NFPA 1010 and Air Monitoring: A Wake Up Call for the Fire Service
- Scott Russell Founder of The Meter Guys
- Apr 15
- 4 min read
NFPA 1010 and Air Monitoring:
A Wake-Up Call for the Fire Service
Are You Checking a Box… or Building Competency?
The fire service is entering a new era with the release of NFPA 1010—and whether you realize it or not, this standard is going to change how we operate on calls and the fireground.
But let’s be clear:
NFPA 1010 didn’t create a new problem. It exposed one.
For years, air monitoring has been treated as a secondary skill—something for the HazMat team, or worse, something we “cover” during annual training for 5 minutes.
Now, that mindset is no longer acceptable.
Air Monitoring Is Now Everyone’s Job
NFPA 1010 makes one thing crystal clear:
Every firefighter is expected to operate and understand a gas monitor.
Not just turn it on.Not just recognize an alarm.But actually:
Interpret readings
Recognize changing atmospheric conditions
Make real-time decisions based on data
And for the love of God understand the 100% LEL Display!
This is a major shift.
Air monitoring is no longer a specialty skill—it’s a core firefighting competency.
The Problem:
We’ve Been Training It Wrong
Let’s be honest about what most departments are doing right now:
One meter for an entire crew
Watching numbers instead of understanding them
Training focused on alarms instead of interpretation (if that even happens)
PowerPoints instead of practical skills (education vs training)
“Check-the-box” proficiency sign-offs
Under NFPA 1010, this doesn’t cut it anymore.
Because here’s the reality:
Meters don’t fail nearly as often as the people using them do.
We’ve seen it time and time again—near misses, gas explosions, toxic exposures, Line of Duty Deaths, all tied back to one common issue:
A lack of understanding of what the meter is actually telling us. True ignorance, due to never being trained on the meter.
Awareness Is Dead!
Competency Is Required!
NFPA 1010 is pushing the fire service toward something we’ve needed for a long time:
Documented, demonstrable competency
That means firefighters must be able to:
Properly operate their meter
Understand LEL, oxygen, and toxic gas readings
Recognize subtle changes before alarms activate
Take action based on conditions—not assumptions
This is not about sitting through a check the box class.
This is about proving you can perform when it matters.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
Today’s fireground is more dangerous than ever:
Synthetic materials producing complex toxic atmospheres
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) creating new hazards
Lightweight construction changing fire behavior
Unknown chemicals in everyday environments
And yet, we still hear it:
👉 “It didn’t alarm, so we’re good.”
That mindset is exactly what NFPA 1010 is trying to eliminate.
Because:
No alarm does NOT mean no problem.
Where Most Training Falls Short
The biggest gap in the fire service right now isn’t equipment.
It’s understanding.
You can have the most advanced meter on the market—but if your people don’t know how to interpret what it’s telling them, it’s just another tool hanging off their gear.
Most training programs fail because they:
Don’t provide enough hands-on reps
Don’t simulate real atmospheric conditions
Don’t force decision-making under pressure
Focus on compliance instead of capability
How The Meter Guys Bridge the Gap
At The Meter Guys, we’ve been addressing this problem long before NFPA 1010 ever existed.
Our philosophy is simple:
We don’t teach compliance. We build competency and confidence.
Through our “When Meters Matter” program, we deliver:
Hands-on training with real meters
Live chemical environments (not simulated numbers)
1 meter for every 1–2 students
Real-world scenarios that force interpretation and action
A focus on readings—not just alarms
We challenge the dangerous mindset of:
“If it didn’t alarm, it must be safe”
“I can smell it, so I know what it is”
“We’ve always done it this way”
Because the truth is:
You don’t know what you don’t know—until the meter matters.
Compliance vs. Capability
A lot of companies are going to start offering: NFPA 1010 compliant training, and that’s fine.
But ask yourself:
Does it put a meter in every firefighter’s hand?
Does it expose them to real conditions?
Does it force them to interpret readings and make decisions?
Or…
Does it just check the box?
At The Meter Guys, we go beyond this new standard—because the standard is the minimum. Weve been at the tip of the spear advocating for change when no one would listen. So, we took it upon ourselves to change Fire Department culture.
We are making a difference one responder at a time.
Welcome to the show NFPA 1010 you will find us 5 years ahead of you. But at least you have started and we applaud that!
Final Thought: This Is a Culture Change
NFPA 1010 is more than a new requirement. It’s a wake-up call.
The fire service must shift from:
Awareness to Competency
Buttonology and familiarization to equipment training
Compliance to Capability
Because when it comes to air monitoring:
Guessing gets people hurt, let me correct that it gets people killed!
Ready to Meet the Standard—and Exceed It?
If your department is preparing for NFPA 1010—or if you’re realizing your current training isn’t enough—we’re here to help.
Visit us at:
Reach out to schedule a class
Be Careful Out There My Brothers and Sisters the Reaper is Always Watching!
Scott Russell
Owner/Training Coordinator
The Meter Guys
The Meter Guys
"Making a Difference One Responder at a Time"
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