VIKING meets growing challenges in firefighter protection with new IGNIS generation of fire suits
Esbjerg, Denmark, June 2022
For both urban or wildland settings, VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has addressed the needs of firefighters to develop a new series introducing two new fire suits to meet new demands for function and comfort.
VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has launched two new generation fire suits which offer higher standards in protective performance, with one designed specifically for structural firefighting and the other for technical rescue and wildland firefighting.
The VIKING IGNIS series is being released at Interschutz 2022, in Hannover June 20-25, with each product designed to surpass relevant performance standards while enhancing comfort, durability and visibility
The VIKING IGNIS EN469 reinforces VIKING’s leading position as a quality supplier of structural fire suits, while enhancing performance without compromising breathability. Meanwhile, the VIKING IGNIS WTR (wildland technical rescue) suits are new for Europe, and deliver protection to exceed technical rescue (EN ISO 11612EN) and wildland fire (EN ISO 15384) standards.
“We gave our designers a free hand to start from scratch and deliver high-performance fire suits that go beyond latest protection standards while bringing gains for comfort, visibility and greater freedom of movement,” said Gitte Schou Jensen, Product Manager, Fire, VIKING.
Important features of the VIKING IGNIS EN469 suit include reflective piping which follows the contours of the wearer’s outline for higher visibility, as well as 3M® FR Comfort Trim and the stylish shimmer of VIKING’s patented barcode trim. The new suit also looks good, said Jensen, while adjustable collars, refined sleeve stitching to enhance freedom of movement and Para-Aramid shoulder pads in a design that does not compromise breathability. Ergonomically designed knees and elbows enhance comfort and mobility. The pants also include a supporting lumbar panel.
Many of these features are also available to the VIKING IGNIS WTR suit, which has been designed to give technical rescue crews the protection they need to work for long hours, in varying temperatures and in difficult and changing conditions.
Though completely new to the European market, the VIKING IGNIS WTR builds on VIKING’s experience as a supplier of ‘VIKING Shield’ multi-purpose suits in North America. VIKING IGNIS WTR suits can switch rapidly from technical rescue to wildland firefighting using a snap-in, snap-out Gore® Crosstech® Flameliner and moisture barrier.
“As the frequency of wildfires continues to rise, VIKING IGNIS WTR suits meet the specific challenges faced in European technical rescue situations,” said Jensen. “Designed for constant wear in changing work environments, it has all the features you expect from VIKING for comfortable, durable protection, and is dual approved for technical rescue and wildland firefighting standards.”
For both types of suit, Jensen added that VIKING had worked to “achieve the best in everything, right down to the smallest detail”. She cited the attention paid to newly designed side pockets, radio pockets with drain holes, and to reconfigured straps for microphones, antennas and lights.
“What is more, each suit features an integrated track and trace chip to support care and maintenance, tracking status, service and exposure to potentially harmful particles” she said. “To meet performance standards VIKING Life-Saving Equipment sets itself, we want our fire suits to be easy to manage to ensure the best protection.”
About VIKING
VIKING’s state of the art fire protection is developed in close co-operation with demanding international customers.
Founded in 1960, VIKING is a privately held market leader in maritime and fire safety with group headquarters in Denmark. The company provides essential safety and firefighting equipment for structural firefighting, passenger and cargo ships, offshore installations, offshore wind turbines, navies, helicopter services, fishing vessels and leisure yachts around the world.
www.VIKING-life.com
For further information please contact
Product Manager Fire, Gitte Schou Jensen, +45 2542 8236, GSJ@VIKING-life.com
Global PPE Marketing Communications Manager, Elizabeth Pöckel, +45 2542 8209, edp@VIKING-life.com