Entwicklung des Kopfschutzes fuer den Feuerwehrmann

Fire fighting helmets in Slovenia
Summary
Today, the Republic of Slovenia is an independent county and one of the 27 members of the EU. It became
independent in 1991 after spending decades under the rule of the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy,
being part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes after WW1 and later part of the Kingdom of
Yugoslyvia ruled by Karadordevic. During the second world war, it was occupied by German, Italian
and Hungarian authorities, which regulated the fire brigades (among other things) according to their own
regulations. Following the liberation, Slovenia constituted a part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
up until it decided to become independent.
The first auxiliary fire brigades on the grounds of the present Slovenia were established after 1869 and
modelled fire brigades from other parts of Austria-Hungary.
Regulations from 1894 required the helmets to be made of brass. The story from the auxiliary fire brigade
in Zabnica (PGD Zabnica) confirms thies. Rules from 1920 required leather helmets to be worn by
fire fighters. These too were delivered primarily by the company Rosenbauer.
Soon after adopting the fire-fighting act in 1933, fire fighters had to be equipped with grey and green
steel helmets. The occupying forces provided fire fighters with helmets that complied with their regulations.
Around 1950, aluminium helmets were manufactured in Croatia; a slightly changed version is still
under production.
Somewhere around 1980 the first Slovenian helmets “Viplam” entered the market. They were made in
Trzin near Ljubljana. They consisted of yellow platic and were sold across Yuoslavia. The Yugoslavian
break-up stopped the production for good. The helmet was popular in fire fighting competitions, because
it was lightweight and remains its popularity even today.
The other made-in-Slovenia fire fighting helmet originates from Velenje. It consist of several layers of
glass fabric impregnated with thermally hardened silver resin. Some 100 pieces of the helmet are still
pruduced every year, and are used mainly for fire parades and competitions.
Fire fighting helmets have to withstand extreme conditions including smoke and darkness, which diminish
the visibility and often make it impossible to distinguish the fire fighter wearing the helmet.
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