MSA Sees Delay In Certification Of New Breathing Apparatus For Firefighters

(RTTNews) - MSA Safety Inc. (MSA) said Monday that it now expects its next-generation air mask for firefighters - the G1 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus - to be certified by the U.S. government in the fourth quarter.

Previously, the company anticipated receiving product certification by the end of September.

According to the company, Patricia Gleason, President of the Safety Equipment Institute in McLean, Viginia., which administers the third-party certification process for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus and other fire fighting safety products, confirmed the MSA unit is proceeding through the NIOSH and NFPA certification process as planned.

"We're naturally disappointed the product certification process is taking longer than we expected, particularly given the amount of interest the G1 SCBA has generated in the fire service market," said Nish Vartanian, MSA Safety President of North America.