The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has just released the 2014 edition of NFPA 1670—Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents.The 2014 edition of NFPA 1670 replaces the last edition, which was published in 2009; the next edition is scheduled to be released in 2017.
Source: This article was adapted from NFPA 1670—Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents, by the National Fire Protection Association. Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved. Excerpted with expressed written permission.To purchase a copy of this standard, point your Internet browser here. To view this standard online—for free (read-only doc)—point your Internet browser here.
NFPA 1670 addresses standards for operations and training in the following rescue disciplines:
- Rope Rescue
- Structural Collapse Search and Rescue
- Confined Space Search and Rescue
- Vehicle Search and Rescue
- Water Search and Rescue
- Wilderness Search and Rescue (reproduced below)
- Trench and Excavation Search and Rescue
- Machinery Search and Rescue
- Cave Search and Rescue
- Mine and Tunnel Search and Rescue
- Helicopter Search and Rescue
- Tower Rescue (new for 2014)
- Animal Technical Rescue (new for 2014)
NFPA 1670 document scope:
- This standard shall identify and establish levels of functional capability for conducting operations at technical search and rescue incidents while minimizing threats to rescuers.
- This standard was developed to define levels of preparation and operational capability that should be achieved by any authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) that has responsibility for technical rescue operations. These defined levels provide an outline of a system used to manage an incident efficiently and effectively, to maximize personnel safety, and to bring about the successful rescue of victims and the eventual termination of the event. The system should be followed to increase the capabilities of the AHJ to deal successfully with even the most complex incident. The system progresses from the simple basic awareness level to the operations level, and, finally, to the technician level. It should be understood that, as the system expands, the requirements for training, operational skills, management ability, and types and amounts of equipment also expand.
- The requirements of this standard shall apply to organizations that provide response to technical search and rescue incidents, including those not regulated by governmental mandates.
- Organizations providing such rescue, fire suppression, and emergency services can include fire departments, law enforcement, emergency medical services, and utility, public works, and rescue organizations.
- It is not the intent of this document to be applied to individuals and their associated skills and/or qualifications.
- While organizations can meet the requirements of this standard, individuals and their skills and qualifications are outside of the scope of this document. NFPA1006, Standard for Technical Rescuer Professional Qualifications, addresses rescue technician professional qualifications
Wilderness Search and Rescue—standards for organizational operations and training at the Awareness, Operations, and Technician levels:
Note: AHJ = Authority Having Jurisdiction; A vertical rule indicates a substantive change from the 2009 edition of the NFPA 1670 standard; A black bullet (•) indicates a complete deletion of one or more paragraphs from the 2009 edition of the NFPA 1670 standard; An asterisk (*) indicates explanatory material can be found in the section of the standard entitled Annex A: Explanatory Materials.
