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TOKYO DESIGN WEEK 2012
BEIJING DESIGN WEEK 2012There is an old adage in the firefighting community that the profession is 150 years of tradition unimpeded by progress.
The original fire helmet, then called a fire cap, was designed in 1731 by Jacobus Turk for the Fire Department of New York in order to distinguish the department from competitors. (Scarily enough, firefighting was once privatized—just like in the movie 'Gangs of New York.')
An ornamental eagle—with no related significance—was added to the helmet design around 1825. A 1930 New Yorker article points out that the eagle "sticks up in the air, it catches... on telephone wires, it is always getting dented... every so often, some realist points out how much safer and cheaper it would be to do away with the eagle, but the firemen always refuse." The eagle still exists as an integral part of the helmet today.
The colors of the helmet, however, do have importance. Black generally denotes a private/basic firefighter, yellow or red can denote a lieutenant or captain, and white denotes a chief. Sometimes all of a department's helmets are black, while only the colors of the helmet badges denote rank. Lastly, Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) fire investigator helmets are bright blue.
Three main types of helmets are currently used in the United States. The "leatherhead" is just that—constructed almost entirely of leather. The leather's resistance to heat actually rivals that of modern composites. The large brim that dips down in back is designed to keep hose water dripping off of the ceiling out of the face. The leatherheads are used in fighting regular fires.
Here's a great video showing the making of the classic MSA Cairns leather helmet:
The second type is the structural helmet, a more streamlined version of the leatherhead, constructed of thermoplastics or composites. These helmets are used for structural collapses and extrications. Goggles, instead of a face shield, often sit on the front of the helmet.
The last type is the European-style helmet, which looks like a cross between a motorcycle helmet and something from Star Wars. The design is purportedly much more comfortable and practical. But, as one firefighter put it, "I've been involved with fire departments in four states...and in seven years have seen a grand total of two [European-style] helmets... these guys were... universally afraid of being mocked for wearing something new, different or 'unfashionable.'"
The helmet has uses other than just protection. If a firefighter is trapped on a floor of a burning building, he will toss his helmet out the nearest window, signaling to others below on the street that he needs help.
Similar to military traditions, firefighters will decorate their helmets with personalized messages or stickers in addition to the reflective trapezoids already on the helmet. The helmet transcends from a simple piece of equipment to a kind of talisman—a piece of the firefighter's spirit.
Redesigning the fire helmet - both a marketable product and a symbol deeply ingrained in American culture - to satisfy firefighters' physical, mental, and emotional needs could be the industrial design challenge of a lifetime.
Comments
Good article. I also think helmet deserves a redesign. If anyone is up to the task, let me know.
--Shalin
Engineer/Designer/Vol. Firefighter ('02-'07)
I recently completed a fire helmet design project for a 3rd year Head Protection ID studio at the University of Cincinnati.
During the process, I ran into a lot of the same tradition issues that you discussed in the article. I agree that coming up with a solution that balances those traditional preferences with advancements in technology and materials is a real challenge.
http://issuu.com/gatlintm/docs/fire_helmet_design_project?showEmbed=true
Interesting read. Found the idea that peer pressure has stopped the adoption of a more practical helmet rather strange. If it was because it hampered communication I would understand but this just seems silly.
Was going to point out that extrications was a typo (expecting it was meant to read extractions) but then I looked it up and learned a new word, hooray new knowledge!
You may want to check this out:
http://firegeezer.com/2011/05/04/hey-leatherhead/
Another example of "non-fire service" people trying to "improve" our fire service. Our fire helmet is the last thing that needs to be changed or improved. I have spent 20yrs in the fire service. Most of these years have now been spent in a large very busy urban fire department. First I would like to know who/where you were told that it is standard that you toss your helmet out the window to get someones attention? Really? Quit watching movies!! This is not done, and it is not taught. I will throw a dresser out a window before I would ever throw my helmet out. Also as far as I know, a firefighters helmet or chioce of helmet has never caused a firefighter death.
Do not put your efforts into changing something that does not need to be changed. Our fire helmet is the last thing that needs to be changed in the fire service.
@ Billy - The "throw your helmet out the window" part came directly from a fire chief I interviewed a year ago. I agree - it does seem ludicrous. What I've found from talking to numerous firefighters in numerous departments, though, is that tradition/technique in one can often contradict that of another department. There is no "one way" that every department does things.
For every firefighter that would never change their helmet, there seems to be one who welcomes the idea.
The point I wanted to get at is: what's the balance between the advancement of technology and a product that's worked well for hundreds of years? Should new inventions take precedent over existing solutions?
Billy with all the respect due to firefighters of all kinds, and it is a lot.
Maybe it's better, maybe it's not, but being stubborn for the sake of tradition is sad. Especially if the possibility of something that has a better chance of saving your life comes along.
I want you guys to live, because frankly I can't put out a house fire on my own.. I need you guys.
You guys forgot the most important fire helmet design, the MSA Topgard and Skullgard helmets from the 40s,50s,60s,70s, and 1980s! They were well used across the country for a long time and were popular for their light design!
I didn't know that improving something for a group of dedicated and passionate people who work in high-risk situations could only happen if it caused a death. Perish the thought that the work could be safer, easier and more efficient.
I love the look of the traditional fire helmet. It is steeped in nostalgia and dripping with emotion. It also completely avoids rationality and intelligence in todays advancing and demanding fire service.
The traditional fire service helmet drastically needs to be improved. Better yet, just replace it. The homage to tradition comes at the expense of cost, excessive wear, user fatigue, damage and discomfort. Just because we can still make a helmet out of leather that is NFPA compliant doesn't mean we should. There are so many more appropriate materials that are lighter and stronger for the application. 1836, it's time to step in to 2011.
The 'European' style helmet stows the visor between the outer shell and the impact protection layer keeping it from getting scratched and all but removing it as an entanglement hazard while keeping it easy to access. Its curved shape provides better face and eye protection than the a flip-down shield or the Bourkes. Not only that, but there is the option of having two shields built in to the helmet; one for high visibility and the other for radiant heat protection. The sides drop low and provide enough coverage to protect ears.
'European' style helmets place the mass closer to the head, eliminate bills that limit range of motion or get in the way when working with ropes. And the outdate brass eagle to hold up the vanity plate on the front - a straight up entanglement hazard.
Helmets should mate with high-tech turnout gear. They should accommodate communication technology and integrate with breathing apparatus face pieces.
It is true that traditional fire helmets are the last thing that need to be change in the fire service. The good news is that we have reached the last thing and that thing is the traditional helmet. Time to wake up to the improvement that the Europeans have know for years or dramatically overhaul the current 'traditional' design and bring it in to this millennium.
By the way, I'm not a 'non-fire service' person, I wear a fire helmet every day for work. I know that there is something far better than the traditional fire helmet. All that needs to be done is to is to lower the ego far enough to gain sight of it.
It was my understanding that the long "tail" of the helmet (other than the Euro-style) initially developed to keep water from dripping down the back of the neck. Perhaps new coat collar styles and other advancements render that moot these days?
I have 25 years of service in a suburban county fire department. I wore a leather for many years, but found the weight undesireable. I began wearing a European helmet ten years ago and love it. Yes, I get comments, usually from some 2-year veteran superfireman, that the helmet is "gay". My usual response it, "well, if anyone knows gay, it's you." I have "GET OVER IT" written on the back. I've got to last at least five more years on the job, so I'm going to protect my head with modern technology, desgn and materials and not give a damn about whether or not it's fashionable or traditional.
I am a Captain in a paid-on-call department.
My original fire training was in the US Navy. Back then we would tuck our dungaree pants into our socks, button up the top button on our cotton shirt, turn up the collar, put on a pair of gloves and an old Vietnam-era steel pot helmet on our heads.
This was in the mid-80's.
Some of the people in my department were traditional helmets and some where the more modern ones. I wear a more modern style. Why? Because the department buys them and provides them for free. I am not going to spend $300, or more, of my own money so I can wear a fancy hat into a fire.
I like the look of the traditionals, but not enough to spend my own money for one.
One problem with the European-design helmets is that they cover the ears too much. The people designing these things don't realize how much we need to hear when in a fire. I tried one once, blocked too much sound.
Another thing to consider with a new design, $$, how much does it cost? 80% of the firefighters in the country are Volunteer or Paid-on-call. Most of the volunteer departments are chronically short on money. We cover low population density regions of the country. We don't have the tax base to support career departments. We don't have the call volumes to justify a lot of high tech gadgetry in the helmets either. Training time is short. So simple is better.
Career, Urban departments do the most fire calls. They are highly skilled, well trained, disciplined people. I have a lot of respect for them. In a busy urban environment, it might be possible to justify some high-tech, fancy helmet with integrated communcations equipment. They have the call-volume to need it and the training to use it. But in the hinterlands, we got to keep it simple as possible.
Jim C,
Brother, thanks for your service. I avoid these sorts of things generally, but you pique my interest.
"The good news is that we have reached the last thing and that thing is the traditional helmet."
So, the 87 men and women who died in the line of duty last year were all from non European-style helmet catastrophes?
Actually, they died from smoke inhalation, burns, falls, building collapse, being unrestrained in a vehicle crash and heart attacks. The traditional style helmet may be out of date and not in line with the latest in safety, ergonomics and design (remember what website we are on). Traditional helmets are not killing firefighters. Until no one dies because of preventable causes on the fireground, this is all moot. Instead of mandating changes OF our headgear, lets think about how to make changes IN our headgear. Stay safe Brother FTM/PTB
Fraternal greetings all who are part of the Brotherhood of fireman.
I ve been a fire fighter since 28 Feb 2002.
At our Department we use all different types of fire helmets - Pacific, thermoglas, thermoplastic etc. The helmet which our department issued us during 2010 was helmets with a very very short neck part ( actually for exstreme searc and rescue purposes ) although it is a very small helmet it is also heavy and dont even fit correct when waering SCBA. The neck part is so short - what if a brick or piece of metal come down on your neck - In person I think that that the people who buy fire helmets for fire fighters dont think about the safety of their men - the reason why I say that is because they dont realise that if a fireman get injured from falling debri that they can actually take the department to court especially if the helmet is not for fire fighting purposes.
I recently bought an old Cairns & Brother 808 fire helmet on Ebay - i started to use the helmet - First the other fireman were jellous, some even say I look like an American - I was so happy with the helmet that I contact BULLARD and ordered a UST helmet for myself - What I've noticed about my helmet with the longer rear part - My back is always dry - and when something fall on my head or upon my neck when i'm in totall darkness - I FEEL SAVE... I always feel proud to wear the Eagle and the name of PORT ELIZABETH on my leather front - May TRADITIONAL HELMETS LIVE ON IN THET HEARTS OF FIREMAN...
1. I have been a firefighter since 1975; I have used every kind of helmet made, including European and Asian models. I can tell you that a helmet is really personal preference. I absolutely adore the Gallet helmet now made by MSA. We cannot use them legally in the U.S. but they are a superior unit. They work superbly in Crash Fire and Rescue applications. Leather is better in structures. Plastic, well they never are good, well maybe in natural cover fires but not in any kind of interior attack, I have seen them melt. I am not a fan of fiber type helmets; they delaminate if you drop them. The basic thing with helmets is they are a compromise between weight and protection. I think it also depends on the specific application they are intended to be used on. I do not believe it is possible to produce a helmet that can be superior in every application we will be faced with. If I am preforming a entry into a freezer warehouse I definitely want something that will act as a heat shield, but I do not want that helmet in a building collapse rescue. I also believe what William Edwards Deming said is true “Improve constantly and forever the system of production and service, to improve quality and productivity, and thus constantly decrease costs.” As materials change in the fires we fight we must improve our head protection to keep up with those changes. Great article.
Why is a redesign needed? There is nothing wrong with the current design of our helmets. It was tried out in the 70's and 80's and most of the departments that went to the round fiberglass helmets abandoned them. Others never switched, not just because of tradition either. Many of these departments are open to innovation but not for innovation's sake. If it isn't broken, it doesn't need to be fixed. yes, traditions should not be stubbornly clung to if they're inferior, but just because something is traditional does NOT mean it is inferior. Additionally, the traditional helmets made today actually incorporate most of the new innovations. In fact, leather helmets having a leather shell is the only traditional element. Synthetic impact caps, liners etc. are all used.
Let the professionals in the fire service use what works. We depend on this stuff to do our job safely, we certainly will make sure it meets our needs as we have been doing.
Hi Rain. Antonio from FoxFury here. I just got back from FDIC, a BIG fire show in Indy, and saw a new European-styled fire helmet called the Rosenbauer Heros-XT (link to the PDF in the URL field). Ever seen it before? I figured you'd be interested in the look of it. Have a good one and keep up the great work.