Phenix Fire Helmets are designed to provide years of continuous safe use. For decades it was believed that a “salty” helmet was the sign of a “real firefighter.” Unfortunately, we have learned that that “salty” gear is also responsible for significant increases in firefighter related cancers. Additionally, gear that has not been cleaned may hide issues that could result in a failure of the helmet to provide complete protection. As a result we strongly encourage you to follow the following care and maintenance plan.

Light Cleaning – Soak a simple washcloth, soft towel, or soft bristle brush in warm water and wipe down all the exposed areas of the helmet (you may use a mild liquid detergent, with a ph level of 7-8, during this process, but be sure to rinse the areas thoroughly afterwards). Take a soft towel and make sure that you dry the entire helmet by wiping it off and then hanging it to dry in a shaded area. While cleaning the helmet look for deep scratches, cracks, bubbling, or other damage that may suggest the helmet needs to be replaced.  Make sure the helmet is dry before returning it to a station locker or placing it in a gear bag. DO NOT use any degreaser on your helmet.

Frequency – At the end of every shift or training function

Tools needed – None required

Deep Cleaning – Remove the helmet’s goggles/faceshield, earlaps, suspension, chinstrap, ID shield, closed cell foam impact liner, and any accessories you have attached to the helmet. Phenix Technology, Inc. has designed our line of fire helmets so that you can remove all of these components in just a few minutes. Set up a bucket or wash basin with a mixture of mild detergent (with a ph level of 7-8) and hot water. Use caution to ensure the water is not hot enough to cause injury. Using a soft bristle brush, thoroughly wash in the inside and outside of the helmet shell. While washing the shell make sure to remove any foreign material and inspect the helmet for any deep scratches, cracks, bubbling, or other damage that may suggest the helmet needs to be replaced. Wipe the shell off with a clean towel, check all labels to confirm date of manufacturer (if your department follows NFPA 1851 make sure to replace your helmet at 10 years) and then hang it to dry in a shaded area. If possible, remove the earlaps, comfort pad, ratchet cover, and foam crown pad from the suspension and wash it using the soft bristle brush. Submerge the chinstrap in the water solution and scrub thoroughly. Using the soft bristle brush scrub the goggles/faceshield removing any foreign material and inspect for damage or excessives. Replace if you are unable to properly use or see through. Repeat these steps for all other components/accessories except for the earlaps, impact liner, foam crown pad, and comfort pad. Gently rinse and wipe down the impact liner and foam crown pad. Using a non agitating washing machine or extractor wash the earlaps and comfort pad using a mild soap and then hang to dry. Do not place any helmet components in a dryer. Inspect every component while you are cleaning it and replace if necessary.  Wipe down all of the components and let them air dry in a shaded area. Once the shell and all components/accessories are completely dry reassemble the helmet and return it to storage. Proper personal protective equipment should always be used during a deep cleaning. DO NOT use any degreaser on your helmet.

Frequency – Once a year or when the helmet has been exposed to cancer causing chemicals.

Tools needed – Screwdriver or hex nut driver may be needed to remove ID shields.

* Helmets exposed to CBRN terrorism agents or other hazardous materials must be decontaminated or disposed of following your department’s Standard Operating Procedures

It is important you regularly conduct care and maintenance on each helmet. Failure to follow the care and maintenance listed may result in voiding of the warranty and also may expose you to life threatening cancer causing chemicals.

Yes. Many of our leather helmets have different looks from region to region.  You may see the Boston, Colorado, Bronx, or classic Phenix bend among other customized options. The rear brim is made of pure leather with a piece of continuous 12 gauge wire around the outside. If you wish to change the look, simply take your time and SLOWLY work the helmet into the shape you desire. Refrain from repetitive bending, as the wire is made of malleable steel, which may compromise the integrity of the support wire. Repetitive bending may also cause a “wrinkling” look in the leather. If the leather is very rigid you may gently soak the brim in water and then shape it. DO NOT place your helmet in an oven or BBQ to heat it in an attempt to shape it. This action is not necessary and will void the warranty.

 Our helmets are true leather and the leather can become nicked and scratched over time. We use Angelus shoe paint (available online) because it responds like a dye by soaking into the leather which resists chipping and cracking.

Sometimes hair products, oils, smoke residue, or other materials may work their way into the area and cause the liner to easily pull out. This means your helmet may need a deep cleaning; but, you can also take a q-tip with soapy water on it to clean the hangers of the liner and the sockets in the shell (where the hangers from the liner fit into it). If the problem still persists, please contact a technical specialist at Fire Helmet Shop, Inc.

Yes.  Every component or accessory that Phenix Technology, Inc. sells with a helmet can be replaced. One of our greatest advantages is that you can replace almost every item in the helmet economically and with very little effort.  Whether your helmet was purchased twenty years ago or yesterday, all replacement part are available for you to properly retrofit your helmet. Only Phenix Technology, Inc. approved components or accessories should be used with our helmets. The use of any other components or accessories may void the warranty and/or cause damage to the helmet.

 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.

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. 

No.  Altering your helmet in anyway invalidates any warranty or liability on the manufacturers’ part.

Our earlaps are made of a Nomex and Fire Retardant Cotton blend.

Phenix Fire Helmets are available through nearly 100 different distributors worldwide. Check our distributor locator on our website to find your closest distributor.

We feel it is important for our customers to have a more personal firsthand experience. We work with only the finest distributors who have same commitment to excellence that we do.  Many of our distributor sales agents are current or retired firefighters who have worn our products. This personal touch helps to ensure our customers receive the finest customer service experience. While we encourage you to purchase helmets through our distributor network, we are always willing to take your call or email if we can be of further assistance.

Each helmet line has a different production time based on the production process.  All of our leather helmets are hand crafted and thus, have a longer production than our thermoplastic or composite helmets.  Please contact your local distributor or our office directly for current production times.  While custom designed helmets are made to order, many of our distributors carry a full line of our fire helmets for immediate delivery.