Protecting Firefighters from smoke and contaminants at incidents

This is a summary, not the official document. It was written by the Irish Firefighter Hub to set out the key points of GPN 5.1. The original is by the National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management (NDFEM) and published on fireireland.ie. Section numbers (for example “Section 5.4”) point to the original. Where anything here differs from the original, the original applies. Always follow your fire authority’s own policy and training.

At a glance

Your skin is now seen as the main way in. Modern breathing apparatus protects the lungs well. Research now points to absorption through the skin as the leading route of exposure, and the face, jaw, neck, throat and hands are the most vulnerable areas. Sections 2 and 3.2
Clean and bag kit at the scene. Contaminated PPE and equipment, including BA sets, should not come back in the crew cab unless bagged. Sections 5.4 and 5.5
Shower within the hour. Shower as soon as possible on returning to the station, and in all cases within an hour. Section 5.5
Red, Yellow and Green zones. Stations should mark out contaminated, transition and clean areas. Contaminated kit should never enter a Green zone. Section 5.2.1
Two sets of PPE. Every Firefighter should have two sets of structural PPE, including gloves. Section 5.2.2
Full BA when damping down. Anyone damping down or overhauling at a fire must always wear SCBA. Section 5.3
Local policy. Each fire authority should use this note to write its own policy, ideally through a local implementation group. Section 1

What’s new

This is version 1.0 of GPN 5.1, approved by the NDFEM Management Board in September 2025, with a review due in September 2030. It is national good practice for all fire services, and it is written to be applied “as far as reasonably practicable”, allowing for the differences in staffing, equipment and stations across the country. Section 1

A companion note, GPN 5.2, covers the same subject in training centres. Read the GPN 5.2 Hub briefing.

GPN 5.1 covers the products of combustion (smoke) only. Other contamination, such as hazardous materials, asbestos, flood water and biological hazards, is covered by the existing Standard Operational Guidance (SOGs). Sections 1 and 4

Why it matters

Sections 1 to 3

Modern buildings and furnishings use more synthetic and petrochemical materials. These burn hotter and faster and give off higher levels of toxins.
Smoke can harm you in two ways. Acute effects come straight away from a single exposure, for example carbon monoxide or hydrogen cyanide. Chronic effects build up over years from repeated small exposures, and are linked to cancer, heart and circulation disease and nervous system disease.
Research links fire contaminants to a higher risk of cancer and other diseases. The note draws on a 2020 report by the University of Central Lancashire.
Toxins get in three ways: breathing them in, through the skin, and swallowing them, for example eating or drinking with dirty hands.
Heat makes it worse. As skin warms up, sweating, open pores and extra blood flow let it absorb more.

Common ways Firefighters get exposed

Section 3.4

Working in smoke, inside or outside
Damping down or overhaul after the fire is out
Not wiping exposed skin with decontamination wipes at the incident
Carrying unbagged dirty kit in your own car or the appliance cab
Cab seats and lockers not cleaned after incidents
Eating, drinking, smoking or vaping with unwashed hands
Not wearing the right PPE when cleaning or servicing dirty BA and kit
Not changing out of dirty PPE or station wear
Not showering at the station after a fire

Your PPE

Section 4.4

Item	Standard	What the note says
Tunic and leggings	EN 469 (2020)	Pockets and loops can trap contaminants. Protection drops as PPE ages, so regular inspection, cleaning and replacement matter.
Helmet	EN 443 (2008)	Contamination builds up inside and out. Clean the inside cradle and the outer shell after fires.
Flash hood	EN 13911 (2017)	Use particulate blocking hoods. They are needed when wearing BA, or when a risk assessment says so. When not under air, pull the hood down around the neck rather than rolling it down, so the inside stays clean.
Gloves	EN 659	Gloves pick up the most contamination. Don’t put gloves inside your helmet. Consider under gloves or barrier cream.
Boots	EN 15090 (2012)	Boots are the biggest source of contamination carried into vehicles and stations. Always consider cleaning them at the scene before getting into the vehicle.
Base layers	EN ISO 11612, EN 1149-5	Choose flame resistant fabrics. Avoid polyester, nylon and polypropylene, which can melt.

At the incident

Section 5.3

Park appliances upwind of smoke where possible, and close cab windows and doors.
Wear PPE suited to the incident, and don’t step down your gear until a dynamic risk assessment says it is safe.
Before going back in on a fresh cylinder, rehydrate and wipe your head, neck and hands.
Site BA entry control and the command point out of the smoke.
Anyone not actively firefighting should keep out of the smoke.
P3 masks only stop particles. They do not protect against toxic gases.
Always wear SCBA when damping down or overhauling.
Before eating, using the toilet or smoking, clean your hands and face thoroughly, away from the contaminated area.
Warn Gardaí, paramedics and others at the scene about the smoke hazard, and use cordons.
For gorse, bog and forest fires, agree how to deal with airborne contamination, while also managing heat and sun.
Plan welfare and toilets for long incidents with decontamination in mind.

For Incident Commanders

Consider defensive firefighting first, especially where no persons are reported.
Keep the number of people wearing BA in the danger area to what the incident needs.
Consider rotating crews to cut the time spent in hazardous areas, and keep a record of who wears BA. Section 5.1

Decontamination before leaving the scene

Section 5.4

The Incident Commander decides how much decontamination is needed, and can appoint a Decontamination or Safety Officer on bigger incidents. Smoke keeps giving off toxins (off gassing) for some time after the fire is out, so the aim is to clean and bag as much as possible before travelling back.

Step by step at the scene

Set up a doffing area with a ground sheet.
Firefighters and helpers put on P3 masks, disposable gloves and safety glasses.
Remove heavy soiling from BA, PPE and boots with damp heavy duty wipes, a soft brush or the hose reel at “garden hose” pressure.
Take off flash hoods and gloves and bag them in a laundry bag.
Clean your head, face, neck, jaw, throat and hands with decontamination wipes.
Take off tunic and leggings and bag them in a laundry bag.
Take off your respiratory protection last of all, after decontamination.
Shut down BA sets fully and bag them in clear plastic bags, in a sealed bag or container.
Put on a Tyvek type suit over your base layers for the journey. If your base layers are contaminated, change into clean clothes and bag the base layers.

Getting back to the station

Section 5.5

No unbagged contaminated kit in the crew cab, including BA sets. Plan ahead to use lockers, the pump bay or support vehicles. An airtight, labelled container is best where possible.
Running calls: the Incident Commander decides whether the crew can attend. If they go, other Firefighters should be picked for BA, and spare gloves and flash hoods handed out.

Back at the station

Finish cleaning, outdoors as much as possible.
Wear disposable gloves and a P3 mask, at least, when cleaning dirty kit.
Clean sinks and worktops afterwards.
Clean cab seats, floors and lockers that may have been contaminated.
Shower within the hour, at the station.
Replace and wash base layers.
Don’t go into the canteen, dormitories or other clean areas in dirty clothes.
Replace PPE and BA so you are ready for the next call.
Deep clean PPE and equipment, especially BA, after every incident involving fire gases.
Rotate BA wearers for follow on calls if you can.
Keep rehydrating for 24 hours.

Cleaning PPE

Section 5.5

Clean PPE to the relevant standard, for example ISO 23616 (2024), inside and out. Until the inside has been cleaned and dried, treat the kit as out of service.
PPE with a slight smell of smoke but no visible dirt should be hung somewhere well ventilated, away from clean kit, for example an outdoor covered area.
Hang cleaned PPE on racks to dry and to keep gassing off. Fans can help.

Zones in the fire station

Section 5.2.1

Stations should be marked out with a traffic light system, so contamination stays out of the areas where Firefighters eat, rest and sleep. Layouts vary, so the zoning is decided locally with the station officers.

Zone	What it is	Examples
Red (hot)	Contaminated areas. Keep these as small as possible.	Appliance bay, washdown areas, workshop, operational equipment store, compressor room, dirty kit collection, briefing/debrief room
Yellow (warm)	The “filter” between Red and Green, where you wash and change. Clean kit can be worn here.	Toilets and showers, lockers, laundry, in use kit room, drying room, BA servicing and wash area, general store
Green (cold)	Clean areas. No firefighting kit and no contaminated equipment, ever.	Entrances and reception, community room, offices and meeting rooms, training room, mess and kitchen, bedrooms, gym, recreation rooms

You should not be able to go straight from Red to Green without passing through Yellow.
Small stations that can’t be split up should consider keeping the whole station clean, with decontamination done outside.
Keep clean kit away from vehicle exhausts. Keep exhaust extraction on and connected when appliances are parked.
Never store contaminated PPE in the muster area, lockers or dormitories, or with clean clothing.
The appendices include designs for zone floor mats and door signs.

What every appliance should carry

Section 5.2.2

The note suggests this as a minimum (the list is not complete):

Soft head brushes
Decontamination skin wipes
P3 respirator masks
Disposable nitrile gloves
Disposable Tyvek type aprons or suits
Soluble laundry bags (may not suit wet PPE)
Large clear plastic bags for kit and equipment
Heavy duty industrial wipes
Spare flash hoods and firefighting gloves
2 to 4 sets of long sleeved tops, bottoms and slippers

Also: two sets of structural PPE for every Firefighter, enough spare clothing at the station, and clean (not personal issue) flash hoods in a sealed container on front line appliances.

What fire authorities should have in place

Sections 5.1, 5.2 and 6

A local policy based on this note, developed by a local implementation group and reviewed for learning.
PPE cleaning, in house or by a specialist contractor: inspection and repair, a log of every wash for every item, cleaning to the manufacturer’s instructions and reproofing when due.
The same care system for equipment, especially BA sets, with everything decontaminated before it goes back into service.
Showers and washing machines at stations. Where there is no washing machine, a way to store and send PPE for cleaning.
Vehicle exhaust extraction in stations, and consider clean air systems in appliance cabs.
Training: BA and compartment fire behaviour courses should cover decontamination.
Some management and recording of how often Firefighters wear BA over their career.

What’s in the appendices

Section 8

Flowchart for handling, cleaning and disposing of contaminated PPE (from NFPA 1851)
Dealing with specific types of contamination
Table of the main control measures at each stage
Station signage: zone floor mats and door signs
Risk assessment for fire ground activity, running calls and contamination at the station

Read the full document. This briefing leaves out detail, diagrams and appendices. Open theoriginal GPN 5.1 (PDF) or see it onfireireland.ie. Briefing last checked against the original on4 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email info@irishfirefighterhub.ie.