Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) has invested in the future safety of its firefighters by purchasing over 200 new Breathing Apparatus (BA) sets from a North-East based company.
The 220 specialist BA sets will start being received by TWFRS later this month [January 2025] from Draeger Safety UK Ltd, who have offices in Blyth, Northumberland.
Draeger Safety UK has been awarded the contract after a thorough and competitive tendering process.
BA sets form an essential part of TWFRS’s incident response armoury, and are primarily used in scenarios involving dangerous atmospheres, for example, in fires, chemical incidents, and confined spaces.
The investment in the new safety equipment has been a necessity to replace the existing BA sets that have come to the end of their natural operational life.
This significant investment is part of TWFRS and the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority’s continued commitment for Service-wide improvements as outlined in the 2024-2027 Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP).
The current equipment has been keeping firefighters safe for over 15-years, and it has been decided to replace these sets with Dräger’s latest PSS Airboss system.
This new equipment represents a major step forward in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of TWFRS firefighters. The new system will provide the advanced functionality and ergonomics the Service needs to meet the challenges of modern firefighting while also supporting a diverse workforce.
This comprehensive procurement process involved extensive market research and supplier demonstrations.