MSA G1™ SCBA Soft Goods Removal for Cleaning: A Step-by-Step Guide

Keeping your MSA G1 SCBA clean is one of the simplest ways to protect your investment and stay ready for the next call. The fabric-based components—shoulder pads, lumbar pads, pull straps, and pouches—absorb sweat, soot, and contaminants over time, so they need to come off the pack before they go through the wash. This guide walks through how to safely remove the soft goods from the G1 XR Edition SCBA so each piece can be laundered in line with NFPA 1970 (1971) 2025 requirements.

Before you begin, work on a clean, flat surface and keep a small container nearby to hold hardware such as metal clips and hose tethers so nothing gets misplaced during disassembly.

1. Removing the Shoulder Pads and Pull Straps

The G1 shoulder pads are held on with directional “pull-the-dot” snaps. Each snap has a small indented dot that tells you which way it releases—position the dotted side up and gently rock the snap open rather than yanking straight up.

Start by releasing the snaps that secure the pad. Disconnect the speaker module by unhooking the metal U-clip at its base, and set that clip aside so it isn't lost. Locate the rubber hose tethers that link the tri-folds to the backplate and pull them free. Once the tethers are clear, slide the tri-folds up through the slots at the top of the backplate to release the shoulder pads, then feed the shoulder pull-strap tri-folds down through the lower backplate slots.

Tip: The shoulder pull straps are designed to stay attached to the shoulder pad assembly for washing—there's no need to separate them.

Figure 1 – Releasing the pull-the-dot snap and metal U-clip on the shoulder strap — Figure 1

Figure 2 – Undoing the snaps that secure the shoulder pad — Figure 2

Figure 3 – Opening the pad flap — Figure 3

Figure 4 – Releasing the tri-fold at location A — Figure 4

Figure 5 – Connection points A, B, and C on the shoulder assembly — Figure 5

Figure 6 – Sliding the tri-fold free of the backplate slot — Figure 6

2. Removing the Adjustable-Height Lumbar Pad

Pull the two sides of the lumbar pad toward the center to expose the tri-folds underneath. Fold each tri-fold and guide it through its attachment slot. With the tri-folds released, slide the pad to free the retainment straps from the plastic plate, and the lumbar pad will lift away.

Figure 7 – Feeding the tri-folds through the slots in the plastic plate — Figure 7

Figure 8 – Folding the tri-folds toward the center to release the pad — Figure 8

3. Removing the Low-Profile Lumbar Pad and Waist Straps

Fold the sides of the low-profile pad inward to reveal the tri-folds seated in the attachment loops. Work the left and right tri-folds out of the retainment straps, then release each one individually from the metal cross-bar. Finally, slide the plastic regulator keeper out through the slots on the back side of the pad.

Tip: As with the shoulder straps, the waist pull straps should remain attached to the lumbar pad assembly during washing.

Figure 9 – Working the tri-fold out of the retainment strap — Figure 9

Figure 10 – Sliding the plastic regulator keeper free — Figure 10

Figure 11 – Releasing the waist straps at both sides — Figure 11

Figure 12 – Detaching the tri-fold from the metal cross-bar — Figure 12

4. Removing the Accessory Pouch

The accessory pouch connects to the pack at three points: a back loop tied to the shoulder pull strap, a top strap linked to the backplate handle, and a bottom strap fastened to the lumbar pad.

Open the pouch by undoing the flap snaps and the hook-and-loop fasteners. Before doing anything else, take out the dust cover (Extendaire II)—the hose and manifold assembly will not pass through the lower opening while the dust cover is still in place. With the cover removed, feed the manifold through the opening, then pass the bottom tri-fold through the back loop. Lay the pouch flat and remove the tri-folds at both the top and bottom strap connection points.

Figure 13 – Releasing the tri-fold near the regulator — Figure 13

Figure 14 – Pulling the tri-fold end free of the pouch — Figure 14

Figure 15 – Removing the dust cover before feeding the manifold through — Figure 15

Figure 16 – The freed accessory pouch soft good — Figure 16

5. Removing the Remote Quick-Fill Sleeve

Rotate the sleeve until the two snaps are visible. Release both snaps to free the Remote Quick-Fill hose from the shoulder pull strap. Slide the sleeve off temporarily so you can feed the shoulder pull-strap tri-fold through the manifold buckle loops, then slide the sleeve back into place. It's best to leave the sleeve reattached for washing.

Figure 17 – Releasing the sleeve snaps from the shoulder pull strap — Figure 17

Figure 18 – Close-up of the pull-the-dot snap on the strap — Figure 18

Washing the Soft Goods

With every fabric component removed, you're ready to launder them. Always follow the detergent, water-temperature, machine-setting, and wash-cycle guidance in your G1 SCBA user manual. Refer to MSA's official “G1 SCBA Cleaning Instructions” resource for the full cleaning procedure.

A Few Final Reminders

All G1 soft goods are engineered to be removable so your pack can meet NFPA cleaning requirements. Keep small hardware—metal U-clips and rubber hose tethers—in a safe spot during teardown, leave the pull-strap assemblies intact where noted, and reassemble carefully once everything is clean and dry. A little routine care keeps your SCBA performing the way it should when it matters most.

Questions about cleaning, service, or replacement soft goods for your MSA G1 SCBA? Reach out to our team—we're happy to help!

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Posted on July 21, 2026

Posted by John Peter

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