The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) of Illinois stands ready to bring emergency fire, medical and incident command resources anywhere in the state. Teams may be responding to fires, chemical spills, explosions, tornados or terrorist threats, but the protective apparel worn by MABAS’s first responders to hazardous materials incidents will be ONESuit® Pro Level A, manufactured by Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, Merrimack, N.H. MABAS ordered 124 ONESuit units, which will keep wearers safe from chemical and biological hazards—at a cost less than that of comparable Level A safety apparel.

ONESuit Pro is a single-skin, fully encapsulated chemically protective suit certified to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) standards. The product’s light weight makes it more comfortable, easy-to-maneuver and compactable for storage. Since hazmat incidents aren’t everyday occurrences, the ONESuit has an extended shelf life. “All of our products are created by working with firefighters and other disaster response teams to understand their needs,” says Peter Kirk, market manager at Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics.