ICAO Standards

Rescue and Fire Fighting

ICAO Annex 14, 3rd Edition
Aerodrome Design and Operations

Mike Mullen
Airports Division, Central Region
Federal Aviation Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation

May 2003
 ICAO Standards
This PowerPoint presentation reviews ICAO Annex
14 requirements and recommendations for
aerodrome rescue and fire fighting.

Additional information on rescue and fire

fighting is included in the Airport Services
Manual, Part 1, Rescue and Fire Fighting.
 ICAO Standards
The Topics addressed in this PowerPoint presentation
include:

Application
Levels of protection to be provided
Extinguishing agents
Rescue equipment
Response time
Emergency access roads
Fire stations
Communication and alerting systems
Number of rescue and fire fighting vehicles
Personnel
 ICAO Standards
The ICAO standards are in orange text blocks.
Sample
ICAO 9.2.5 – The aerodrome category shall be determined from Table 9-1
and shall be based on the longest aeroplanes normally using the
aerodrome and their fuselage width.

Additional comments are in yellow text blocks.

Sample
ICAO 9.2.3 allows an aerodrome category to be one category below the
determined category at aerodromes with less than 700 movements during
the 3 busiest months.
 Application
ICAO 9.2.1 Rescue and fire fighting equipment and services
shall be provided at an aerodrome.

Note. – Public or private organizations, suitably located and equipped,

may be designated to provide the rescue and fire fighting service. It is
intended that the fire station housing these organizations be normally
located on the aerodrome, although an off-aerodrome location is not
precluded provided the response time can be met.
 Application
ICAO 9.2.2 Where an aerodrome is located close to
water/swampy areas, or difficult terrain, and where a
significant portion of approach or departure operations takes
place over these areas, specialist rescue services and fire
fighting equipment appropriate to the hazard and risk shall be
available.

Note 1. – Special fire fighting equipment need not be

provided for water areas; this does not prevent the provision
of such equipment if it would be of practical use, such as
when the areas concerned include reefs or islands.
Note 2. – The objective is to plan and deploy the necessary
life-saving flotation equipment as expeditiously as possible
in a number commensurate with the largest aeroplane
normally using the aerodrome.
 FAA Requirements

In the U.S. water rescue is addressed in the Airport

Emergency Plan (AEP). Airport operators are not required to
have specialized water rescue boats. However, they must
include procedures in the AEP for water rescue to the extent
practicable at their airport.
 Level of protection to be provided
ICAO 9.2.3 The level of protection provided at an aerodrome
for rescue and fire fighting shall be appropriate to the
aerodrome category determined using the principles in 9.2.5
and 9.2.6, except that, where the number of movements of the
aeroplanes in the highest category normally using the
aerodrome is less than 700 in the busiest consecutive 3
months, the level of protection shall be not less than one
category below the determined category.

Note. – Either a take-off or a landing constitutes a movement.

ICAO 9.2.3 allows an aerodrome category to be one category

below the determined category at aerodromes with less than
700 movements during the 3 busiest months.
 Level of protection to be provided
ICAO 9.2.4 Recommendation. – From 1 January 2005, the
level of protection provided at an aerodrome for rescue and
fire fighting should be equal to the aerodrome category
determined using the principles in 9.2.5 and 9.2.6.

ICAO 9.2.5 The aerodrome category shall be determined from

Table 9-1 and shall be based on the longest aeroplanes
normally using the aerodrome and their fuselage width.

Note. – To categorize the aeroplanes using the aerodrome,

first evaluate their overall length and second, their fuselage
width.
 Level of protection to be provided

ICAO 9.2.6 If, after selecting the category appropriate to the

longest aeroplane’s overall length, that aeroplane’s fuselage
width is greater than the maximum width in Table 9-1, column
3 for that category, then the category for that aeroplane shall
actually be one category higher.

Note. – Guidance on categorizing aeroplanes for rescue and

fire fighting purposes and on providing rescue and fire
fighting equipment and services is given in Attachment A,
Section 16 and in the Airport Services Manual, Part 1.
Table 9-1. Aerodrome category for rescue and fire fighting

Aerodrome Aeroplane overall length Maximum

fuselage
Category width
(1) (2) (3)
1 0 m up to but not including 9 m 2m
2 9 m up to but not including 12 m 2m
3 12 m up to but not including 18 m 3m
4 18 m up to but not including 24 m 4m
5 24 m up to but not including 28 m 4m
6 28 m up to but not including 39 m 5m
7 39 m up to but not including 49 m 5m
8 49 m up to but not including 61 m 7m
9 61 m up to but not including 76 m 7m
10 76 m up to but not including 90 m 9m
 Level of protection to be provided

ICAO 9.2.7 During periods of reduced activity, the level of

protection available shall be no less than that needed for the
highest category of aeroplane planned to use the aerodrome
during that time irrespective of the number of movements.
 Extinguishing agents
ICAO 9.2.8 Recommendation. – Both principal and
complementary agents should normally be provided at an
aerodrome.

Note. – Descriptions of the agents may be found in the

Airport Services Manual, Part 1.
 Extinguishing agents
ICAO 9.2.9 Recommendation. – The principal extinguishing
agent should be:
a) a foam meeting the minimum performance level A; or
b) a foam meeting the minimum performance level B; or
c) a combination of these agents;
Except that the principal extinguishing agent for aerodromes
in categories 1 to 3 should preferably meet the minimum
performance level B.

Note. – Information on the required physical properties and

fire extinguishing performance criteria needed for a foam to
achieve an acceptable performance level A or B rating is
given in the Airport Services Manual, Part 1.
 Extinguishing agents
ICAO 9.2.10 Recommendation. – The complementary
extinguishing agent should be a dry chemical powder
suitable for extinguishing hydrocarbon fires.

Note 1. – When selecting dry chemical powders for use with

foam, care must be exercised to ensure compatibility.

Note 2. – Alternate complementary agents having equivalent

fire fighting capability may be utilized. Additional information
on extinguishing agents is given in the Airport Services
Manual, Part 1.
 Level of protection to be provided
ICAO 9.2.11 The amounts of water for foam production and the
complementary agents to be provided on the rescue and fire fighting
vehicles shall be in accordance with the aerodrome category determined
under 9.2.3, 9.2.4, 9.2.5, 9.2.6 and Table 9-2, except that these amounts
may be modified as follows:
a) for aerodrome categories 1 and 2 up to 100 per cent of the water
may be replaced by complementary agent; or

b) for aerodrome categories 3 to 10 when a foam meeting

performance level A is used, up to 30 per cent of the water may be
replaced by complementary agent.
For the purpose of agent substitution, the following equivalents shall be
used:
1 kg complementary agent = 1.0 L water for production of a foam
meeting performance level A

1 kg complementary agent = 0.66 L water for production of a foam

meeting performance level B
 Extinguishing agents

Note 1. – The amounts of water specified for foam production

are predicated on an application rate of 8.2 L/min/m for a
foam meeting performance level A, and 5.5 L/min/m for a
foam meeting performance level B.

Note 2. – When any other complementary agent is used, the

substitution ratios need to be checked.
 Extinguishing agents
ICAO 9.2.12 The quantity of foam concentrates separately
provided on vehicles for foam production shall be in
proportion to the quantity of water provided and the foam
concentrate selected.
ICAO 9.2.13 Recommendation. – The amount of foam
concentrate provided on a vehicle should be sufficient to
produce at least two loads of form solution.
ICAO 9.2.14 Recommendation. – Supplementary water
supplies, for the expeditious replenishment of rescue and fire
fighting vehicles at the scene of an aircraft accident, should
be provided.
ICAO 9.2.15 Recommendation. – When both a foam meeting
performance level A and a foam meeting performance level B
are used, the total amount of water to be provided for foam .
 Extinguishing agents
ICAO 9.2.15 Recommendation. – When both a foam meeting
performance level A and a foam meeting performance level B
are used, the total amount of water to be provided for foam
production should first be based on the quantity which would
be required if only a foam meeting performance level A were
used, and then reduced by 3 L for each 2 L of water provided
for the foam meeting performance level B.

ICAO 9.2.16 The discharge rate of the foam solution shall not
be less than the rates shown in Table 9-2.

ICAO 9.2.17 Recommendation. – The complementary agents

should comply with the appropriate specifications of the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Note: See ISO Publications 5923 (Carbon Dioxide), 7201
(Halogenated Hydrocarbons) and 7202, (Powder).
 Extinguishing agents
ICAO 9.2.18 Recommendation. – The discharge rate of
complementary agents should be selected for optimum
effectiveness of the agent.

ICAO 9.2.19 Recommendation. – A reserve supply of foam

concentrate and complementary agent, equivalent to 200 per
cent of the quantities of these agents to be provided in the
rescue and fire fighting vehicles, should be maintained on the
aerodrome for vehicle replenishment purposes. Where a
major delay in the replenishment of this supply is anticipated,
the amount of reserve supply should be increased.
Table 9-2. Minimum usable amounts of extinguishing agents

Foam meeting performance level A

Aerodrome Water1 Discharge rate
Category (L) foam solution / minute (L)
(1) (2) (3)
1 350 350
2 1 000 800
3 1 800 1 300
4 3 600 2 600
5 8 100 4 500
6 11 800 6 000
7 18 200 7 900
8 27 300 10 800
9 36 400 13 500
10 48 200 16 600
Table 9-2. Minimum usable amounts of extinguishing agents

Foam meeting performance level B

Aerodrome Water1 Discharge rate
Category (L) foam solution / minute (L)
(1) (4) (5)
1 230 230
2 670 550
3 1 200 900
4 2 400 1 800
5 5 400 3 000
6 7 900 4 000
7 12 100 5 300
8 18 200 7 200
9 24 300 9 000
10 32 300 11 200
Table 9-2. Minimum usable amounts of extinguishing agents

Complementary agents
Aerodrome Dry2
Category chemical powders (kg)
(1) (6)
1 45
2 90
3 135
4 135
5 180
6 225
7 225
8 450
9 450
10 450
Table 9-2. Minimum usable amounts of extinguishing agents

Note 1. – The quantities of water shown in columns 2 and 4

are based on the average overall length of aeroplanes in a
given category. Where operations of an aeroplane larger than
the average size are expected, the quantities of water would
need to be recalculated. See the Airport Services Manual,
Part 1 for additional guidance.

Note 2. – Any other complementary agent having equivalent

fire fighting capability may be used.
 Rescue equipment

ICAO 9.2.20 Recommendation. – Rescue equipment

commensurate with the level of aircraft operations should be
provided on the rescue and fire fighting vehicle (s).

Note. – Guidance on the rescue equipment to be provided at

an aerodrome is given in the Airport Services Manual, Part 1.
 Response time

ICAO 9.2.21 The operational objective of the rescue and fire

fighting service shall be to achieve a response time not
exceeding three minutes to any point of each operational
runway, in optimum visibility and surface conditions.

ICAO 9.2.22 Recommendation. – The operational objective of

the rescue and fire fighting service should be to achieve a
response time not exceeding two minutes to any point of
each operational runway, in optimum visibility and surface
conditions.
 Response time

ICAO 9.2.23 Recommendation. – The operational objective of

the rescue and fire fighting service should be to achieve a
response time not exceeding three minutes to any other part
of the movement area in optimum visibility and surface
conditions.

Note 1. – Response time is considered to be the time between

the initial call to the rescue and fire fighting service, and the
time when the first responding vehicle(s) is (are) in position
to apply foam at a rate of at least 50 per cent of the discharge
rate specified in Table 9-2.
 Response time

Note 2. – To meet the operational objective as nearly as

possible in less than optimum conditions of visibility, it may
be necessary to provide suitable guidance and/or procedures
for rescue and fire fighting vehicles.

Note 3. – Optimum visibility and surface conditions are

defined as daytime, good visibility, no precipitation with
normal response route free of surface contamination e.g.
water, ice or snow.
 Response time
ICAO 9.2.24 Recommendation. – Any other vehicle required
to deliver the amounts of extinguishing agents specified in
Table 9-2 should arrive no more than one minute after the
first responding vehicle(s) so as to provide continuous agent
application.

ICAO 9.2.25 Recommendation. – A system of preventive

maintenance of rescue and fire fighting vehicles should be
employed to ensure effectiveness of the equipment and
compliance with the specified response time throughout the
life of the vehicle.
 Emergency access roads

ICAO 9.2.26 Recommendation. – Emergency access roads

should be provided on an aerodrome where terrain
conditions permit their construction, so as to facilitate
achieving minimum response times. Particular attention
should be given to the provision of ready access to approach
areas up to 1000 m from the threshold, or at least within the
aerodrome boundary. Where a fence is provided, the need
for convenient access to the outside areas should be taken
into account.
Note. – Aerodrome service roads may serve as emergency
access roads when they are suitably located and
constructed.
 Emergency access roads

ICAO 9.2.27 Recommendation. – Emergency access roads

should be capable of supporting the heaviest vehicles which
will use them, and be usable in all weather conditions Roads
within 90 m of a runway should be surfaced to prevent
surface erosion and the transfer of debris to the runway.
Sufficient vertical clearance should be provided from
overhead obstructions for the largest vehicles.

ICAO 9.2.28 Recommendation. – When the surface of the

road is indistinguishable from the surrounding area, or in
areas where snow may obscure the location of the roads,
edge markers should be placed at intervals of about 10 m.
 Fire Stations

ICAO 9.2.29 Recommendation. – All rescue and fire fighting

vehicles should normally be housed in a fire station. Satellite
fire stations should be provided whenever the response time
cannot be achieved from a single fire station.

ICAO 9.2.30 Recommendation. – The fire station should be

located so that the access for rescue and fire fighting
vehicles into the runway area is direct and clear, requiring a
minimum number of turns.
 Communication and alerting systems

ICAO 9.2.31 Recommendation. – A discrete communication

system should be provided linking a fire station with the
control tower, any other fire station on the aerodrome and the
rescue and fire fighting vehicles.

ICAO 9.2.32 Recommendation. – An alerting system for

rescue and fire fighting personnel, capable of being operated
from that station, should be provided at a fire station, any
other fire station on the aerodrome and the aerodrome
control tower.
Number of rescue & fire fighting vehicles
ICAO 9.2.33 Recommendation. – The minimum number of
rescue and fire fighting vehicles provided at an aerodrome
should be in accordance with the following tabulation:

Aerodrome Rescue and fire

Category Fighting vehicles
1 1
2 1
3 1
4 1
5 1
6 2
7 2
8 3
9 3
10 3
 Personnel
ICAO 9.2.34 All rescue and fire fighting personnel shall be
properly trained to perform their duties in an efficient manner
and shall participate in live fire drills commensurate with the
types of aircraft and type of rescue and fire fighting
equipment in use at the aerodrome, including pressure-fed
fuel fires.

Note 1. – Guidance to assist the appropriate authority in

providing proper training is given in Attachment A, Section 16
of this volume of Annex 14; Airport Services Manual, Part 1;
and Training Manual, Part E-2.

Note 2. – Fires associated with fuel discharged under very

high pressure from a ruptured fuel tank are known as
“pressure-fed fuel fires”.
 Personnel

ICAO 9.2.35 The rescue and fire fighting personnel training

programme shall include training in human performance,
including team coordination.

Note. – Guidance material to design training programmes on

human performance and team coordination can be found in
the Human Factors Training Manual.
 Personnel

ICAO 9.2.36 Recommendation. – During flight operations,

sufficient trained personnel should be detailed and be readily
available to ride the rescue and fire fighting vehicles and to
operate the equipment at maximum capacity. These trained
personnel should be deployed in a way that ensures that
minimum response times can be achieved and that
continuous agent application at the appropriate rate can be
fully maintained. Consideration should also be given for
personnel to use hand lines, ladders and other rescue and
fire fighting equipment normally associated with aircraft
rescue and fire fighting operations.
 Personnel

ICAO 9.2.37 Recommendation. – In determining the number

of personnel required to provide for rescue, consideration
should be given to the types of aircraft using the aerodrome.

ICAO 9.2.38 All responding rescue and fire fighting

personnel shall be provided with protective clothing and
respiratory equipment to enable them to perform their duties
in an effective manner.