DMFD301 Gas tight chemical protection suit replacement

1.1.    Report LFC-26-080 to the London Fire Commissioner (LFC) provides a detailed overview of the proposal. This is a summary of that report.

1.2.    Gas tight chemical protection suits (GTCPS) are single-use personal protective equipment that provide comprehensive defence against a wide range of chemical hazards, including toxic, corrosive gases, liquids and solid chemicals. LFB deploys GTCPS during hazardous materials incidents when operational personnel require the highest levels of protection.

1.3.    LFB bought almost seventy percent of its current GTCPS in 2016. These will reach the end of their operational life in March 2027 with no extension possible. Two further batches will need to be decommissioned by March 2029. LFB’s usage data shows that GTCPS have been deployed on only 16 occasions over the past five years.
 

2.1.    LFB’s objective is to replace 765 GTCPS, which is around two thirds of its current holding of 1161 suits. LFB has reviewed its use of GTCPS over the last five years and determined that this will substantively meet its operational need for GTCPS until 2035-36. 

2.2.    The revised figure incorporates:  

•    the 698 suits required to equip all frontline appliances  
•    a ten per cent strategic reserve (67 suits), whereas the current strategic reserve is sixty percent.  

2.3.    LFB proposes to replace its GTCPS by making a direct award to their sole supplier, under a longstanding, procurement framework available to all fire and rescue services (see Section 4). LFB reports that this will provide value for money, maintain continuity of supply and minimise procurement timescales.
 

3.1.    The LFC, and the Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service (the Deputy Mayor), are required to have due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty (section 149 of the Equality Act 2010) when taking decisions. The Public Sector Equality Duty requires the identification and evaluation of the likely potential impacts, both positive and negative, of the decision on those with protected characteristics (see paragraph 3.3). 

 
3.2.    It is important to note that consideration of the Public Sector Equality Duty is not a one-off task. The duty must be fulfilled before taking a decision; at the time of taking a decision; and after the decision has been taken. 

 
3.3.    The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership (but only in respect of the requirements to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination), race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, and sexual orientation.  

3.4.    The Public Sector Equality Duty requires decision-takers in the exercise of all their functions, to have due regard to the need to:  

•    eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other prohibited conduct  
•    advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it  
•    foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.  

3.5.    Having due regard to the need to advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it involves having due regard, in particular, to the need to: 

 
•    remove or minimise disadvantages suffered by persons who share a relevant protected characteristic where those disadvantages are connected to that characteristic  
•    take steps to meet the needs of persons who share a relevant protected characteristic that are different from the needs of persons who do not share it  
•    encourage persons who share a relevant protected characteristic to participate in public life or in any other activity in which participation by such persons is disproportionately low.  

3.6.    The steps involved in meeting the needs of disabled persons, that are different from the needs of persons who are not disabled, particularly include steps to take account of disabled persons’ disabilities.  

3.7.    Having due regard to the need to foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it involves having due regard, in particular, to the need to:  

•    tackle prejudice  
•    promote understanding.  

3.8.    LFB reports that a new Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) is not required. This proposal relates to a continuation with like for like GTCPS, so their original EIA remains applicable. 
 

Procurement considerations

4.1.    LFB intends to buy the replacement GTCPS through a procurement framework established by the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Midlands Police (WMP). The WMP framework is compliant with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and is available to all UK Fire and Rescue Services until at least 30 June 2027. Following due process, Respirex International Limited was appointed under the framework and is the sole supplier of the type of GTCPS required by LFB. 

4.2.    LFC-26-080 states that the framework allows LFB to make a direct award to Respirex International Limited as the sole supplier, without the need for further competition. The appointment of Respirex to the WMP framework provides LFB with assurance that the supplier has been appointed through a compliant competitive procurement process, while enabling the LFC to achieve value for money, maintain continuity of supply, reduce procurement timescales and remain compliant with procurement legislation.

Sustainability considerations

4.3.    LFB expects the supplier of the proposed GTCPS to consider circular economy principles, lifecycle management (including disposal) and ethical sourcing practices to minimise the human and labour rights risks in its supply chains. It is essential that the environmental impact of the purchase, use, and disposal of GTCPS is minimised over its lifetime. This is in line with the LFC Sustainable Development Strategy; and the GLA group responsible procurement and social value policy to which the LFC is a signatory. 

4.4.    LFB completed a sustainable development impact assessment on its chemical protective clothing policy in October 2025 which found the sustainability risk to be high. This is included as Appendix 2. 

Conflicts of interest

4.5.    There are no conflicts of interest to declare from those involved in the drafting or clearance of this decision.
 

5.1.    This report is requesting authority to commit revenue funding for the purchase of 765 GTCPS across financial years 2026-27 and 2027-28, as the current stock are reaching end of their operational life.  

5.2.    The main risk relates to potential increases in the unit prices of GTCPS, although this is mitigated by the procurement framework only allowing for a maximum price increase of five and a half percent each year.
 

6.1.    The LFC’s General Counsel’s Department has confirmed the following.

6.2.    LFC-26-080 seeks approval to spend as set out in the part 2 report, to replace existing gas tight chemical protection suits (GTCPS). Having fit for purpose GTCPS available will ensure that LFB can fulfil its core duties.

6.3.    Under Section 9 of the Policing and Crime Act 2017, the London Fire Commissioner (LFC) is established as a corporation sole with the Mayor appointing the occupant of that office. 

6.4.    Under Section 327D of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, as amended, the Mayor may issue to the Commissioner specific or general directions as to the manner in which the holder of that office is to exercise his or her functions. 

6.5.    By direction dated 1 April 2018, the Mayor set out those matters for which the Commissioner would require the prior approval of either the Mayor or the Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Fire (‘the Deputy Mayor’). In particular, paragraph (b) of Part 2 of the said direction requires the Commissioner to seek the prior approval of the Deputy Mayor before “[a] commitment to expenditure (capital or revenue) of £150,000 or above is identified in accordance with normal accounting practices…”. The proposed expenditure exceeds this financial threshold, accordingly, prior approval from the Deputy Mayor will be sought.  

6.6.    LFC-26-080 confirms that the replacement GTCPS will be procured in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 under an existing and accessible framework making it a compliant route to market.