Frequently Asked Questions
Are Blauer’s Homeland Defender® suits OSHA certified?
No. Blauer suits are certified to the NFPA 1994 Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents (2007 Ed.) The NFPA 1994 Standard is more comprehensive than OSHA guidelines because it specifies design and protective performance requirements. OSHA ratings only apply to the design of a suit for various threat levels and how the suit fits with a respirator.
What is GORE® CHEMPAK® Fabric made of?
GORE® CHEMPAK® fabrics are made with high-strength fluoropolymer barrier films that are laminated
to various inner and outer shell fabrics for use in CBRN contaminated environments. GORE®
CHEMPAK® Ultra-Barrier fabric is impermeable and is appropriate for use in environments where CBRN agents are at or above IDLH levels when worn with approved SCBA systems. GORE® CHEMPAK® Selectively-Permeable fabric is breathable and offers limited protection against CBRN agents in
concentrations below IDLH when worn with approved respirators.
How do I care for my Homeland Defender® suit?
Every Homeland Defender® suit comes with a User Manual, which provides detailed instructions for storage and care of the garment. To insure the protective performance of your Homeland Defender® suit, it is important that these instructions are followed at all times.
What is the shelf-life of Homeland Defender® suits?
Based on the data of component suppliers (e.g. butyl rubber seals, zippers, etc) Homeland Defender® suits can be stored for at least five years and up to ten years if all storage and care instructions are followed. The actual shelf life depends on the extent and conditions under which the garment is used and stored. Blauer is conducting aging studies with an independent laboratory and may revise this figure upwards if sufficient data is obtained indicating longer shelf-life.
Can any respirator be worn with each Homeland Defender® suit?
No. Because every respirator face piece is constructed differently, the NFPA 1994 Standard requires that ensembles be certified with specific SCBA’s, APR’s, or PAPR’s to insure user safety. Only respirators that are certified by NIOSH as CBRN approved and listed on each Homeland Defender® ensemble’s certification may be worn. For a complete listing of approved respirators for each suit, please visit www.seinet.org.
Do Homeland Defender® suits provide thermal or FR protection?
Only the HZ9420 Multi-Threat suit provides limited FR protection due to its 4.5 ounce NOMEX® IIIA outer shell, which will resist melting, dripping, and burning when exposed to high heat and flame. However, the suit does not have an additional insulative layer and will not protect the wearer from high temperatures. The WZ9430 and WZ9435 suits offer no FR or thermal protection.
Can Homeland Defender® suits be laundered and re-used?
Both the HZ9420 Multi-Threat and WZ9430 MIRT suits are designed to be washed/dried multiple times for reuse. Users should follow all care instructions as detailed in the User Manual to insure the protective qualities of their Homeland Defender® suits are adequately maintained. If the garment is contaminated with CBRN agents it should be decontaminated using typical HAZMAT wet DECON methods. After DECON, the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) must determine whether the suit can be reused or should be discarded.
The WZ9435 is designed for more limited use and has not been evaluated against wash/dry cycles.
Does Blauer warranty its Homeland Defender® suits?
Yes. Blauer warrants that every Homeland Defender® suit is in good condition and certified to the specified NFPA 1994 Class when it is shipped from our factory. If an agency or end-user receives a Homeland Defender® suit from Blauer and it is damaged or suspected of having defects, Blauer will coordinate the return and evaluation of the suit and issue a new or repaired suit as appropriate.
How do I obtain evaluation samples of Homeland Defender® suits?
Contact Blauer’s Homeland Defender® service desk by phone (800-225-6715 x 232) or email
(Chembio@blauer.com). We will discuss your agency’s needs and coordinate an in-person demonstration.
Does Blauer also sell the respirators and boots that are certified with Homeland Defender® suits?
No. Blauer manufactures and sells the suits only.
How much do Homeland Defender® suits cost?
Pricing for Homeland Defender® suits is based on unit volume for each purchase order. Contact
our Homeland Defender® service desk for a quote.
Where do I purchase Homeland Defender® suits?
Due to liability reasons Blauer only sells our Homeland Defender® suits direct or through approved government contractors. Blauer does not sell Homeland Defender® suits through our regular
distributor network.
I have additional questions about Blauer’s Homeland Defender® line. Who should I contact to
get more information?
Please either contact our Homeland Defender® help desk (800-225-6715 x 245, Chembio@blauer.com) or your local Blauer sales representative.
For a listing of sales representatives, visit the PURCHASE section of www.blauer.com.
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