#479 The Evolution of Structural Firefighting PPE: Reigniting a New Era with Bill Lawson and Helmut Zepf from PBI

I sit down with Helmut Zepf, Managing Director of the PPE Division at PBI, and Bill Lawson, President of PBI, to explore what is really protecting firefighters inside their PPE.As The Firefighters Podcast begins its partnership with PBI ahead of INTERSCHUTZ 2026, this episode looks beyond the badge on the kit and into the science, history, and real-world performance behind high-performance protective fabrics.From PBI’s origins in high-temperature polymer science and NASA, through to flame resistance, break-open protection, durability, comfort, field testing, procurement, and the changing nature of modern fires, this conversation asks a simple but important question:How much do firefighters truly know about the gear they trust with their lives?In this episode, we discuss:PBI’s origins and connection to NASAWhy heat transfer matters as much as flameBreak-open protection and decomposition temperaturesWhy heavier PPE does not always mean safer PPEComfort, movement, fatigue, and firefighter performanceDurability after real-world operational useProcurement decisions and what fire services should be askingWhy modern fires demand modern protectionThis episode marks the start of our partnership with PBI and a wider conversation about firefighter safety, education, innovation, and understanding the PPE that helps bring crews home.Send us Fan MailSupport the show***The views expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers. Our partners are not responsible for the content of this episode and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.***Please support the podcast and its future by clicking HERE and joining our Patreon Crew