New fire helmet is a head turner

Staff at Wanganui's Pacific Helmets are rapt they have been chosen to continue supplying helmets to the New Zealand Fire Service.

Their F10 helmet has won out over all others. It's also the only one that meets the new Australasian standard.

The choice continues a long tradition. For the last 27 years the New Zealand Fire Service (NZFS) has been using Pacific Helmets' previous models, which started with the F2/3. There is still a crew in Auckland using an F7 helmet.

Supplying the entire NZFS makes for a large sale of product.

There are 8000 to 10,000 firefighters in New Zealand, Pacific Helmets marketing manager Grant Bennett said.

It's not a sale that will happen all at once though. Firefighters with damaged helmets will have them replaced during the next three years. And some will not be rushing to get the new head gear.

"Sometimes it's a bit of a blokey thing. A long serving fireman doesn't always like to be seen in a brand new helmet because it makes him look like a rookie," Pacific Helmets chief executive David Bennett said.

New Zealand firefighters have had a long association with Pacific Helmets, with Wanganui staff in particular testing helmets and going to the company with suggestions.

They could be an opinionated lot, Mr Bennett said.

"If you've got 10 firemen in the room you've got 15 opinions."

There have been many refinements to the F2/3 helmets designed in 1984. Those that won that first NZFS tender were designed in just 30 days.

Mr Bennett said his wife was responsible for the company tendering that first time.

"I was in Australia selling motorcycle helmets. She told me the fire service was going out to tender and was going to buy Canadian helmets."

Pacific Helmets had a month to develop a prototype. It won the tender and NZFS has been a cornerstone customer ever since.

It has taken the company's design team about three years to develop the new F10 helmet.

It's in the European "jet" style. It has no protruding brim, but an internal eye goggle and face shield and an easily adjustable chin strap. It weighs 1.3kg, but senior firefighter Carl Murphy said it felt light on the head.