Category: General

Often, there is confusion or misunderstanding regarding the different attributes and performance of PBI vs PBO products.  The following, as well as the attached PDF, is a brief  comparison of the two products. -Courtesy of PBI Products PBI and PBO are acronyms for the fiber chemistry each represents. PBI is the trade name for polybenzimidazole, a fiber made by PBI Performance Products, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. PBO, with the trade name of Zylon®, is a Polybenzobisoxazole fiber made by Toyobo in Osaka, Japan. PBI and PBO are used in some of the same applications due to their ability to resist…

On May 4th and 5th, 2016, The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) hosted the 28th annual National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner in Washington D.C. Approximately 1500 leading fire service members and chiefs from across the US attended the symposium to meet with congressional leaders to address key issues in the fire service, including funding, occupational health and safety, and legislative issues. Members of FEMSA and FEMA were also on hand for the discussion. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vasick was the keynote speaker for the symposium. Vasick was presented with a custom, white American Heritage™ leather fire helmet…

We are very pleased with the success of LION’s 2016 FDIC show.  Here’s a brief breakdown of some of the highlights! LION Booth FDIC 2016 saw several new facets to the LION booth!  We had a new booth location, new products and a new way to present them.  The booth traffic was nonstop, and we were excited to have the opportunity to present our new product launches.  We were also thrilled to be adjacent to our partner, BullEx.  Thanks to all who attended.  Here’s a brief recap of what LION displayed in our booth. MedPro™ EMS Garment – We previewed our…

Each year participants from all over the world participate in the Firefighter Stair Climb to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This year more than 1900 firefighters climbed the 1356 steps of the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle in full NFPA 1971 certified PPE, including SCBA. Some fearless individuals race for time, while others are on a mission to simply complete the 69 flight, 788 foot ascension to the observation deck that overlooks the city.  This year’s top time was Ten Minutes and 50 Seconds. LION is a proud sponsor of the stair climb, and this year, in addition to…

by Bob Towe, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Since the adoption of NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, fire departments across the country have begun to incorporate the necessary cleaning and inspection of turnout gear into their standard operating procedures. This requires cleaning and inspection for each of the three components of your turnout gear — the outer shell, moisture barrier, and thermal liner. As a firefighter, you can clean and visually inspect the outer shell and thermal liner after each call. Specially trained professionals also…

Ask any firefighter, and they will tell you that house fires today and house fires 30 years ago are a completely different animal.  Newer, synthetic furniture fabrics and building materials, coupled with changes in modern construction techniques change not only the time it takes for a fire to grow, but also the intensity of the fire.  This has caused changes in the tactics with which firefighters battle a blaze.  It also means that depending on response time, a fire in a modern home may be at a much different point in its life cycle when they arrive, as opposed to…