All protective clothing used during instruction for a commission approved fire protection personnel training program shall be appropriate for the training evolution. Protective clothing and elements no longer used for emergency operations may be used for non-live fire training provided such clothing and elements are not contaminated, defective, or damaged and are appropriately marked to be easily recognized.
  (1) All protective clothing used for live fire training shall comply with the minimum standards of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard suitable for the tasks the individual is expected to perform.
    (A) A certified training provider that provides personal protective equipment shall comply with NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Structural Fire Fighting Protection Ensembles or its successor and provide upon request a written Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the use, maintenance, and care of personal protective equipment (PPE) to include the application of Preliminary Exposure Reduction for determination of the appropriate level of cleaning and inspection of PPE at the conclusion of a training evolution.
    (B) A certified training provider shall verify NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Structural Fire Fighting Protection Ensembles or its successor, for compliance with personal protective equipment provided by the participant.
  (2) The distance training provider shall comply with the following guidelines for use, care and maintenance of PPE used during live-fire training depending on the type of burn facility and/or fuel used.
    (A) Acquired Structures--Firefighting ensemble and/or element that has been used in an environment created by an acquired structure should be treated as stated in §435.1(a)(3) of this title (relating to Protective Clothing).
    (B) Gas-Fired Training Center Buildings--Firefighting ensemble and/or element that has been used in an environment that uses gas-fired props may be cleaned as needed for soil levels that are hygienically unpleasant. Advanced cleaning and inspections should be completed as stated within the training facility's SOP.
    (C) Non-Gas Fired Training Center Buildings--Firefighting ensemble and/or element that has been used in an environment that uses non-gas fired props must be assessed for contamination of products of combustion. Preliminary exposure reduction should be done as soon as the training is completed for the day. Advanced cleaning and inspection should be completed as soon as practically possible.
    (D) Exterior Props--Firefighting ensemble and/or element that has been used in an environment that uses gas-fired props may be cleaned as needed for soil levels that are hygienically unpleasant. Advanced cleaning and inspections should be completed as stated within the training facility's SOP's.
    (E) Exterior Class B Liquid Fires--Firefighting ensemble and/or element that has been used in exterior Class B liquid fire props must be assessed for contamination of products of combustion. Preliminary exposure reduction should be done as soon as the training is completed for the day. Advanced cleaning and inspection should be completed as soon as practically possible.

Source Note: The provisions of this §427.207 adopted to be effective April 23, 2023, 48 TexReg 1962