Integrated Technology Helps to Find Firefighters, New Design Features Reduce Weight, Enhance Comfort

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At fire scenes, firefighter safety means more than air supply, it can also mean connectivity, accountability and the ability to quickly locate firefighters in distress. Today, MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA), launches its newest self-contained breathing apparatus, the MSA® G1™ City Edition SCBA, designed to help find firefighters faster when split-second decisions need to be made.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/msa/9308752-en-msa-releases-newest-self-contained-breathing-apparatus-g1-city-edition

The G1 City Edition SCBA is specifically designed to enhance firefighter search and rescue capabilities, while giving firefighters a lighter weight and more comfortable G1 SCBA design. The G1 City Edition SCBA introduces integrated LUNAR® Beacon Technology into the SCBA power module, which allows a LUNAR® Connected Device to search for and locate firefighters wearing a G1 City Edition SCBA. This LUNAR combination enhances firefighter accountability and supports rapid intervention and rescue operations.

The G1 City Edition SCBA represents the latest firefighter safety technology and combines a lighter design and numerous firefighter-inspired enhancements, all engineered for fire departments to improve their rescue efforts and operational effectiveness.

Highlights of the MSA G1 City Edition SCBA

Integrated LUNAR Beacon Technology enables LUNAR Connected Devices to help find firefighters wearing a G1 City Edition SCBA during search-and-rescue operations.
Enhanced situational awareness through integration with the LUNAR search network, thermal imaging, and FireGrid® connectivity.
Reduced weight, with up to a half-pound weight reduction in standard configuration compared to the previous G1 model and a lighter cylinder retention system designed to help reduce fatigue.
Firefighter-informed design enhancements developed through years of direct feedback to improve comfort, usability and operational effectiveness.
Adjustable fit and streamlined cleaning and maintenance features designed to support daily use and long-term performance.
NFPA 1970 (1981 & 1982) compliant, meeting the 2025 edition of the performance standard.

Advancing Search and Rescue Through LUNAR® Beacon Technology

The G1 City Edition SCBA was purpose-built to help reduce the time required to locate firefighters who need assistance. With the integrated Beacon radio receiver directly in the G1 City Edition SCBA power module, firefighters carrying a LUNAR Connected Device are directed to the location of a firefighter in distress. LUNAR, a handheld situational-awareness device, combines search-and-rescue technology, thermal imaging and connectivity. When a firefighter enters an alarm condition, crews can quickly identify and move toward the firefighter, helping to reduce search times during some of the most intense moments on the fireground.

The LUNAR device's proprietary FAST (Firefighter Assist Search Technology) network provides simplified directional information that helps firefighters quickly find a firefighter in alarm status. When paired with a G1 City Edition SCBA, the LUNAR device can also help with searches, display SCBA air-pressure information and share important data, including firefighter alarm status and location information. This information is transmitted through MSA's FireGrid® Monitor application, providing real-time visibility during emergency operations when data or radio connectivity is available.

"Firefighters tell us that accountability and the ability to locate personnel quickly during emergency situations are among their highest priorities," said Steve Blanco, MSA Safety President and Chief Executive Officer. "The G1 City Edition SCBA was designed to address those needs while enabling departments to integrate connected technologies into their operations. As the fire service evolves, we bring new safety solutions to market that meet our customers' needs while advancing our mission of helping firefighters return home safely after their calls."

Lighter Weight, Greater Mobility

Often operating for long periods of time in their equipment, firefighters face demanding conditions while needing to remain focused on their mission. The G1 City Edition SCBA incorporates new features engineered to address evolving fire scene challenges and to enhance firefighter comfort.

The G1 City Edition SCBA has a newly engineered lightweight cylinder retention system that delivers more than a 10 percent weight reduction compared with the standard G1 SCBA retention band. The redesigned system maintains durability while supporting efficient cylinder changes and long-term reliability.

The SCBA also comes standard with a low-profile swiveling lumbar pad that reduces weight by up to a half-pound compared with a traditional adjustable swivel lumbar configuration. The design allows the SCBA to sit closer to the firefighter's body while preserving the pivoting movement that enables the unit to move naturally with the wearer.

Together, these enhancements can help reduce firefighter fatigue, improve balance and increase comfort, enabling firefighters to perform more effectively during extended operations.

Enhancements Inspired by Firefighters

The G1 City Edition SCBA incorporates numerous usability improvements based on firefighter feedback gathered through years of field experience and product development. These enhancements include:

Thicker regulator and cylinder-valve controls for easier operation while wearing gloves;
Redesigned, thinner shoulder pads;
Longer pull straps with larger end terminations for improved grip and adjustment;
G1 Facepiece harness enhancements that enable smoother one-handed donning while wearing gloves; and
Control module updates that provide continuous display of cylinder pressure and estimated time remaining.

Built on the Proven G1 Platform

The G1 City Edition SCBA builds on the advanced electronics and integrated design that have made the G1 platform a trusted choice for fire departments for more than a decade. Powered by a single rechargeable battery, the system includes integrated telemetry capabilities and supports connectivity across the expanding MSA FireGrid ecosystem.

The G1 City Edition SCBA meets the requirements of the 2025 edition of NFPA 1970 (1981 & 1982), the consolidated performance standard for structural and proximity firefighting. To learn more about the G1 City Edition SCBA, click here.

About MSA Safety

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) is the global leader in advanced safety products, technologies and solutions. Driven by its singular mission of safety, the company has been at the forefront of safety innovation since 1914, protecting workers and facility infrastructure around the world across a broad range of diverse end markets while creating sustainable value for shareholders. With 2025 revenues of $1.9 billion, MSA Safety is headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania and employs a team of more than 5,300 associates across its more than 40 international locations. For more information, please visit www.MSASafety.com.

The G1 City Edition SCBA brings integrated LUNAR® Beacon Technology into the SCBA power module, allowing a LUNAR® Connected Device to search for and locate firefighters wearing a G1 City Edition SCBA.

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SOURCE MSA Safety