California PPE Launches California’s First CO₂ Turnout Gear Cleaning System in Riverside

Lakeland’s California PPE unit has activated a UL-tested CO₂ plus water DualPhase Clean system in Riverside, offering higher contaminant removal than NFPA minimums.

Rhea-AI Summary

Lakeland Industries (LAKE) announced that subsidiary California PPE has installed and qualified California’s first CO₂ turnout gear cleaning and decontamination system at its Riverside facility, which is now fully operational and accepting gear from fire departments across the United States.

The new CO₂ system, leased from Tersus Solutions, forms part of California PPE’s DualPhase CleanTM process, combining advanced water-based cleaning with CO₂ decontamination to target a wider range of contaminants. The UL-tested process demonstrated removal of up to 90%+ of heavy metals and up to 99.9% of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), exceeding NFPA 1850’s 50% minimum removal standard. CO₂ cleaning can also remove up to 98% of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and help extend gear life while reducing turnaround time. California PPE will host an open house on October 14, 2026, for departments to see the system and its broader PPE services.

Positive

• UL-tested DualPhase Clean removes up to 90%+ of heavy metals and 99.9% of SVOCs, exceeding NFPA 1850’s 50% minimum standard.
• CO₂ process can remove up to 98% of PAHs and may extend the life and performance of protective gear.
• First independent service provider in the United States to bring CO₂ decontamination technology to fire departments.
• Operational Riverside facility now accepts turnout gear nationwide and complements existing Fresno and Arizona locations.

Negative

• None.

Market Context

78% year-over-year Fire Services growth in Q2 FY27 provided operating context for the Riverside laun...

Analysis

78% year-over-year Fire Services growth in Q2 FY27 provided operating context for the Riverside launch, which expanded Lakeland’s service capabilities; the announcement did not disclose revenue, contract value, or earnings contribution from the CO₂ system.

Key Figures

Heavy metals removal: up to 90%+ SVOC removal: up to 99.9% NFPA 1850 minimum removal standard: 50% +1 more

Heavy metals removal

up to 90%+

UL-tested DualPhase Clean process

SVOC removal

up to 99.9%

UL-tested DualPhase Clean process

NFPA 1850 minimum removal standard

50%

Minimum removal standard exceeded by the combined cleaning process

PAH removal

up to 98%

CO₂ decontamination process

Key Terms

co₂ decontamination, semi-volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nfpa 1850

4 terms

co₂ decontamination technical

"completed installation and qualification of the first CO₂ turnout gear cleaning"

CO2 decontamination is a set of cleaning and sterilizing methods that use carbon dioxide in gas, liquid, or supercritical form to remove or kill microbes, residues, or particles from surfaces and equipment. It matters to investors because it is a specialized service or technology often subject to regulatory standards and can affect the safety, compliance, operating costs, and marketability of products in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and high-tech manufacturing—think of it as a targeted cleaning solution like dry-ice blasting or steam sterilization but using CO2.

semi-volatile organic compounds technical

"removal of up to 99.9% of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs)"

Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are a class of organic chemicals that evaporate more slowly than typical volatile chemicals but more readily than solids; they include substances like certain pesticides, flame retardants, plasticizers and some industrial solvents. They matter to investors because SVOCs can create regulatory, cleanup or product-liability risks and may affect manufacturing, product approval, property values, or remediation costs — think of them like slow-releasing pollutants that can linger in air, dust and materials and trigger compliance or environmental liabilities.

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons technical

"CO₂ can remove up to 98% of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)"

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are a group of chemical compounds formed when carbon-based materials such as coal, oil, wood, or fuel burn incompletely; they are made of multiple connected carbon rings and behave like persistent oily residues. They matter to investors because they are regulated environmental pollutants that can trigger soil or water contamination, expensive cleanup, monitoring obligations, fines, or product restrictions—like finding hidden soot that can lower property value and create long-term liabilities.

nfpa 1850 regulatory

"significantly exceeding NFPA 1850’s 50% minimum removal standard"

NFPA 1850 is a safety standard that sets minimum requirements for selecting, maintaining, and using protective clothing and gear for wildland firefighting. Investors care because certification or compliance affects a manufacturer’s ability to win government and commercial contracts, manage liability and warranty costs, and maintain reputation—similar to how meeting a recognized safety code can be a prerequisite to sell a product in a regulated market.

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California PPE Becomes the First Independent Service Provider in the Southwest to Offer CO₂ Decontamination as Part of a Comprehensive Approach to Reducing Carcinogenic Contaminants in Firefighter PPE

Riverside Facility Now Accepting Fire Department Gear for DualPhase Clean, a UL-Tested Process Demonstrating Removal of up to 90%+ of Heavy Metals and up to 99.9% of VOCs—Well Above NFPA 1850’s 50% Minimum Removal Standard

California PPE will Host an October 14 Open House in Riverside, Giving Fire Departments an Opportunity to See DualPhase Clean^TM Technology and Equipment Firsthand

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Sept. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lakeland Industries, Inc. ("Lakeland Fire + Safety" or "Lakeland") (NASDAQ: LAKE) today announced that its California PPE Recon, Inc. (“California PPE”) subsidiary has completed installation and qualification of the first CO₂ turnout gear cleaning and decontamination system in California at its Riverside facility. California PPE combines responsive, department-focused service with the resources and capabilities of Lakeland Fire + Safety to deliver comprehensive PPE care and advanced decontamination solutions. The new system is now operational and accepting turnout gear from fire departments across the United States.

The addition of CO₂ decontamination creates California PPE’s DualPhase Clean^TM process, which combines advanced water-based cleaning with CO₂ technology to address a broader range of contaminants. The UL-tested combined cleaning process demonstrated removal of up to 90%+ of heavy metals and up to 99.9% of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), significantly exceeding NFPA 1850’s 50% minimum removal standard. CO₂ decontamination can also address contaminants that water alone may not fully remove, including tar, oil, diesel and lithium-ion residues. With the system now in service, California PPE becomes the first independent service provider (“ISP”) to bring CO₂ decontamination technology to fire departments in the United States. The CO₂ cleaning and decontamination machine was leased from Tersus Solutions (“Tersus”) under the agreement announced in February 2026.

“California PPE continues to invest in capabilities that help fire departments reduce exposure risks and extend the life of their protective gear,” said Jim Jenkins, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lakeland. “Working with Tersus Solutions to bring the first CO₂ system online in California and pairing it with our advanced wet wash processes gives departments across the United States access to advanced decontamination capabilities that were not previously available to them regionally. California has the largest number of firefighters in the United States, and we are pleased to put this technology to work on their behalf.”

CO₂ can remove up to 98% of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a type of harmful combustion byproducts that can lead to long-term health risks. In addition, the CO₂ process can extend the life and performance of critical protective equipment, and because the gear exits the system dry, the process can help shorten turnaround time and return gear to service faster.

“No single cleaning method is right for every contaminant or every element of firefighter PPE,” said Chris Robbins, Chief Technology Officer at Tersus Solutions. “That is the advantage of the DualPhase approach. By combining advanced water-based cleaning with CO₂ decontamination, California PPE can address a broader range of contaminants and provide departments with a more comprehensive approach to PPE care.”

“Installing a system at California PPE's Riverside facility means firefighters across the region now have local access to liquid CO₂ decontamination,” said Peter Whitcomb, Chief Executive Officer at Tersus Solutions. “California PPE has built a reputation for doing this work the right way, and this partnership lets them offer their departments a complete gear care program including both water and CO₂ options under one roof instead of shipping items out or leaving them untreated. This is a game changer for turnout gear, and for the equipment that has historically been hardest to clean properly, like helmets, boots, gloves, and station wear.”

California PPE will host an open house at its Riverside facility on October 14, 2026, where fire departments will have the opportunity to see the DualPhase Clean process and the company’s expanded capabilities firsthand, meet the team, and learn more about advanced PPE care. The Riverside facility joins California PPE’s locations in Fresno, California, and Arizona in providing NFPA-compliant cleaning, advanced inspection and repair, turnout gear rentals, and regional pickup and delivery routes.

California PPE is a leading and rapidly expanding UL-certified ISP in the California firefighting services market, one of the largest fire markets in the United States, and provides advanced decontamination, repair, and inspection of firefighting personal protective equipment, along with rental services and sales of cleaning detergents, extractors, and dryers. To learn more about the DualPhase Clean process please visit https://watchmen-services.com/dualphase-clean/.

About Lakeland Fire + Safety

Lakeland Fire + Safety manufactures and sells a comprehensive line of fire services and industrial protective clothing and accessories for the industrial and first responder markets. In addition, we provide decontamination, repair and rental services that complement our fire services portfolio. Our products are sold globally by our in-house sales teams, our customer service group, and authorized independent sales representatives to a strategic global network of selective fire and industrial distributors and wholesale partners. Our authorized distributors supply end users across various industries, including integrated oil, chemical/petrochemical, automobile, transportation, steel, glass, construction, smelting, cleanroom, janitorial, pharmaceutical, and high-tech electronics manufacturers, as well as scientific, medical laboratories, and the utilities industry. In addition, we supply federal, state and local governmental agencies and departments, including fire and law enforcement, airport crash rescue units, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security and the Centers for Disease Control. Internationally, we sell to a mix of end-users directly and to industrial distributors, depending on the particular country and market. In addition to the United States, sales are made into more than 50 foreign countries, the majority of which were into China, the European Economic Community ("EEC"), Canada, Chile, Argentina, Commonwealth of Independent States (“CIS”) Region, Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, India, Uruguay, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

For more information about Lakeland, please visit the Company's website at www.lakeland.com.

About California PPE

Located in Riverside, California, California PPE provides comprehensive PPE care and resources for fire departments, including cleaning, inspection, repair, rental PPE, NFPA 1850 training and equipment, and advanced decontamination solutions.

California PPE combines the responsive, department-focused approach of an independent service provider with the resources, technical expertise and broader capabilities of Lakeland Fire + Safety. This combination allows California PPE to deliver personal service at the local level while continuing to invest in technologies and capabilities designed to improve firefighter safety and PPE care. For more information visit https://california-ppe.com/.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This press release contains estimates, predictions, opinions, goals and other "forward-looking statements" as that phrase is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, without limitation, references to the Company's predictions or expectations of future business or financial performance as well as its goals and objectives for future operations, financial and business trends, business prospects, and management's expectations for earnings, revenues, expenses, inventory levels, capital levels, liquidity levels, or other future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations, including without limitation our plans to deliver comprehensive PPE care and advanced decontamination solutions. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, which address Lakeland's expectations of sources or uses for capital, or which express the Company's expectation for the future with respect to financial performance or operating strategies, can be identified as forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions as described from time to time in press releases and Forms 8-K, registration statements, quarterly and annual reports and other reports and filings filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or made by management. As a result, there can be no assurance that Lakeland's future results will not be materially different from those described herein as "believed," "projected," "planned," "intended," "anticipated," "can," "estimated" or "expected," or other words which reflect the current view of the Company with respect to future events. We caution readers that these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company hereby expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which such statement is based, except as may be required by law.

Investor Relations
Chris Tyson
Executive Vice President
MZ Group - MZ North America
949-491-8235
LAKE@mzgroup.us 
www.mzgroup.us

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/856a3973-b12e-4b5e-8f19-87a7338ed598

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What is included in California PPE’s DualPhase CleanTM process?

The DualPhase CleanTM process combines advanced water-based cleaning with CO₂ decontamination, enabling removal of a broader range of contaminants, including heavy metals, SVOCs, PAHs, and residues such as tar, oil, diesel, and lithium-ion byproducts.

When and where is the California PPE open house taking place?

California PPE will host an open house on October 14, 2026, at its Riverside, California facility, where fire departments can see the DualPhase Clean process, meet the team, and learn more about advanced PPE care.

What services does California PPE offer beyond CO₂ decontamination?

The Riverside facility, along with locations in Fresno and Arizona, provides NFPA-compliant cleaning, advanced inspection and repair, turnout gear rentals, and regional pickup and delivery routes, plus sales of cleaning detergents, extractors, and dryers.

How is the CO₂ cleaning equipment sourced for the Riverside facility?

The CO₂ cleaning and decontamination machine at the Riverside facility is leased from Tersus Solutions under an agreement that was previously announced in February 2026.