate cleaning procedure. Departments should also consider exposures that may not produce obvious discoloration or residue.
Firefighters should know how to report contaminated gear and what to do with it after a call. A clear procedure reduces the chance that equipment will be handled inconsistently or that contamination will be carried into vehicles and station living areas.
After unusual or severe exposures
Some incidents may expose gear to substances or conditions outside the department’s routine experience. These situations may warrant additional assessment and a specialized cleaning or decontamination process.
The appropriate response depends on the exposure, the PPE involved, and the advice of qualified personnel. Departments should not assume that every unusual incident requires the same treatment.
When inspections or maintenance identify a concern
Inspection findings can also affect equipment-care decisions. Damage, unusual contamination, or other concerns should be handled according to applicable procedures and manufacturer instructions.
Cleaning does not replace inspection, and inspection does not establish that every contaminant has been removed. Both contribute to a comprehensive PPE-care program.
Routine washing, advanced cleaning, and inspection are different
One reason cleaning schedules become confusing is that departments may use the word cleaning to describe several different activities.
Knowing which service is being discussed helps PPE officers build a schedule that addresses the actual requirements.
Routine washing
Routine washing removes soil and reduces contamination through an appropriate laundering process. Departments should use equipment, cleaning agents, and procedures suitable for their protective garments.
The appropriate frequency depends on exposure, equipment requirements, and the department’s written program. Routine washing should not be confused with a guarantee that every contaminant has been removed.
Advanced cleaning and decontamination
Advanced cleaning and decontamination involve processes intended to address contamination through defined methods. Liquid carbon dioxide (CO₂) decontamination is one option departments may evaluate when considering additional treatment.
Whether a specialized process is appropriate depends on the gear, the contaminants involved, the process’s demonstrated performance, and applicable requirements.
Departments should ask providers which contaminants have been tested, what results were measured, and whether the process is appropriate for the equipment being treated.
For a fuller explanation, see Turnout Gear Cleaning vs. Decontamination: What’s the Difference? and Liquid CO₂ Firefighter PPE Decontamination: How It Works.
Inspection and maintenance
Inspection helps identify equipment conditions that require attention. Depending on the equipment and applicable requirements, inspection may be associated with scheduled care or follow a particular service.
Cleaning and inspection serve different purposes. A garment that has been washed is not automatically cleared of every contamination concern, nor does a visual inspection establish that all contaminants have been removed.
Departments should document required inspections, maintenance, repairs, and equipment status according to their established procedures.
Why cleaning frequency matters for firefighter health
Firefighters face occupational exposure to hazardous substances across their careers. Protective equipment is one part of managing that exposure, and what happens to contaminated gear after an incident matters.
A National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study of nearly 30,000 career firefighters from Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Francisco found 9% more cancer diagnoses and 14% more cancer-related deaths than expected based on U.S. population rates.
These findings describe the study population. They do not establish that a particular cleaning schedule or decontamination method prevents cancer.
The practical implication is that departments should take exposure management seriously, including the care and handling of protective equipment. Consistent cleaning procedures can address a part of that challenge, alongside other occupational health and safety measures.
Contamination can travel beyond the fireground
Contaminated gear does not remain isolated from everything around it. Handling and transporting equipment can transfer material to vehicles, station surfaces, storage areas, and other items.
Departments should establish clear procedures for removing, transporting, cleaning, and storing contaminated PPE. Those procedures help keep equipment care consistent and reduce opportunities for contamination to spread.
The goal is not simply to make gear look clean. It is to manage contamination deliberately and follow the care requirements appropriate for the equipment.
How to build a workable department cleaning schedule
A useful schedule should be clear enough for firefighters to follow and practical enough for the department to maintain.
1. Inventory the equipment
Identify the protective ensembles and components your department uses, including structural gear, wildland PPE, hoods, gloves, and other relevant equipment.
Different items may have different care instructions. Avoid assuming that a single procedure or interval applies to everything.
2. Establish written procedures
Document what happens after routine incidents, what happens after unusual exposures, and who is responsible for deciding when additional service is needed.
Make sure personnel know how to report contamination and where to take gear that requires attention.
3. Assign responsibility
Designate who tracks cleaning schedules, arranges service, maintains records, and follows up on equipment that needs inspection or repair.
Without clear ownership, cleaning can become an informal task that depends on who happens to notice a problem.
4. Keep records
A basic record should identify the equipment, the service performed, the date, and any relevant inspection or maintenance findings.
Good records help PPE officers identify overdue service, establish consistency, and demonstrate that the department is following its procedures.
5. Review the schedule regularly
Revisit the program when equipment changes, operating conditions shift, new guidance applies, or records reveal recurring problems.
The schedule should support the department’s actual needs, not become a substitute for judgment when a specific exposure calls for attention.
What if the department cannot afford additional decontamination?
Some departments already have routine washing procedures but face financial barriers to accessing advanced decontamination.
The cost of specialized service, transportation, and coordination can make access difficult, particularly for departments operating with limited resources or located far from a qualified provider.
That does not mean every department needs the same service. It means each department should be able to assess its needs without cost automatically ruling out an appropriate option.
The Afterburn Foundation helps qualifying fire departments access advanced PPE decontamination when cost stands in the way. Afterburn is an access and funding organization, not a manufacturer or cleaning facility. It connects documented department need with philanthropic funding and qualified independent service providers.
Its annual sponsorship model is built around a clear commitment:
$500. One firefighter. One year.
A $500 sponsorship provides one firefighter with one year of funded access to qualifying advanced PPE decontamination services. The standard annual model is designed around two advanced CO₂ decontamination cycles and one annual advanced inspection, with flexibility to fund services according to actual need.
Sponsorship funds are pooled, allowing services to vary according to equipment, exposure, geography, and logistics. The model funds annual access rather than promising identical services for every firefighter.
If your department is evaluating advanced decontamination but cost is a barrier, Afterburn offers a way to seek assistance.
Frequently asked questions
How often should firefighter turnout gear be washed?
The appropriate frequency depends on exposure, applicable NFPA requirements, manufacturer instructions, and department procedures. Departments should address contamination as needed rather than rely solely on a fixed calendar.
Does NFPA require firefighter gear to be cleaned every six months?
The 2020 edition of NFPA 1851 included an advanced-cleaning interval of at least every six months for issued structural firefighting ensembles. Departments should verify the applicable requirements in the current NFPA 1850 standard rather than assume the historical interval describes every current requirement.
Should firefighter gear be cleaned after every fire?
Departments should follow their post-incident procedures and assess the exposure involved. Cleaning may be necessary after an incident even when the gear does not look heavily soiled. The appropriate procedure depends on the equipment, contamination, and applicable requirements.
Is washing turnout gear enough to remove all contaminants?
Not necessarily. Washing can remove soil and reduce contamination, but performance varies by contaminant, garment, and process. Departments should evaluate whether additional treatment is appropriate based on evidence and their specific needs.
Can a fire department get help paying for advanced decontamination?
Yes. The Afterburn Foundation helps qualifying departments access advanced PPE decontamination when cost stands in the way. Departments can apply for funding to have their needs evaluated.
Better decontamination shouldn’t depend on your department’s budget.
Afterburn helps qualifying fire departments access advanced PPE decontamination when cost stands in the way.
Help another department get access: Sponsor a Firefighter
