SoCal PPE

What SoCal PPE does

SoCal PPE is a privately held, veteran-owned service provider founded in 2016 and headquartered at 2146 Main St., San Diego, CA 92113. The company delivers NFPA 1851 compliant care and maintenance programs for structural firefighting protective ensembles, operating as an Independent Service Provider (ISP) with third-party verification from Intertek. Its core technology stack comprises NFPA 1851 compliant cleaning and inspection protocols, a proprietary detergent line (CITROSQUEEZE and SC-14) specifically formulated to remove hydrocarbon, grease, and soot carcinogens from turnout gear, and chemical dosing extractor pump systems that automate proper chemical concentration during cleaning. Service lines include Advanced Cleanings (required at minimum every six months), Advanced Inspections including hydrotest liner inspection (required at minimum every twelve months), and NFPA 1971 compliant repairs using like materials and components, with complete documentation retained for the life of each garment.

The business operates a quote-based professional services model with no public pricing, generating revenue across four streams: PPE Cleaning Services, PPE Inspection Services, PPE Repair Services, and Cleaning Products Sales (CITROSQUEEZE and SC-14). Products are distributed both directly through the SoCal PPE website and via the fire-ETC.com e-commerce marketplace. The company positions itself as San Diego County's only NFPA compliant ISP, leveraging direct outreach to fire departments, SEO-driven inbound, and word-of-mouth referrals within the fire service community. Customers are exclusively municipal fire departments and individual firefighters, with named references including Firestations 4, 8, and 11. The leadership team consists of founder and President Dave Duea and General Manager James Wheeler (joined 2021), with a headcount band of 11-50 employees and no institutional funding or parent company ownership disclosed.

Name

SoCal PPE

Legal name

SoCal PPE

Website

https://socalppe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SoCal PPE is a San Diego-based, veteran-owned Independent Service Provider delivering NFPA 1851 compliant cleaning, inspection, and repair services for firefighter protective ensembles, and distributing CITROSQUEEZE and SC-14 cleaning products to municipal fire departments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Firefighter PPE Maintenance Services

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Gloves, Masks/Respirators, Gowns, Face Shields) (HLAHANAF)

Keywords

• Firefighter PPE cleaning
• NFPA 1851 compliance
• Turnout gear maintenance
• Protective equipment repair
• PPE inspection services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. PPE Cleaning Services: Advanced cleaning services for firefighting protective ensembles using specialized equipment and CITROSQUEEZE products. Revenue generated from service fees for periodic deep cleaning of turnout gear.
2. PPE Inspection Services: Advanced inspection services including hydrotest liner inspection and complete documentation. Conducted annually as required by NFPA 1851.
3. PPE Repair Services: Third-party verified ISP repairs on firefighting garments performed per NFPA 1851 and NFPA 1971 standards.
4. Cleaning Products Sales: Distribution and sales of CITROSQUEEZE PPE cleaner, SC-14 All-Purpose Cleaner/Degreaser, and related cleaning products for fire stations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SoCal PPE provides NFPA 1851 compliant advanced cleaning, inspection, and repair services for firefighter protective ensembles (turnout gear). The company is San Diego County's only verified Independent Service Provider (ISP), offering periodic decontamination to remove cancer-causing carcinogens, annual advanced inspections with documentation, and third-party verified repairs. It also distributes CITROSQUEEZE PPE cleaner and SC-14 All-Purpose Cleaner/Degreaser, and installs/services extractor pump systems for fire stations.

Product overview

SoCal PPE provides a unified portfolio of services and products for firefighter PPE maintenance. The core offerings include three interconnected service lines: Advanced Cleanings (using CITROSQUEEZE products for decontamination every 6 months), Advanced Inspections (with hydrotest liner inspection every 12 months), and Repairs (verified by Intertek). The company also distributes CITROSQUEEZE PPE Cleaner and SC-14 All-Purpose Degreaser as standalone products for fire stations. Extractor Pump Install and Servicing supports the use of these cleaning products through automated chemical pump systems. All services adhere to NFPA 1851 standards for selection, care, and maintenance of protective ensembles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advanced Cleanings

Quantifiable outcome

• Removes cancer-causing carcinogens from firefighter PPE
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CITROSQUEEZE / SC ProductscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoCal PPE is a proud user and distributor of CITROSQUEEZE PPE cleaner and SC-14 All-Purpose Cleaner/Degreaser manufactured by SC Products. These products are specifically formulated to target and remove cancer-causing carcinogens from firefighting PPE and are NFPA 1851 compliant.
• IntertekcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party verification organization that verifies SoCal PPE as an ISP (Independent Service Provider) for performing advanced repairs on firefighting garments. Intertek verification provides credibility and compliance certification.
• NFPAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Fire Protection Association. SoCal PPE supports and develops NFPA 1851 Care and Maintenance programs within fire departments. The company operates in compliance with NFPA 1851 standards.
• Redlinerentals.comminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRental partner for rental gear, referenced on SoCal PPE website navigation for additional firefighter equipment needs.
• Benchmark Internet Marketing, LLCminorOthersWebsite developer and designer credited for the SoCal PPE website (benchmarkwebsitedesign.com).

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• CITROSQUEEZE / SC Products: SC Products is the manufacturer of CITROSQUEEZE and SC-14 cleaners, which SoCal PPE uses, distributes, and brand-promotes. Comparable as a supplier / partner — the same products they sell through fire-etc.com originate here, and SC Products could expand direct distribution in SoCal PPE's market.
• Intertek: Intertek is the third-party certification body that verifies SoCal PPE as a qualified ISP for advanced repairs on firefighting garments. Comparable as a critical ecosystem partner — its verification underpins the company's competitive moat and any new ISP competitor would need to obtain equivalent Intertek verification.

Broad incumbents

• LION Group: LION Group manufactures structural firefighting turnout gear and related protective ensembles and offers care, maintenance, and training services. It is comparable as a vertically integrated PPE manufacturer with NFPA 1851-aligned service offerings that could expand into the Southern California ISP market.
• MSA Safety: MSA Safety is a large safety equipment manufacturer serving fire service and industrial markets with PPE, breathing apparatus, and related offerings. Comparable to SoCal PPE as an incumbent PPE provider whose installed base and service infrastructure could be leveraged to enter NFPA 1851 ISP services.
• Globe Manufacturing: Globe Manufacturing is a major manufacturer of structural firefighting turnout gear and offers care, cleaning, and inspection programs. Comparable to SoCal PPE as a turnout gear OEM with services that could be extended into additional geographic markets.
• Fire-Dex: Fire-Dex is a major US manufacturer of turnout gear and other firefighter PPE that also operates a care, maintenance, and decontamination program. It competes with SoCal PPE both as a national PPE supplier with service capabilities and as a potential ISP in Southern California.
• Clean Harbors: Clean Harbors is a large environmental and industrial services company with decontamination, cleaning, and hazardous waste capabilities. Comparable to SoCal PPE as a service provider that could expand into firefighter PPE decontamination at scale.
• Honeywell First Responder: Honeywell's first responder business supplies PPE, SCBA, and turnout gear to fire departments across the US. It is comparable as a broad incumbent with the resources to launch ISP and decontamination services, putting competitive pressure on regional independent providers like SoCal PPE.

Direct peers

• Westnet (PPE Care & Cleaning): Westnet is a US-based provider of PPE inspection, cleaning, and repair services to fire and EMS agencies, with NFPA 1851 aligned offerings. Most directly comparable to SoCal PPE as a competing independent ISP operating in other regions, with similar service mix and customer base.
• Veridian Fire Protective Equipment Services: Veridian Fire provides firefighting PPE inspection, cleaning, and repair services consistent with NFPA 1851. Directly comparable to SoCal PPE as a competing verified ISP serving fire departments in a defined region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SoCalPPE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/socal-ppe

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SoCal PPE