Hygiene is essential when it comes to fire department uniforms. That is why the Gäufelden Volunteer Fire Department has always made it a priority to ensure that protective clothing is washed thoroughly and regularly.
After all, firefighters come into contact with many hazardous substances during their operations. Their protective gear—personal protective equipment—protects them from precisely these substances. These include not only soot and smoke during firefighting operations, but also blood and other bodily fluids during rescue operations.
However, personal protective equipment can only protect the wearer if it is clean and in good working order.
That’s why the Gäufelden Volunteer Fire Department has long maintained that regular cleaning of protective gear is mandatory. Until now, the fire department has transported its operational gear to another fire station for this purpose. While certainly feasible, this involved a significant logistical effort that took a relatively long time. To reduce this effort and the time required, the Gäufelden Volunteer Fire Department decided to set up its own laundry facility with a STAHL commercial washing machine and a STAHL dryer. These machines now allow firefighters to gently and hygienically wash and dry their firefighting gear within 1.5 to 2 hours. Together with STAHL, the chemical supplier, and the protective equipment manufacturer, programs were defined for different types of soiling, which can now be started at the push of a button. The regular wash cycle takes about 60 minutes, and the uniforms are dried within about 30–60 minutes.
But it’s not just fire department laundry that’s washed in the new STAHL laundry machines; the building maintenance department and the municipal maintenance yard also use the laundry facility and take advantage of the opportunity to wash their laundry there.
