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CET – Matt Zekmeister
Customer Experience Lead
O: 951-272-4938
mattz@phenixfirehelmets.com

Marketing – Austin Coulson
Director of Sales & Marketing
O: 951-272-4938
austinc@phenixfirehelmets.com

CONSTRUCTION/COMPONENTS FAQ

     Q: What is the difference between the ratchet and nape strap suspension liners?
     A: Both suspensions are fully adjustable and are positioned at the nape of your neck. The nape strap adjusts by a Velcro strip usually referred to as a one-time adjustment while the ratchet adjusts by a knob at the rear of the suspension.

     Q: Do your helmets come in different sizes?
     A: All Phenix Fire Helmets shells are one size, but suspension liners are available to fit any sized head. A standard suspension liner should fit most heads in a size range from 6 1/2” to 7 7/8”. Extra small or extra large liners are available to fit most other sizes. In the very rare instance that none of these three liner sizes fit a customer, we will gladly design a custom suspension liner to ensure a safe and comfortable fit.

     Q: Can a customer cut out the ratchet/nape strap portion of the suspension?
     A: No. Altering a helmet in anyway invalidates any warranty or liability on the manufacturers’ part.

     Q: What are your earlaps made of?
     A: Our earlaps are made of a Nomex and Fire Retardant Cotton blend.

     Q: Why are your shield sizes different than some others on the market?
     A: The Phenix line of fire helmets were designed with ergonomics, comfort, and safety in mind. The low ride and shape of our helmet creates a slightly different profile than most other helmets on the market; therefore, our post placement is usually wider than other manufacturers as is the height of the shield. Only shields made for Phenix helmets will fit properly.

     Q: Why does the leather on my TL2 helmet look slightly different than other Phenix TL2 leathers?
     A: Leather is a natural material and as such, has variations in color, look, feel, and weight. Natural variations in these characteristics are unavoidable making each leather helmet unique in its own way. This has no effect on the design or the safety of the helmet. In fact, it is part of what gives leather helmets their charm.

     Q: Why does the rear brim of the TL2 leather helmet seem so pliable?
     A: Our helmets are made of 100% hand crafted leather. There is no plastic or other filler in the leather brim of the helmet so it remains lighter and allows for better shock attenuation should an object strike the brim. In keeping with tradition, our helmets feature a longer rear brim so water can easily shed from the helmet to the back of a firefighter’s coat, thus preventing hot water and other burning combustibles from burning the firefighter. Phenix Technology, Inc. wanted to honor “old school” firefighting helmets, thus keeping the tradition alive while incorporating the critical components to modern safety standards.

     Q: Will the brim of a TL2 leather helmet lose shape?
     A: There is a 12-gage wire inserted along the edge of the brim to keep the shape you desire. If your customer would like a specific bend to your brim, it is best to disclose this information at the time you place your order so we may accommodate the request before the helmet is painted. The brim may still be shaped after painting, but the natural wrinkles in the leather may be more visible.

   Q: Can a customer get a face shield on your traditional style helmets?
     A: At this time only goggles are available as an NFPA compliant eye protection with our traditional style helmets.

STANDARDS FAQ

Q: Are your helmets NFPA approved?
A: Though NFPA does not approve helmets we do make sure our helmets have a Certificate of Compliance to the NFPA standard.

On the front cover of the NFPA 1971-2018 standard, it states the NFPA does not, “list, certify, test, or inspect products, designs, or installations for compliance with this document. Any certification or other statement of compliance with the requirements of this document shall not be attributable to the NFPA and is solely the responsibility of the certifier or maker of the statement.” All our helmets are tested and meet or exceed the standards of NFPA 1971-2018 while the First Due contemporary style helmet also meets or exceeds the testing standards of NFPA 1951-2013. A helmet must be ordered with the required NFPA components (compliant goggles, ear/neck protection, and reflective material) to be compliant. More information is available on the NFPA website at: www.nfpa.org.

     Q: Does NFPA certify helmets?
     A: No. It only specifies suggested performance criteria.   More information is available on the NFPA website at: www.nfpa.org.

     Q: What is NFPA?
     A: NFPA stands for National Fire Protection Association. The NFPA is an international nonprofit organization which in their own words, "develops, publishes, and disseminates more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks." More information is available on the NFPA website at: www.nfpa.org.

Q: What is NFPA 1971?
A: NFPA 1971 is the Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting which specifies "the minimum design, performance, testing, and certification requirements for structural fire fighting protective ensembles and ensemble elements that include coats, trousers, coveralls, helmets, gloves, footwear, and interface components." More information is available on the NFPA website at: www.nfpa.org.

     Q: Why are only some of your helmets identified as NFPA 1971 compliant?
     A: The NFPA 1971 standard requires specific testing of helmets and components by an independent testing facility. All of our helmets meet or exceed the current standard, but for a helmet to be compliant, NFPA 1971 requires that helmets be equipped with certain components. These include: goggles or full face faceshield, ear/neck protection, Nomex chinstrap, and a minimum surface area of four square inches of compliant lime/yellow or red-orange reflective material. Check with your distributor to ensure your order meets the requirements to be NFPA compliant.

     Q: If a helmet is NFPA 1971 compliant is it also CAL and US OSHA compliant?
     A: Yes. The NFPA 1971 standard exceeds the requirements of CA and US OSHA standards.

     Q: Where is the NFPA compliant sticker in a helmet?
     A: If you turn a helmet upside down, push aside the liner and gray impact cap on the right side of the helmet as worn, you will find the labels determining the level of compliance.

     Q: Can I get a copy of your NFPA compliance Certificate?
     A: Our Certificate of Compliance to the NFPA standard can be found on the Literature page of our website.

     Q: Is there a more recent standard than NFPA 1971?
     A: 1971 is the standard number and not a year. NFPA 1971 is periodically amended and our helmets are compliant to the current standard. The current revision is the NFPA 1971-2018.

     Q: Isn't there a more stringent NFPA 1972 standard?
     A: NFPA 1972 did exist but was ultimately incorporated into the NFPA 1971 standard.

     Q: Are flip down eye shields NFPA approved?
     A: No. See above question about NFPA approval. Flip down eye shields do not meet the requirements of eye protection for NFPA or ANSI compliance.

     Q: Is your testing laboratory a recognized testing lab?
     A: Our helmets are tested by National Technical Systems in Fullerton, CA. This lab is approved by the Defense Electronic Supply Center (DESC), accredited by the American Association of Laboratories (AALA), and is ISO registered. NTS meets and exceeds all of the requirements for NFPA 1971-2018 compliance. For a complete list of NTS’s certifications please contact NTS or us directly.

Q: Can a helmet be recertified after 10 years?
A: No helmets can not be “recertified” as it would require the helmet to go through destructive testing, thereby rendering the helmet unusable.

WARRANTY FAQ

Q: Does adding an ID bracket invalidate a warranty?
A: As long as the ID bracket is a Phenix Technology, Inc. approved ID bracket and is installed per manufacturer instructions it will not invalidate the warranty.

GENERAL FAQ

Q: Are your helmets really “American Made?”
A: Phenix Technology, Inc. is proud to have all our products certified as Made In California. This certification requires very strict adherence to the manufacturing of products within the State of California including the final assembly and most of the assembly parts.

Q: Do you have a quality program in place?
A: Phenix Technology, Inc. has strict adherence to the quality standards set in ISO 9001:2015. Quality is a very serious matter at Phenix Technology, Inc. and we strive to stay the best in our industry.

     Q: Where can I see your helmet up close and try one on for fit?
     A: Our demo program allows you to request additional helmets to shows your prospects. You can review the demo program here. We also bring many samples to our tradeshows. A list of tradeshows can be found here. If there is no distributor in your state, you may contact us directly and request to participate in our demo program.

     Q: Do you attend any firefighter or rescue trade shows?
     A: You can visit our Tradeshows page for dates of shows where Phenix representation will be.

     Q: What should I do if a helmet seems damaged beyond repair?
     A: Contact our office directly and request an evaluation.