What Are the Safety Vest Requirements for Firefighters?

Many firefighters choose to wear safety vests on top of their fireproof uniforms to make themselves more visible, particularly when working at night or in smoke-filled areas. While these vests are not required, they can help keep firefighters safe while working in low-visibility situations. Because of the dangerous nature of firefighters' working environment, there are several requirements safety vests must meet to ensure they assist rather than hinder the firefighter as he works.

Fit

• Safety vests for firefighters must be larger than those for a normal person. The vest must fit comfortably over the firefighter's jacket and should not hinder movement in any way. The vest should also not have any loose or detachable parts that could easily fall off, get caught, or in any other way incapacitate the firefighter. It should also not be bulky and should be easy to store along with the firefighter's uniform.

Look

• A firefighter's safety vest must be easily noticeable in low-visibility circumstances. The vest must be made out of brightly colored, reflective material. Many firefighters choose safety vests that are bright in color, usually made out of neon-colored fabric with reflective stripes. The firefighter should make sure that there is reflective tape or another reflective surface on her safety vest. While the reflective tape would not help much in a fire, it does help firefighters who are working at night or in smoke-filled situations to be more easily noticeable.

Material

• Firefighters must choose their safety vests carefully. Many safety vests are made of plastic or polyester fibers, which can melt or catch fire easily. A firefighter's safety vest must be constructed of fire-resistant or fireproof materials to help ensure the wearer's safety. A firefighter using a polyester or plastic fiber vest can only use it in circumstances not involving open flame or large amounts of heat, or the vest will melt. Choose a vest that is constructed for use by firefighters to make sure that it meets safety requirements.