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.

Councillor Phil Tye, Chair of the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority, said:

“By modernising the Fire and Rescue Service’s BA equipment, we are reinforcing our commitment to providing a first-class emergency response, in turn, protecting our communities, and safeguarding the welfare of our firefighters.

“This investment provides a range of important aspects including prioritising equality, safety, and operational effectiveness, alongside empowering all staff to perform safely and confidently.

“The purchase of state-of-the-art BA sets is another example of TWFRS and the Fire Authority’s dedication to reinforce firefighter safety, operational excellence, and delivering value for money for our communities.”

Peter Heath, Chief Fire Officer for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are proud to be continually investing in our workforce and in particular within the area of firefighter safety.

“The new BA sets will ensure inclusivity for all of our crews, and the investment reflects our strategic goals of effectiveness, efficiency, and people. The equipment is paramount for life-saving rescues when firefighters need to enter fires or other hazardous environments.

“As a former firefighter myself it is encouraging to see continual development and improvement of breathing apparatus sets.

“Dräger are one of the leaders in their field and are able to deliver significant benefits to our firefighters including weight reduction that helps to ease firefighter fatigue, enhances flexibility, and supports a diverse range of body types. This will all ensure that our operational personnel can perform effectively during high-pressure incidents.”

Matthew Bedford, Managing Director of Draeger Safety UK Ltd, adds:

“Dräger is delighted to be working alongside the operational teams at TWFRS. It means firefighters in Tyne and Wear will benefit from the latest technology alongside the proven track record of Dräger’s world-leading breathing protection equipment.”

The new BA sets will be fully implemented within the Service by April 2025.