Entwicklung des Kopfschutzes fuer den Feuerwehrmann

The aluminium helmet “Viennese form” more and more gained acceptance in Upper Austria. Although
this helmet was already taken in the clothing regulation of the country fire brigade association issued
after 1945, even more decades should pass until it was used by all fire brigades.
The economic upswing within the 1950s and 1960s entailed that the fire brigades could afford new helmets
of the “Viennese form”. At the competitions pushed for the 1950s more and more groups started
with the new model. This fact was also due to that fact that many fire brigades early bought the helmet
“Viennese form” for themselves. When in 1963 a modified spider helmet had been imported with a widened
helmet edge (umbrella and neck guard). The shiny aluminium helmets were allowed to be worn
up in Upper Austria only as of the function of the fire brigade commanding officer deputy. All other
functionaries and members had to use the black helmets. The helmet marking had been introduced (yellow,
white and red) to Upper Austria by means of stripes in 1969. With the constant increase of technical
uses for the 1970s one attached greater importance to the face protection. To this one completed the
aluminium helmets “Viennese form” with a device of its own.
The synthetic material helmet “Viennese form” also came from a glass fibre reinforced polyester resin
next to the aluminium helmet in use. It was executed for all functionaries in grey colour. The synthetic
material helmet has to do an a little lower weight and it already seems in the service clothing ordinance
of the country fire brigade association from the year 1971. The fire brigade Wels imported a yellow
coated persistent synthetic material helmet.
A real character was the use of the German light metal helmet in accordance with DIN 14940 at the
fire brigade Überackern until 1974. These helmets were a present from the adjacent work fire brigade
Wacker Burghausen (Bavaria). These helmets were used until 1992.
Since 1990 of (Dräger) and 1991 of (“Heros”) a new helmet generation is at the fire brigades’ in Austria
disposal of polyamide. A promoting action of the country fire brigade association entailed that most fire
brigades use the “Heros” helmet in Upper Austria. Since 2006 there is the successor “Heros-xtrem” with
an integrated helmet lamp. Several fire brigades have decided in favour of products of the companies
Dräger, Gallet and Schubert. Almost all fire brigades in Upper Austria have the new helmet generation
at their disposal today.
At competitions, furthermore the old helmets enjoy great popularity. The synthetic material, but also the
aluminium helmets of the “Viennese form” are fundamentally lighter opposite the new helmet generation.
Moreover, the brightly polished aluminium helmets still belong to the most popular representation
helmets at solemnities.
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