ISO/TC 94/SC 14/WG 5 - Non-fire rescue incidents (Rescue)

This document provides the principles that govern the development of incident type and/or hazard specific test methods and minimum performance requirements for helmets for firefighters while engaged in specific rescue activities. Helmets related to specific rescue activities, such as road traffic crash (RTC) and urban search and rescue (USAR), are documented in individual subclauses of this document. NOTE Further guidance can be found in ISO 18639-1. The purpose of this document is to ensure that minimum performance requirements for incident type and/or hazard specific helmets are designated. This document covers general helmet design, the minimum performance level of the materials used and the methods of test for determining this performance level. It does not cover special helmets for use in other high risk situations such as firefighting. This document does not cover protection for the torso, arms, legs and feet or protection of the hands against other hazards, e.g. chemical, biological, radiation and electrical hazards, except for limited, accidental exposure to fire ground chemicals and contaminated blood or body fluids. Selection of the appropriate system of personal protective equipment, (PPE), including helmets, is dependent on carrying out an effective risk assessment which identifies the hazard to be faced, evaluates the likelihood of those hazards and provides the means of reducing or eliminating these hazards.

This document provides the principles that govern the development of incident type and/or hazard specific test methods and minimum performance requirements for protective gloves for firefighters while engaged in specific rescue activities. Gloves related to specific specialist rescue activities, such as road traffic crash (RTC) and urban search and rescue (USAR), are documented in individual subclauses of this document. NOTE Further guidance can be found in ISO 18639-1. The purpose of this document is to ensure that minimum performance requirements for incident type and/or hazard specific protective gloves are designated. This document deals with "rescue from emergencies involving modes of transportation" in particular performance requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) intended to be used by firefighters, primarily but not solely to protect against hazard exposure at non fire rescue activities involving road traffic crash (RTC) or motor vehicle accidents (MVA). This document covers general glove design, the minimum performance level of the materials used and the methods of test for determining this performance level. This document does not cover special gloves for use in other high risk situations such as firefighting. This document does not cover protection for the head, torso, arms, legs and feet. These are covered in other parts of the ISO 18639 series. It does not cover protection of the hands against other hazards, e.g. chemical, biological, radiation and electrical hazards, except for limited, accidental exposure to fire ground chemicals and blood or body fluids. Selection of the appropriate system of personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, is dependent on carrying out an effective risk assessment which identifies the hazard to be faced, evaluates the likelihood of those hazards and provides the means of reducing or eliminating these hazards.

ISO 18639 series of standards specify requirements of personal protective equipment (PPE) specifically designed to protect firefighters from injury and/or loss of life while engaged in specific rescue activities. ISO 18639 series provides the principles that govern the development of incident type and/or hazard specific minimum test methods including design and performance requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by firefighters and other rescue workers to reduce injury and/or the loss of life while engaged in rescue activities. To assist with selection based on a risk assessment (see Annex C), type of PPE, (if applicable) and performance levels, for different categories of protection are included. ISO 18639-1:2018 covers PPE for use in the rescue activities for road traffic crash (RTC) and urban search and rescue (USAR), but could also include other rescue activities depending on the risk assessment. ISO 18639-1:2018 does not include PPE for use in high risk fire exposures. Similarly, this document does not include PPE to protect against chemical and biological hazards, except against short term and accidental exposures whilst engaged in rescue activities. ISO 18639-1:2018 describes the general structure of the ISO 18639 series, including each subsection, sets design and performance requirements for PPE and includes requirements for marking and manufacturer's instructions.

ISO 18639-3:2018 specifies test methods and minimum performance requirements for protective clothing for firefighters while engaged in rescue activities. Clothing related to specific rescue activities are documented in individual subclauses, see 6.2.1 or 6.2.2. NOTE For further guidance see ISO 18639‑1. Subclauses of this document cover general clothing design, the minimum performance level of the materials used and the methods of test for determining this performance level. ISO 18639-3:2018 does not cover special clothing for use in other high risk situations such as firefighting. ISO 18639-3:2018 does not cover protection for the head, hands and feet or protection against other hazards, e.g. chemical, biological, radiation and electrical hazards, except for limited, accidental exposure to some chemicals and contaminated blood or other body fluids.

ISO 18639-6:2018 provides the principles that govern the development of incident type and/or hazard specific test methods and minimum performance requirements for safety footwear for firefighters while engaged in specific rescue activities. Footwear related to specific rescue activities, e.g. Road Traffic Crash, (RTC) and Urban Search and Rescue, (USAR) is documented in individual subclauses of this document. NOTE For further guidance refer ISO 18639‑1. The purpose of ISO 18639-6:2018 is to ensure minimum performance requirements for incident type and/or hazard specific safety footwear are designated. ISO 18639-6:2018 covers general footwear design, the minimum performance level of the materials used and the methods of test for determining this performance level. ISO 18639-6:2018 does not cover special footwear for use in other high risk situations such as structural firefighting. ISO 18639-6:2018 does not cover protection for the head, torso, arms, hands and legs or protection of the feet against other hazards, e.g. chemical, biological, radiation and electrical hazards, except for limited, accidental exposure to fire ground chemicals and contaminated blood or body fluids. Selection of the appropriate system of Personal Protective Equipment, (PPE), including footwear, is dependent on carrying out an effective risk assessment which identifies the hazard to be faced, evaluates the likelihood of those hazards and provides the means of reducing or eliminating these hazards.