Introducing the MSA G1 City Edition SCBA
Sep 23rd 2026
MSA Introduces the New G1 City Edition SCBA
MSA Safety has expanded its G1 SCBA platform with the new G1 City Edition SCBA, introducing firefighter-informed updates focused on search and rescue, accountability, weight, comfort, and day-to-day usability.
Rather than redesigning the G1 from the ground up, MSA built the City Edition on the existing G1 platform and used years of firefighter feedback to address specific parts of the SCBA experience. The result is a configurable system that combines integrated location technology with updates to the harness, cylinder retention system, controls, facepiece, and other components.
Integrated LUNAR Beacon Technology
One of the most significant additions to the G1 City Edition is LUNAR Beacon Technology integrated directly into the SCBA power module.
The technology allows a firefighter carrying an MSA LUNAR Connected Device to search for and locate another firefighter wearing a G1 City Edition SCBA during an emergency. If a firefighter enters an alarm condition, the LUNAR system can provide directional information to help crews move toward that firefighter.
MSA's LUNAR platform uses its FAST, or Firefighter Assist Search Technology, network to provide this directional information. When paired with the G1 City Edition, LUNAR can also provide information such as SCBA air pressure, alarm status, and location data. Information can be shared through MSA's FireGrid Monitor application when the necessary connectivity is available.
For departments already evaluating connected fireground technology, the integration means the SCBA can become part of a broader system designed around firefighter accountability, situational awareness, and search and rescue.
Reducing Weight Without Leaving the G1 Platform
SCBA weight has a direct impact on how equipment feels during extended operations, so MSA also focused on reducing weight while maintaining the functionality of the G1 platform.
The G1 City Edition includes a newly engineered cylinder retention system that MSA says is more than 10% lighter than the standard G1 retention band. The system was designed to maintain durability while supporting efficient cylinder changes.
MSA also introduced a low-profile swiveling lumbar pad. Compared with the traditional adjustable swivel lumbar configuration, the new design can reduce weight by up to half a pound. It also allows the SCBA to sit closer to the firefighter's body while retaining the pivoting movement intended to let the unit move naturally with the wearer.
These changes are intended to improve comfort, balance, and mobility without requiring departments to move away from the G1 platform they may already be familiar with.
Firefighter Feedback Shaped the Details
Not every change to the City Edition is a major technology update. Several of the improvements address smaller points of interaction that firefighters experience every time they put on, adjust, or operate an SCBA.
MSA says years of direct firefighter feedback contributed to updates including:
Thicker regulator and cylinder valve controls designed for easier operation while wearing gloves
Thinner shoulder pads to update fit and comfort
Longer pull straps with larger ends to make them easier to grip and adjust
Facepiece harness improvements designed to support smoother one-handed donning while wearing gloves
Control module updates that continuously display cylinder pressure and estimated time remaining
These changes reflect an important part of the City Edition's development. Instead of focusing only on new electronics, MSA also looked at how firefighters physically interact with their SCBA during routine checks, donning, training, and emergency operations.
Built Around the Connected Fireground
The integrated Beacon also connects the City Edition to MSA's broader connected firefighter ecosystem.
LUNAR combines firefighter search technology with thermal imaging and connectivity, while FireGrid can provide incident command with access to information from connected G1 SCBAs. Depending on the system configuration and available connectivity, that can include information about air pressure, alarms, and firefighter status.
This does not replace a department's established accountability procedures. Instead, the technology provides another source of information that departments can incorporate into their operations, training, and emergency procedures.
Configurable for Different Department Needs
There is not one SCBA configuration that works for every department, and MSA has retained the configurability of the G1 platform with the City Edition.
Departments can mix and match City Edition features with existing G1 platform options, including features associated with the G1 XR Edition. MSA says this flexibility is intended to allow departments of different sizes, operational requirements, and budgets to configure the system around their needs.
That configurability is especially important when evaluating an SCBA program as a whole. Departments may need to consider existing equipment, communications systems, training requirements, cylinder configurations, connected technology, service, and long-term support rather than evaluating an SCBA based on a single feature.
Meets the 2025 Edition of NFPA 1970
The G1 City Edition meets the 2025 edition of NFPA 1970 for structural firefighting applications and is listed by MSA for NIOSH 42 CFR Part 84. MSA notes that approvals can vary based on configuration and recommends checking the specific approval information for the product being considered.
The 2025 edition of NFPA 1970 brought several updated requirements to SCBA, including changes involving the end-of-service-time indicator, removable soft goods for cleaning, and Bluetooth connection indicators.
Is the G1 City Edition Right for Your Department?
The City Edition represents another step in the continued development of the MSA G1 platform.
For departments evaluating new SCBA, some of the most important changes to consider include the integration of LUNAR Beacon Technology, reduced-weight components, updated fit and ergonomics, gloved usability, and the ability to configure the SCBA around existing G1 options.
The decision ultimately goes beyond a list of specifications. Fit, training, communications, accountability procedures, maintenance requirements, and how the SCBA will integrate with the rest of a department's equipment should all be part of the evaluation.
TheFireStore's Frontline Sales Team can help your department learn more about the MSA G1 City Edition SCBA, compare available configurations, and determine which options align with your operational requirements.