Proper overlap and fit

You must make sure that there is adequate overlap between the jacket and the trousers, including the outer shell, the heat barrier and the moisture barrier, before using the garments.

To check overlap, the following tests should be performed while wearing your complete protective ensemble, but without wearing SCBA

POSITION A

While standing, reach over head as high as possible with your hands overhead.
There should be no gap between jacket and trousers.
The jacket must overlap the top of the trousers.

POSITION B

While standing with your hands overhead and reaching overhead as far as possible, bend forward to the left or right, and backward.
The jacket must overlap the top of the trousers.

POSITION C

While crawling on the knees and elbows jacket must overlap the top of the trousers.

CHECKING THE SIZE

Jacket: The chest size for a jacket should NEVER be smaller than the circumference of your own chest, measured under your arms. Jackets are designed at least 20cm overage for better fit over clothing. The end of the sleeve should reach beyond your wrist when arms are at rest.

Trousers: The waist size for a pair of trousers should NEVER be smaller than the circumference of your own waist, measured at your navel. The actual waist dimension of the trousers should be approximately 5-7, 5cm larger than the waist size ordered and labelled on the trousers.

Make sure the lower edge of your trousers overlap the tops of your boots by 10-15cm.

CHECKING PROPER FIT

All garments must have adequate looseness in the torso, arms and legs to ensure that insulated air spaces are maintained.

Garments also should not be too loose, as this could hinder mobility or dexterity and place stress at the wrong places in the garments.

Upon receiving new or replacement garments, make sure that there is at least a small amount of loose material around the arms and shoulder area.

Then test the mobility by climbing stairs and crawling or duck walking.