Bunker gear

According to NFPA 1971: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting (and equivalent standards in other countries), all turnout clothing must have three components: an outer shell, a moisture barrier, and a thermal barrier. Separating these layers are pockets of air called "dead zones". These layers of the atmosphere and the three layers help further insulate the wearer from extreme fires. Turnout pants are typically outfitted with knee pads and leather cuffs.

The materials used for the layers in turnout trousers and coats vary but often include a Nomex or Kevlar composite. For example, the materials used by the Los Angeles City Fire Department, as found in their 2005 recruit handout, are as follows:

• Outer shell: Southern Mills, Advanced, Nomex/Kevlar blend in a "rip-stop weave" with water repellent finish.
• Thermal insulated layer: Southern Mills Caldura batten quilt material.
• Thermal and moisture barriers are sewn together for removal for cleaning, repair, and replacement from the outer shell.
• Moisture barrier: Breathe-Tex mixed with Nomex/Kevlar blend laminated cloth.

NFPA 1500: Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety, Health, and Wellness Program and similar standards mandate that firefighters wear upright protective collars and sleeves.

Generally Velcro and a clip help to hold the turnout trousers on the firefighter as well as the suspenders.

Once the need arises for firefighting personal protective equipment to be worn, a firefighter must properly don the gear. Turnout trousers are the first article of clothing that a firefighter puts on. Suspenders worn with the turnout trousers should be the heavy-duty type to stand up against the heavy weights and rigorous activities they face. Most experienced firefighters carry various tools and equipment in their turnout trouser pockets and rope and hardware they may need during an emergency. When not in use, the turnout trousers are usually scrunched around the boots for efficient and fast access when needed. The firefighter may step into each boot and pull up the trousers and suspenders.

A turnout coat

A turnout coat is the type of jacket typically worn by firefighters. Oversized pockets allow for carrying tools and equipment, and reflective safety stripes ensure that firefighters remain visible to each other. Protective coats usually have Velcro or zipper functions, enabling a firefighter to don this gear properly and efficiently. A storm flap covers this closure area and protects it against heat, damage, and loosening. Wristlets, 4-inch (according to NFPA 1500) 100% Nomex coverings along the distal end of the coat arms in with the thumb joint slips through, fit around the firefighter's hand and provides redundant protection where the skin may show between the glove and coat. They are designed to prevent burns to the wrist while preventing bunching and remaining flexible.

Overalls are available in the same materials and specifications. Usually, an overall has a cord built around the waist to make it fit better. Because of its size, scrunching up the general around the boots is more challenging.

Several pairs of surplus firefighter boots

Firefighter turnout boots are usually sized like regular shoes and are made of rubber or leather with a steel toe insert. The shoes are slipped inside the legs of the trousers to maintain a barrier from the fire's heat. When the trousers and boots are not being actively used, the trousers fold down and out around the shins of the shoes, ready for quick access for the firefighter. Owing to the enormous number of potential hazards to the feet at a fire scene, turnout boots are required to be able to handle various risks. All shoes must be outfitted with safety toes and a puncture-resistant midsole plate to prevent puncture from sharp objects that may be stepped on. With such emphasis on the midsole plate, IFSTA has deemed that "if there is doubt about midsole protection, [one should go as far as to] X-ray the boot."[5]

A Gallet or F1 helmet

A typically American leather helmet

The fire helmet's first function was to shed water, but today, it is first and foremost designed to protect a firefighter from falling debris and injury to the head while fighting a fire. The secondary job of the fire helmet is to protect from heat and burns to the head. It provides electrical, warmth, and steam burn protection, a hard shell, and in some types of helmets, goggles, a face shield, or Bourkes, a two-piece short folding shield that covers the eyes. In the media, these are often seen unfolded. All three protect the firefighter's eyes during rescue and extrication operations. Fire helmets are constructed of various materials, including non-conductive materials for protection against electrical currents, carbon fiber and plastic combination for a lightweight design for comfort, and a Kevlar lining for strength and security. More traditional US fire helmets are made out of leather.

Two Vienna firefighters with Gallet or F1 helmets; the neck is protected by an aluminized flap

The design of helmets varies from fire service to fire service and depends on the service or department's requirements. Some helmets are fitted with a face guard or shield to protect the firefighter's face against heat, dust, water, and debris when working on a rescue or extraction call and performing fire exposure protection. In the case of exposure protection, the shield works better because it keeps more heat from the firefighter's face, but the goggles give more eye protection in extraction and rescue ops.

There are four essential components to firefighting helmets:

• Helmet shell: Well-balanced, lightweight, and designed to provide maximum protection. It consists of a front brim (which offers protection to the eyes and facial area), a rear brim (which protects the neck from debris and water run-off), and raised top (which provides stability from impact from above).
• Impact ring: A 3/8" thick sponge rubber ring to absorb impact energy.
• Helmet liner: A high-density plastic liner made of fire-retardant cotton and Nomex; completely adjustable; nape strap adjusts to cradle the occipital portion of the head firmly.
• Chin strap: A 3/4" wide, black nylon with Velcro on one end, leather-backed "postman" side buckle. The leather helps protect the skin of the cheek from the metal buckle. Previous types of helmets had been constructed of a steel outer shell with a ribbed construction for extra strength and compressed cork with a lacquer applied to the outer face of it. The design and shape of the helmet are intended to redirect water and debris from the head and neck area. It also prevents head or neck injury to the firefighter in the event of falling debris.

A firefighter in Zagreb protects his face with a heat shield which is built into his helmet

In Europe and some Europe-oriented countries, helmet designs vary from the U.S. designs in that they are moving towards a style without brims. The pilot-style helmets have a bill at the front of the helmet and a shape that covers more of the head. The neck is protected by a combination of a Nomex (or similar material) flash hood and a foil-faced neck curtain connecting to the helmet's rear. In most designs, the Nomex fabric also protects the area around a SCBA facepiece and the front of the neck. A commonly used helmet is the F1 helmet, although several other designs like the Dräger HPS Helmet are in use.

These helmets tend to have in-built face protection (visors) and eye protection that swivel into the helmet's shell for protection.

EN 443:1997 (Helmets for firefighters) specifies the properties demanded for protection, comfort, and durability. There are optional specifications to cater to national requirements. The new EN 443-2008 now replaces the EN 443-1997.

A firefighter wearing the face-piece component of an SCBA with Nomex hood

When helmets do not provide built-in protection for the ears, neck, and part of the face, firefighters wear a protective firefighting hood. These are fitted and designed to protect the firefighter’s ears, neck, and face details that the SCBA mask does not cover.

They are designed to the guidelines set by NFPA 1975. Cal/OSHA Title #8 also has regulations in California. They are made of Nomex Knit Fabric which weighs 6 ounces per square yard; they are often double-ply with only one seam running from the top center of the face opening, over the top, and down the bottom of the bib. The Nomex Knit, which is standard, is why they are commonly referred to as Nomex hoods. First, the hood is tucked into the collar. The SCBA mask is then donned, and the hood is pulled over the face seal to cover any exposed skin.

Many types of hand protection are available to firefighters today, the most common being the work glove and the structural firefighting glove.

Work gloves are a must for all fire services. They are used when required, but firefighting gloves are not. They allow better mobility to perform various functions, from relaying hose beds to vehicle maintenance. Work gloves are usually made of leather or a leather-like material.

Extrication gloves are similar in design and appearance to auto mechanic gloves. However, they are made of a heavier rip-proof and puncture-resistant material such as Kevlar while still lightweight enough to allow manual dexterity to operate rescue equipment and sometimes sufficient to take a victim's pulse. These are used in urban search and rescue, vehicle extrication, and related applications but are not rated for firefighting.

For an actual working fire, structural firefighting gloves must be worn. Structural gloves are usually the last piece of protective equipment to don because the fingers' free dexterity is required to perform functions such as correctly placing an SCBA mask on and accurately tightening a helmet strap. The gloves fit over the wristlets and under the distal part of the coat sleeve, ensuring full enclosure of the latter arm. Gloves are designed to protect from extreme heat and various penetrating objects and to allow dexterity. Usually, the latter is sacrificed to give adequate protection from heat and sharp objects. Unlike leather gloves, new gloves are more lightweight and don't lose their talent when they dry after becoming wet.

Proximity fire gear

Firefighters wear several other related types of protective clothing, which are not usually called turnout gear:

Proximity gear or a fire proximity suit is turnout gear with an outer layer of heat-reflecting metallic material, used in firefighting applications of extreme heat such as aircraft fires and some chemical fires.

Hazmat suits are designed to prevent the wearer from coming into contact with hazardous materials. Class D is a work uniform with a face shield, respirator, apron, and gloves. All other levels are worn with structural firefighter PPE to a varied degree. The highest level is A consisting of a gastight suit overtop of SCBA and turn-out gear.