Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What type of experience does All Hands Fire Equipment have in providing training for Firefighter Escape Systems?
All Hands Fire Equipment has extensive experience, having trained thousands of firefighters and having supervised/trained over 12,000 bailout slides/jumps. We have provided training for large (and small) career fire departments, including the Philadelphia PA Fire Department, Paterson NJ Fire Department, Bayonne NJ Fire Department, Wichita KS Fire Department and many more. We also also trained Large (and small) volunteer fire departments including Wayne NJ Fire Department, Pearl River NJ Fire District, Setauket NY Fire District and many more.

2. Does All Hands Fire Equipment provide discount options when purchasing the EXO, harness and training?
Yes. All Hands Fire Equipment always looks to match or beat any price - on all of our products! We extend quantity discounts and package discounts - such as when a customer purchases the entire EXO package which includes the Petzl EXO Personal Safety System, the Gemtor 541NYC-L Class II Harness and the Petzl required End User training class.

3. What NFPA and/or ISO standard does the Petzl EXO meet?
The Petzl EXO meets NFPA 1983-2006 and ISO 9001.

4. Can individual Firefighters purchase Petzl EXO PSS without their Fire Department's approval?
Yes, but you must first attend a Petzl EXO End User Course before purchasing the kit. Also, fire department approvals for use of the Petzl EXO system or similar equipment is not the responsibility of All Hands Fire Equipment, Petzl or our affiliate and cooperative trainers.

5. Is training required in order to purchase the Petzl EXO system?
Yes. Whether you are an individual or if your fire department wishes to purchase the EXO PSS, all users are required to attend the EXO end-user course. This is a mandatory requirement that Petzl has instituted for the purpose of safety.

6. What kind of training is offered for the Petzl EXO System?
All Hands Fire Equipment and our cooperative training company, First Due Training, offer the Petzl EXO End User Training Class, a Petzl EXO Refresher Training Course, an Advanced Petzl EXO Training Course and a Petzl EXO Train-the-Trainer course. For details on these classes, email us at sales@allhandsfire.com

7. Where is the Petzl EXO End-User Class training offered?
All Hands Fire Equipment, in cooperation with First Due Training, are both authorized EXO trainers and offers the Petzl EXO End-User course. Our training is professional, informative and affordable. We will travel ANYWHERE in the United States to provide this training to your fire department or emergency service agency. Call for more information, product purchase and to schedule a class.

8. Can I purchase an escape system and use it at the End User training class?
According to NFPA A.5.1.2.1, escape rope is intended only for emergency self-rescue situations and cannot be used for other rope rescue situations. Escape rope is designed for one use only and destroyed after any use. Some customers or fire departments, due to budgetary constraints and financial restrictions, choose to use their escape systems for the training course and once complete, place their escape system in service. All Hands Fire Equipment and our cooperative trainers assume no responsibility in these instances. It is the manufacturer’s recommendation that Fire Departments purchase extra escape systems and use them for training purposes only. If a Fire Department chooses not to follow this recommendation, they will need to create an appropriate program to control the use of field units for training. Note that all Fire Departments who purchase escape systems are ultimately responsible for proper inspection, care and maintenance of these units and they need to take this responsibility very seriously. All Hands Fire Equipment and the manufacturer are not responsible for damages that occur on “in service” units used for training. Damages to “training” units are handled by the manufacturer on a case by case basis. With regards to life expectancy of training ropes: For reference information, the FireTech 32 rope used by FDNY on their training units becomes glazed and stiff and it needs to be changes every 200 to 300 descents under normal training use. The EXO training units themselves need to be retired after 400 to 600 descents under normal training use.
All Fire Departments need to understand that escape systems may need to be retire on the first descent if the rope, descender unit or other components get damaged on the windowsill. Proper inspection, maintenance and care is the key to a safe and successful bailout program and Fire Departments are responsible for this.

9. How many jumps will a Petzl EXO handle before it needs to be retired?
Reference a department who operates with a large number of Petzl EXO training units, the rope on their training units becomes glassed and stiff and it needs to be changes every 200 to 300 descents under normal training use. The EXO descending device itself needs to be retired after 400 to 600 descents under normal training use. Technora fiber rope is very abrasive and it will wear grooves on the aluminum and stainless steel parts of the EXO. This will eventually allow the device to creep on the rope when weighted and its’ dynamic characteristic will be changed. All students should be on belay during training and other safety measures should be taken. All Fire Departments need to understand that EXO systems may needs to be retire on the first descent if the rope or EXO unit gets damaged on the windowsill,  so proper inspection, maintenance and care is the key to a safe and successful bailout program and Fire Departments are responsible for this.

10. Can the EXO, Anchor Hook and OK Triact carabiner components be purchased separately from the kits?
No. The EXO kit is engineered as a complete system and is manufactured, tested and inspected under Petzl's ISO 9001 quality control standard and certified under NFPA standards as a complete personal escape system. All components are compatible with one another and perform correctly under specific test criteria. Petzl does not offer these components seperately.

11. Does the Petzl EXO system require the user to have a class-2 harness?
Yes, the Petzl EXO system is designed and engineered to be used with a class-2 harness such as the Gemtor 541NYC left side closing harness and the RIT Class-2 harness. It will meet the NFPA standard when used with either harness.

12. Will the Petzl EXO system work with the Gemtor 541NYC RIGHT and LEFT side closing harness?
YES. The Petzl EXO system was designed and intended to work with the left side closing harness only. However, there are two option.
1) If you have a Gemtor "right side closing" harness, we do offer a Petzl EXO bag that will mount to the left side. Petzl EXO Reversible Bag for left or right side mounting.
2) If your turnout gear will not accomodate a left side closing Gemtor harness, an alternative is to purchase the RIT Class-2 harness which has a center closure, and is available from All Hands® Fire Equipment.

13. Why are the ends of the rope sewn and not knotted?
Knots lower the strength of rope possibly as much as 35% or more. The sewing stitch is made of Kevlar thread and allow the terminations to be compact and very strong.

14. What is Technora?
Technora is a para-aramid fiberthat has a melting point of over 900-degrees F. The minimum breaking strength if 5,000 lbs. (22.3kN). It has high tensile strength, high modulus and excellent resistance to heat and chemicals, especially acids and alkalis.

15. What is the weight of the bag and components?
The Petzl EXO Personal Safety System, including Petzl EXO, 50-feet of Technora rope, Crosby Anchor Hook, OK Triact carabiner and Carry Bag weighs 3 lbs.

16. What is the dimensions of the bag and components?
7" across X 8" high X 2.5"

17. What is the carry bag made of?
A manufactured blend of Kevlar and Nomex fabric

18. Where does the OK Triact carabiner attach?
To the "D" ring of the Gemtor 541NYC

19. Can I use the Petzl GriGri in place of the Petzl EXO?
No. The GriGri is designed for 10-12mm rope. The EXO is a hybrid of the GriGri, but was specifically designed for firefighter escape applications.