ASTM F1848-14

Standard Classification System for Canine Search Resources

ABSTRACT
This classification aids search and rescue managers in ordering resources for search and rescue incidents and to aid dog handlers in communicating the types of tasks for which they and their dogs have trained. This classification is intended as a supplement to the resource typing specifications of the Incident Command System and specifically as a means of typing search and rescue dog resources and is suitable for classifying dog resources for a wide variety of emergency management purposes including both search and rescue and law enforcement incidents. This classification does not attempt to put forth standards of performance or training for dogs or their handlers. Search and rescue dog under this classification is either Type I or Type II, based upon whether or not the dog can effectively discriminate between the human scent of different individuals. Kind classifications of SAR dog resources are based upon the specific tasks for which dogs are deployed and include: Kind A, area search dog; Kind B, avalanche search dog; Kind C, cadaver search dog; Kind D, disaster/collapsed structure search dog; Kind E, evidence search dog; Kind F, railing search dog; Kind G, tracking search dog; and Kind H, water search.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This standard may be used to classify canine search resources (commonly referred to as search dog teams or crews) for emergency management operations, including search and rescue and law enforcement missions.  
4.2 Classification of canine search resources is based upon the training of the dog and its handler and their ability to perform specific tasks.  
4.3 Canine search resources are classified by category, kind, and type.  
4.4 A canine search resource may be more than one category.  
4.5 A canine search resource may be more than one kind.  
4.6 A particular kind of canine search resource can only be one type.  
4.7 A canine search resource’s type can vary, depending on its kind.
SCOPE
1.1 This classification system defines canine search resources in terms of their training and capabilities.  
1.2 This classifications system is intended to aid emergency managers ordering resources for search and rescue incidents. These classifications also provide a means by which dog handlers can convey to emergency management the tasks for which they, and their dogs, are trained.  
1.3 This classification system does not define standards of performance or training for canine search resources.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 28-Feb-2014
• ICS: 13.200 - Accident and disaster control
• Technical Committee: F32 - Search and Rescue
• Drafting Committee: F32.02 - Management and Operations

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:F1848 −14
Standard Classification System for
1
Canine Search Resources
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1848; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.5 scent discrimination—the ability of a dog to distin-
guish between the scents of different individuals and to work
1.1 This classification system defines canine search re-
an assigned scent to complete a search activity without alerting
sources in terms of their training and capabilities.
on scents other than that assigned.
1.2 This classification system is intended to aid emergency
3.1.6 tracking—a search dog action wherein a non-scent
managers ordering resources for search and rescue incidents.
discriminating dog follows a person’s route by detecting fresh
These classifications also provide a means by which dog
human scent on the ground or by following scent caused by the
handlers can convey to emergency management the tasks for
physical disturbance of substrate such as crushed vegetation,
which they, and their dogs, are trained.
soil etc.
1.3 This classification system does not define standards of
3.1.7 trailing—asearchdogactionwhereinascentdiscrimi-
performance or training for canine search resources.
nating dog follows a specific person’s route by detecting scent
on the ground and in nearby plumes.
2. Referenced Documents
2
3.2 Other terminology included in this guide may be found
2.1 ASTM Standards:
in Terminology F1633 or SWGDOG SC1.
F1633 Guide for Techniques in Land Search
F3048 Guide for Swiftwater/Flood Search and Rescue Op-
4. Significance and Use
erations
2.2 Other Referenced Documents: 4.1 This standard may be used to classify canine search
3
SWGDOG SC1 Terminology resources (commonly referred to as search dog teams or crews)
4
SWGDOG SC8 Substance Dogs: Human Remains for emergency management operations, including search and
rescue and law enforcement missions.
3. Terminology
4.2 Classification of canine search resources is based upon
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
the training of the dog and its handler and their ability to
3.1.1 area search—a search dog action whereby the dog
perform specific tasks.
attempts to detect the presence of human scent and, if found,
4.3 Canine search resources are classified by category, kind,
locate its source within a defined search area.
and type.
3.1.2 category—a specific task for which a canine search
4.4 A canine search resource may be more than one cat-
resource is trained.
egory.
3.1.3 humanremains—allorpartofadeceasedhumanbody.
4.5 A canine search resource may be more than one kind.
3.1.4 kind—a subset of some canine search resource catego-
4.6 A particular kind of canine search resource can only be
ries.
one type.
1
4.7 A canine search resource’s type can vary, depending on
This classification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F32 on Search
and Rescue and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F32.02 on Management
its kind.
and Operations.
Current edition approved March 1, 2014. Published May 2014. Originally
5. Canine Search Resource Category
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as F1848 – 98 (2012).
DOI: 10.1520/F1848-14.
5.1 Category identifies the specific task for which a canine
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
search resource is trained:
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.1.1 Area Search—A canine search resource trained to
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
search structured areas of varied terrain with minimal man-
3
http://casgroup.fiu.edu/pages/docs/1062/1335294274_SC1_Terminology_
made structures.
%28abcdefghijk%29.pdf
4 5.1.2 Avalanche Search—A canine search resource trained
http://casgroup.fiu.edu/pages/docs/1062/1335294313_SC8_Human_Remain-
s.pdf to search avalanche debris fields.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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F1848−14
5.1.3 Land Human Remains Detection—A canine search 6.6 Disaster/Collapsed Structure Search:
resource trained to search for human remains on the land.
6.6.1 Live Find—Acanine search resource trained to search
5.1.4 Water Search—A canine search resource trained to
for live humans only.
search for human scent or remains in bodies of water.
6.6.2 HRD—A canine search resource trained to search for
5.1.5 Disaster/CollapsedStructureSearch—Acaninesearch
human remains only.
resource trained to search for hu
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F1848 − 98 (Reapproved 2012) F1848 − 14
Standard Classification System for
Search and Rescue Dog Crew/TeamsCanine Search
1
Resources
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1848; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This classification system defines canine search resources in terms of their training and capabilities.
1.2 This classification aids search and rescue managers in ordering dog crew/team system is intended to aid emergency
managers ordering resources for search and rescue incidents and to aid dog handlers in communicating the types of incidents.
These classifications also provide a means by which dog handlers can convey to emergency management the tasks for which they,
and their dogs havedogs, are trained.
2
1.2 This classification is intended as a supplement to the resource typing specifications of the Incident Command System and
specifically as a means of typing search and rescue dog resources.
1.3 This classification is suitable for classifying dog resources for a wide variety of emergency management purposes including
both search and rescue and law enforcement incidents.
1.3 This classification system does not attempt to put forth define standards of performance or training for dogs or their handlers.
This is the responsibility of local agencies responsible for utilizing the resource.canine search resources.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
F1633 Guide for Techniques in Land Search
F3048 Guide for Swiftwater/Flood Search and Rescue Operations
2.2 Other Referenced Documents:
3
SWGDOG SC1 Terminology
4
SWGDOG SC8 Substance Dogs: Human Remains
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 air-scenting,area v—search—a search dog action which requires whereby the dog to search for human scent attempts to
detect the presence of human scent and, if found, locate its source within a defined search area.
3.1.2 kind, category—n—a classification of a group of similar team/crew functions.specific task for which a canine search
resource is trained.
3.1.3 human remains—all or part of a deceased human body.
3.1.4 kind—a subset of some canine search resource categories.
3.1.5 scent discrimination, discrimination—n—the ability of a dog to distinguish between the scents of different individuals and
to work an assigned scent to complete a SAR activity.search activity without alerting on scents other than that assigned.
1
This classification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F32 on Search and Rescue and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F32.02 on Management and
Operations.
Current edition approved May 1, 2012March 1, 2014. Published June 2012May 2014. Originally approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 20052012 as
F1848 – 98 (2005).(2012). DOI: 10.1520/F1848-98R12.10.1520/F1848-14.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
http://casgroup.fiu.edu/pages/docs/1062/1335294274_SC1_Terminology_%28abcdefghijk%29.pdf
4
http://casgroup.fiu.edu/pages/docs/1062/1335294313_SC8_Human_Remains.pdf
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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F1848 − 14
3.1.6 tracking, tracking—v—a search dog action that requires the dog to put its nose within 1 to 2 ft (or m) of the target’s track
as it moves towards the freshest scent.wherein a non-scent discriminating dog follows a person’s route by detecting fresh human
scent on the ground or by following scent caused by the physical disturbance of substrate such as crushed vegetation, soil etc.
3.1.7 trailing, trailing—v—a search dog action that allows the dog to range about a target’s trail in proportion to the rafts of scent
as it moves towards the freshest scent.wherein a scent discriminating dog follows a specific person’s route by detecting scent on
the ground and in nearby plumes.
3.1.6 type, n—a classification that refers to resource capability.
3.1.7 typing, v—the classification of search and rescue resources by type and kind.
3.2 Terminology not defined in this classific
...