MSA Cairns XF1 User manual

MSAsafety.com
Operating Manual
MSA Cairns® XF1
Fire Helmet
Order No.: CH180A33- PQ730227/00

1000 Cranberry Woods Drive
Cranberry Township, PA 16066
USA
Phone 1-800-MSA-2222
Fax [phone]
For your local MSA contacts please go to our website www.MSAsafety.com
© MSA 2018. All rights reserved
Thank you for purchasing your new MSA Cairns Fire Helmet. Welcome to the MSA Cairns Community of
Fire Helmet owners! Congratulations: you've just joined the thousands of Cairns Fire Helmet owners who
know why MSA Cairns is the market leading fire helmet in North America.Take these three steps to become
actively engaged with other helmet owners:
(1) Go to www.MSAsafety.com/registration and register your fire helmet for its lifetime warranty.
(2) Follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/MSAsafetyFire) and Twitter
(@MSAsafety, #lovemyCairns).
(3) Visit our active fire service brotherhood of MSA Cairns Fire Helmet owners at MSAFIRE.com
KEYWORD: CairnsCommunity.
The warranties made by MSA with respect to the product are voided if the product is not used and maintained
according to the instructions in this manual. Read and observe the DANGERS, WARNINGS and CAUTIONS
inside. If any information in this manual is unclear, or if you have any questions, contact MSA Customer
Service at 1-877-MSA-FIRE or visit our website at (MSAFIRE.com) before using this fire helmet.

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Contents
1 Dangers, Warnings and Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.2 Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3 Attaching Ear Covers and Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.1 Ear Covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.2 Visor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.3 Lighting Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.4 Communication Headset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
4 Donning the Helmet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...10
4.1 Pre-donning Adjustments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4.2 Donning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4.2.1 Chinstrap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4.2.2 Face Shield and Visor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
5 Doffing the Helmet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
6 Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
6.1 Routine Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
6.1.1 Fire Helmet Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
6.1.2 Impact Cap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
6.1.3 Ear Covers, Ratchet Cover, Chinstrap and Headband Liner (Soft Goods) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
6.1.4 Chinstrap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
6.1.5 Face Shield and Visor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
6.2 Advanced Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
6.3 Routine Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
6.3.1 Fire Helmet Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
6.3.2 Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
6.3.3 Impact Cap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
6.3.4 Ear Covers, Ratchet Cover and Headband Liner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...21
6.3.5 Headband . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
6.3.6 Chinstrap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
6.3.7 Face Shield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
6.3.8 Visor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
6.3.9 Edge Trim. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6.3.10 Reflective Trim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6.4 Advanced Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6.4.1 Fire Helmet Disassembling Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.4.2 Fire Helmet Resassembling Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.5 Storage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

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7 Replacement Parts and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
7.1 Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
7.2 Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
8 Warranty and Product Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
9 Contacting MSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

5
Dangers, Warnings and Cautions
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1 Dangers, Warnings and Cautions
WARNING!
Firefighting is an extremely dangerous activity. All personnel who have or will have the responsibility
for using or maintaining this fire helmet must follow the instructions in this manual carefully. This fire
helmet will perform as designed only if it is used and maintained according to the instructions. Other-
wise, the fire helmet could fail to perform as designed, and personnel who rely on it for their safety can
sustain serious personal injury or death.
This fire helmet does NOT provide protection from all burns, injuries, diseases, conditions, or hazards.
Do not perform firefighting activities without the proper training and equipment.
Use extreme caution for all operations.
Use MSA Cairns®XF1 Fire Helmets within the guidelines of NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department
Occupational Safety and Health Program (current edition); CFR Title 29, Part 1910, Subpart I,
Personal Protective Equipment; NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural and
Proximity Fire Fighting (current edition); and NFPA 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Tech-
nical Rescue Incidents (current edition), as applicable.
This fire helmet provides LIMITED protection to the head when worn during structural, or rescue fire-
fighting activities, as designated. Avoid exposure to flashovers, collapses, falls, and other conditions
that may exceed the protective capacity of the fire helmet.
If this fire helmet is exposed to heat, you may be BURNED with NO warning and NO sign of damage
to the fire helmet.
The NFPA-compliant face shield and/or the optional ANSI Z87 visor provide LIMITED protection to the
area they cover.
The visor provides LIMITED protection to the area covered. The visor is not certified according to
NFPA standards but meets the ANSI Z87.1 standard (most recent edition). The face shield MUST be
worn with the visor to maintain an NFPA compliant structural or rescue firefighting helmet ensemble.
Use adequate eye protection. Removal of NFPA-compliant eye protection voids the fire helmet's
NFPA certification.
To provide maximum protection and reduce the risk of injury, adjust the fire helmet with all components
in position to fit on the head properly and fasten the chinstrap securely.
The screw covers on both the lateral brackets for the impact cap must be snapped closed, covering
the screws underneath, to maintain optimal dielectric protection.
Do not use the helmet as a vehicular or sports helmet.
Follow the procedures in Section 6.3 "Routine Inspection" to inspect the fire helmet after EACH use.
Replace any part of the fire helmet that shows signs of wear or damage.
Use only components and accessories that are included with the original fire helmet or approved by
MSA. Using unauthorized components or accessories can adversely affect fire helmet performance.
Do not alter, paint, or attach any item that is not recommended by MSA to the fire helmet.
Do not use abrasive cleaners or solvents to clean the fire helmet.
Use only fire helmet markings (front identification shields, retro reflective trim) and fire helmet acces-
sories (integrated lighting modules, communications headsets, etc.) that are supplied and/or
approved by MSA.
Failure to obey these warnings can result in serious personal injury or death.

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Description
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2 Description
2.1 Overview
The fire helmet consists of the following components:
2.2 Technical Specifications
1 Shell 6 Reflective trim
2 Front plate 7 Ear covers
3 Front edge trim 8 Retention system (headband and chinstrap)
4 Face shield 9 Energy absorbing system (impact cap and suspension)
5 Rear edge trim
1
6
5
2
3
4
9
8
7
Helmet sizes
• Medium (M) for head sizes from 6-1/2 to 7-3/4 inches
(52 cm to 62 cm)
• Large (L) for head sizes from 7-1/8 to 8-1/8 inches
(57 cm to 65 cm)
Weight
(Helmet with face shield,
no options)
• M: 3.5 lb ± 1 oz (1590 ± 30 g)
• L: 3.81 lb ± 1 oz (1730 ± 30 g)
Options
• Integrated lighting module
•Visor
• Flexible Microphone Headset
Detailed information regarding the lighting module and the Flexible
Microphone Headset can be found in separate user manuals for
these devices.

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Attaching Ear Covers and Accessories
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3 Attaching Ear Covers and Accessories
3.1 Ear Covers
The helmet has 6 slots for installing the ear covers
(A, B, C, D, E and F).
(1) Place the ear covers upside down above the helmet.
(2) Insert the 2 clips marked in the central slots (A, B).
(3) Push the 4 pressure clips in order (C, D, E and
then F) until the clips lock.
E
D
AB
C
F

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Attaching Ear Covers and Accessories
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3.2 Visor
The visor provides LIMITED protection to the area covered. The visor is not certified according to
NFPA standards but meets the ANSI Z87.1 standard (most recent edition). The face shield MUST be
worn with the visor to maintain an NFPA compliant structural or rescue firefighting helmet ensemble.
3.3 Lighting Module
(1) Place the visor upside down above the
helmet.
(2) Insert the 2 clips simultaneously into the
dedicated slots.
(3) Lock the visor module by fixing the visor on
the shell connection pin (right and left).
22
(1) Place the helmet upside down with the face shield
towards you.
(2) Insert the left box (L) of the XF1 lighting module
into the space provided on the left side of the
helmet and firmly clip the box into place.
(b)(b)(b)
L
(a)(a)(a)
click

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Attaching Ear Covers and Accessories
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3.4 Communication Headset
Refer to the Communication headset operating manual (MSAfire.com/Cairns).
If both the lighting module and XF1 flexible microphone headset are installed inside the helmet, disas-
semble the flexible microphone headset first and then disassemble the lighting module.
(3) Repeat for the right box (R).
(4) Ensure that the lighting module cable is placed in
the indicated area.
(5) Refer to the lighting module user instruction
(MSAfire.com/Cairns) for details on operation.
(a)(a)(a)
(b)
(b)(b)
R
click
CLICK

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Donning the Helmet
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4 Donning the Helmet
4.1 Pre-donning Adjustments
Headband and Nape Strap Adjustments
(1) Choose helmet size M or L (refer to Section 2.2
"Technical Specifications") according to your
head size.
(2) Adjust the front headband position by sliding the
headband up or down.
(3) Position the front headband inside the helmet to
avoid contact between headband and mask.
(4) Adjust nape strap/rear headband by rotating to
optimize fit on back of the head.
(5) Ensure that both the left and right side adjust-
ments are on the same setting so that the helmet
sits properly on the head.

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Donning the Helmet
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4.2 Donning
WARNING!
To provide maximum protection, make sure to adjust the helmet properly. Tightening the ratchet
beyond its limits can cause damage to internal gears and result in reduced protection.
Failure to obey this warning can result in serious personal injury or death.
4.2.1 Chinstrap
WARNING!
Never wear the fire helmet without fastening and tightening the chinstrap.
Failure to obey this warning can result in serious personal injury or death.
The chinstrap is equipped with 3 adjustment points to allow quick and simple adjustment while the
helmet is on the head.
(1) Open the headband by turning the ratchet knob
counterclockwise (left).
(2) Position the chinstrap as shown before donning the
helmet.
(3) Put the helmet on your head.
(4) While holding the helmet down on your head, turn
the ratchet knob clockwise until the helmet feels
snug and comfortable.
(5) Lower the ear cover over your ears and over the
ratchet knob.

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Donning the Helmet
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4.2.2 Face Shield and Visor
WARNING!
Performance of the face shield and visor are obtained only in use position (low position).
Keep face shield and visor in standby position (stowed under the helmet shell) during the use of a
breathing apparatus (SCBA).
Do not wear a face shield over an SCBA face piece.
Visors worn over corrective lenses may transmit impacts which may damage the corrective
eyewear thus creating a hazard to the user.
Service life of face shield and visor depends on the conditions of use.
Any face shield or visor that has been scratched, dropped or damaged must be replaced.
Failure to obey these warnings can result in serious personal injury or death.
Face Shield
(1) Completely loosen the 3 adjustment points (chin-
strap buckle and 2 rear adjustments).
(2) Place helmet on head. Make sure that it is well
positioned.
(3) Close the chinstrap buckle.
(4) Tighten the chinstrap by pulling on the excess
chinstrap length.
(5) Secure the excess chinstrap length with the hook
and loop.
(6) Tighten the two rear adjustment straps by pulling
the excess strap length forward and slightly down
until a snug but comfortable fit is achieved.
(4) (6)
(1) Position by pushing it up or pulling it down as far as
it will go.

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Doffing the Helmet
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Optional Visor
If further adjustment of the visor is needed to optimize the distance to the face:
5 Doffing the Helmet
(1) Loosen and unbuckle the chinstrap.
(2) While holding the helmet, turn the ratchet knob counterclockwise (to the left) to loosen the head-
band.
(3) Remove the helmet.
(1) Position by pushing it up or pulling it down.
(2) Tilt the visor towards the face by pushing the finger
spaces on either side of the visor for an optimal fit.
(1) Unclip the yellow stopper.
(2) Clip the yellow stopper in positions (A), (B) or (C)
to optimize fit of the visor on the face.

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Care and Maintenance
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6 Care and Maintenance
WARNING!
Replace the helmet after it has withstood an impact, even if there is no visible damage.
Do not drop the fire helmet.
Avoid unnecessary impacts to the fire helmet which could damage the face shield and/or optional
visor (cracks/scratches).
Failure to obey these warnings can result in serious personal injury or death.
Carefully obey all of the procedures for cleaning, inspecting, repairing, and storing the fire helmet.
For additional guidance, refer to the current edition of NFPA 1851, which specifies the minimum selec-
tion, care, and maintenance requirements for structural and proximity firefighting protective ensem-
bles and the individual ensemble elements, including fire helmets and interface components that are
compliant with NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Prox-
imity Fire Fighting.

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Care and Maintenance
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6.1 Routine Cleaning
WARNING!
Helmets that are dirty or soiled from firefighting activities may be contaminated with toxins that are
poisonous, pathogenic, toxic or carcinogenic. Failure to properly clean the helmet after each use
per the recommended cleaning procedures may result in injuries, illness, disease and/or death.
Helmets should be properly cleaned consistent with NFPA 1851 under the supervision of the
authority having jurisdiction and standard operating procedures.
Do not use cleaning solvents, oils, varnishes, or polishes other than those recommended in this
manual to clean or decontaminate fire helmets or fire helmet components.
Do not use abrasives, solvents, paint removers, acetone, paint or lacquer thinner, or any chlori-
nated organic solvents to clean the fire helmet shell. Use of these substances can degrade the
protective properties of the helmet shell.
Do not use equipment that produces mechanical action such as tumbling or agitation to machine-
wash or dry complete fire helmets.
Do not use forced hot air or put the fire helmet directly on a heat source to dry it.
Do not apply paint, stickers, cleaning products with a hydrocarbon base or solvents to the fire
helmet or visors to prevent damaging the materials of your helmet.
Failure to obey these warnings can result in serious personal injury or death.
• To prevent contamination after firefighting activities, clean the fire helmet after each use, before
inspection.
• Elements contaminated by CBRN agents must be handled according to decontamination and
disposal procedures set by the applicable authorities.
• Remove any fire helmet that has been exposed to chemical or biological contaminants from
service and clean it using the procedures in the Section 6.2 "Advanced Cleaning".
• For cleaning, use a solution of 1.5 oz (43 g) of mild detergent per 1 gal (3.8 L) of water at a
temperature no higher than 110 °F (43 °C).
• Do not use a fire helmet that is wet from use or cleaning. Allow all parts to air dry completely before
use.
• Do not use a heat source such as forced air to dry components more quickly. Do not tumble dry.
6.1.1 Fire Helmet Shell
• Wipe with mild detergent solution and a soft cloth. Do not use solvent based products or abrasive
materials.
6.1.2 Impact Cap
To clean the inside of the impact cap (when installed inside the fire helmet shell), wipe it with a soft
sponge or cloth dampened with a solution of warm water and mild detergent. Allow the impact cap to
air-dry completely. Do not use a heat source such as forced air to dry the impact cap more quickly. Do
not tumble dry.

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Care and Maintenance
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6.1.3 Ear Covers, Ratchet Cover, Chinstrap and Headband Liner (Soft Goods)
(1) Remove the ratchet cover, headband liner and chinstrap (refer to Section 6.4.1 "Fire Helmet
Disassembling Procedure").
(2) Machine-wash the components with a mild liquid detergent at a temperature no higher than
110°F(43°C).
(3) Allow the components to air-dry completely. Do not use a heat source such as forced air to dry
components more quickly. Do not tumble dry.
(4) Reassemble all soft goods into the fire helmet.
6.1.4 Chinstrap
Chinstrap Disassembly before Cleaning
(1) Unlock metallic trapezoid (chinstrap 3rd point) from the
hook by pushing it (first A then B).
(2) Rotate the clips on right and left side of the chinstrap
90 degrees towards the rear of the helmet (C).
(3) Push each clip forward (D) and raise it on the back (E).
C

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Care and Maintenance
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Chinstrap Assembly after Cleaning
(4) Detach the crown pad to release the crown strap.
(5) Detach the hook-and-loop tab on each side of the
headband liner behind the ear (near the ratchet).
(6) Remove the chinstrap from the helmet.
(1) Attach the crown pad to the suspension to position
the crown strap.
(2) Place the crown pad straps between the plastic
headband and the headband liner.
(3) Secure the straps in place by reattaching the head-
band liner to the plastic headband using the hook-
and-loop tabs.
(4) Insert both clips (F) into the slots vertically.
F

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Care and Maintenance
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6.1.5 Face Shield and Visor
• Wipe with mild detergent solution and a soft cloth. Do not use solvent based products or abrasive
materials.
• Allow the face shield or visor to air dry completely. Do not use a heat source such as forced air to
dry the impact cap more quickly. Do not tumble dry.
(5) Rotate clips 90 degrees towards the rear (G) and
push clips in (H).
(6) Rotate the clips 90 degrees forward into the wearing
position (I).
Attachment of the 3rd point (at the back)
(7) Insert the metallic trapezoid and lock it in the hook by
pulling it vertically (first K then J).
I

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Care and Maintenance
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6.2 Advanced Cleaning
WARNING!
Only a manufacturer-trained organization, verified organization, or verified Independent Service
Provider (ISP) can perform advanced cleaning.
Failure to follow the recommended cleaning procedures can result in illness or disease.
Do not use cleaning solvents, oils, varnishes, or polishes to clean or decontaminate fire helmets
or fire helmet components. If it is necessary to use a stronger cleaning agent than what is recom-
mended in this manual, contact MSA Customer Service at 1-877-MSA-FIRE.
Do not use abrasives, solvents, paint removers, acetone, paint or lacquer thinner, or any chlori-
nated organic solvents to clean the fire helmet shell. Use of these substances can degrade the
protective properties of the helmet shell.
Do not use equipment that produces mechanical action such as tumbling or agitation to machine-
wash or machine-dry complete fire helmets.
Do not use forced hot air or put the fire helmet directly on a heat source to dry it.
Do not use a fire helmet that is wet from use or cleaning. Allow all parts to dry completely before
use.
Do not apply paint, stickers, cleaning products with a hydrocarbon base or solvents to the fire
helmet or visors to prevent damaging the materials of your helmet.
Failure to obey these warnings can result in serious personal injury or death.
• For advanced cleaning, perform the procedures in Routine Cleaning Sections 6.1.1 "Fire Helmet
Shell" through 6.1.5 "Face Shield and Visor", followed by the procedures in this section.
(1) Don protective gloves.
(2) Remove all detachable components and accessories from the fire helmet. Wash and air-dry
them separately.
(3) Immerse the entire fire helmet in a solution of 1.5 oz (43 g) of mild detergent per 1 gal (3.8 L) of
water at a temperature no higher than 110°F (43 °C).
(4) Use a soft brush to remove dirt and other debris from the fire helmet.
(5) Rinse the fire helmet and accessories thoroughly with water.
(6) Use a clean cloth dampened with water to wipe the fire helmet and accessories.
(7) Put the fire helmet in a clean, safe place to air-dry. Do not use a heat source such as forced air
to dry components more quickly. Do not tumble dry.

20
Care and Maintenance
MSA Cairns® XF1
US
6.3 Routine Inspection
WARNING!
Failure to follow the recommended inspection procedures can reduce fire helmet performance and
result in serious personal injury, disease, illness, or death.
Do not use a fire helmet that has damage.
Do not attempt to test the fire helmet. The performance properties of the fire helmet and its compo-
nents cannot be properly tested by a user in the field.
Failure to obey these warnings can result in serious personal injury or death.
Clean the fire helmet per section 6.1 "Routine Cleaning" prior to inspection.
Inspect the fire helmet after each use for the following signs of damage from impact and thermal expo-
sure. If any of these conditions exist, remove the fire helmet from service immediately and repair or
replace it as applicable.
After each use, check every part of the fire helmet and, especially the attachment points.
• No evident wear
• No fractures or cracks
• Continued, proper fit
WARNING!
Replace the helmet after it has withstood an impact, even if there is no visible damage.
Ensure the screw covers on both the lateral brackets for the impact cap are snapped closed, covering
the screws underneath, to maintain optimal dielectric protection.
In case of visible damage identified during the routine inspection (before or after use), such as
impacts, significant scratches, coating removal on the shell or visors, melted parts, broken parts, torn
straps or padding, missing components, non-operational moving parts (such as visors or ratchet), etc.,
the fire helmet should be taken to the trained maintenance technician or an MSA approved mainte-
nance center.
Failure to obey these warnings can result in serious personal injury or death.
6.3.1 Fire Helmet Shell
If any of the following conditions exist, replace the entire fire helmet ensemble.
• Any cracks
• Blisters or bubbles
6.3.2 Suspension
If any of the following conditions exist, replace the suspension:
• Straps have missing, cut, fraying, or broken stitching
• Straps are torn or abraded
• Straps are brittle or discolored
• Suspension attachment clips are broken, brittle, whited, or discolored