comite technique international de prevention et d'extinction du feu (ctif)

COMITE TECHNIQUE INTERNATIONAL DE PREVENTION ET
D’EXTINCTION DU FEU (CTIF)
INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL COMMITTEE FOR THE PREVENTION AND EXTINCTION OF FIRE
INTERNATIONALES TECHNISCHES KOMITEE FÜR VORBEUGENDEN BRANDSCHUTZ UND FEUERLÖSCHWESEN
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS COMMISSION
MINUTES OF THE 11 TH MEETING HELD IN TOWSON , MARYLAND, USA
30 TH MAY – 7 TH JUNE 1998
Participants
D Nuessler (Chairman) Germany
G Carlson USA
K Schmid Austria J Stracks Luxembourg
L Van Rompaey Belgium Ben. M.G. Janssen The Netherlands
Denis Bergeron Canada R Grosset Poland
M Thomsen Denmark Franc Cernelic Slovenia
O P Ojanen Finland Boris Stevanovic Slovenia
Dominique Bonjour France U Ludescher Switzerland
Gábor Lázár Hungary EG Ted Pearn United Kingdom
Items
1. Opening
Gene Carlson welcomed the participants and introduced John Hoglund who provided the meeting
rooms and organizational help on behalf of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. The
committee´s CTIF-conference flag was given to Gene Carlson by the host of the former meeting in
Finland, Olli-Pekka Ojanen.
2. Personalities
Apologies for absence were received from:
Brian Robinson, CTIF-Vicepresident , Ken Nessvi, Sweden, Marcel Back, Luxemburg, Nils Henrik
Agerup, Norway, Milan Slimak, Slowak Republic and Mr. Gekas, Greece.
3. Minutes of the 10th meeting
The comments from Finland to ERIC-Cards have to be mentioned at the next meeting. The minutes
were adopted as true record.
4. Completation of the agenda
The suggested reports about a meeting in Tarragona, Spain, which was organized by CEFIC with
financial support of the European Commission could not be included due to time constraints.
A questionnaire about the colours used in cylinders for pressurized air for breathing apparatus ( see
annex) was drafted by Karl Schmid, Austria, and answered by the delegates during their stay.
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5. Preparation and translation of documents for the CTIF-general Council meeting in Portugal
a) Informationstrategy (speaker - in German: Karl Schmid, Austria)
The paper was ready and translated during the meeting to English by Dieter Nuessler and to French by
Dieter Nuessler and Dominique Bonjour. French has to be completed.
b) Storage of dangerous goods (speaker - in French: Denis Bergeron, Canada)
The paper was ready in english and French. Will be translated to German by Dieter Nuessler.
c) Training requirements (speaker - in German: Urs Ludescher, Switzerland)
The suggested speaker Dominique Bonjour, France, will probably have problems to attend the meeting in
Lisboa. After discussion in detail about the suggested structure of that paper which should address the
tasks which have to fullfilled on the scene and the skills and knowledge which have to be trained
therefore Dominique Bonjour will draft the presentation in French and English. Denis Bergeron volunteerd
for check of the English translation. German translation will be done by Urs Ludescher. The diskette of
the text to be send to Dieter Nuessler within 4 weeks. A copy of the English draft to Gene Carlson for
adjustment of the technical requirements.
d) Technical requirements (speaker - in English: Gene Carlson, USA)
The paper was ready in principle but should be adjusted according to the CTIF-4-step strategy taking into
account the tasks which have to be fullfilled on the scene. Translation to French and German would be
done in USA and checked by Dominique Bonjour and Dieter Nuessler. The text will be send by e-mail to
Dieter Nuessler.
6. Hazmat-Training
a) Improvement of the CTIF-questionnaire concerning the hazmat-training
Gene Carlson has drafted a new questionnaire. The discussion whether there should be another request
for answering by the national committees was postponed to the Lisboa-meeting.
b) EU-project - actual status (TOKEVA)
On behalf of the CTIF the chairman attended a first meeting held in Brussels, There the decision was
taken to translate the Method-Guides No. 1 - 9 into Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish.
It was pointed out that a lot of countries had already training material available and that the project
therefore would be most beneficial for those country just developping their hazmat-response-programme.
It was agreed on sending a collection of training material of European countries to the project leader
Sakkari Halmemies from the Finish Fireservice Institute in Kuopio, Finland, This will also be the location
for the next meeting of the project group late in September.
On behalf of Austria, Karl Schmid, and on behalf of Belgium, Louis van Rompaey are also participating in
that project. It was aggreed that Olli-Pekka Ojanen would participate at the next meeting on behalf of
CTIF and would try to adjust the foreseen date to the time table of Karl Schmid.
As long as no reqasonable funds are available from the project the work in depth will be done during
regular meetings of the Committee. If applicable, relevant documents should be send to the delegates in
due time.
7. The situation in USA
Several visits on interesting locations and handouts by invited guests gave a good perspective of the
situation in the US.
Visits e.g. to Fairfax County Training Center, Washington D.C. Fire Department, National Institute of
Science & Technology attracted the attention of the delegates.
Gary Tokle as the vice-president of the National Fire Protection Association was partly present at the
meeting and provided the delegates with the NFPA hazardous materials code which is the tactical basis
for hazmat responders throughout the US.
See also item 9b)-9d)
8. Chairman´s report: International dangerous goods regulations
The Hazardous Cargo Bulletin, a specialized magazine on hazardous materials, which is published in UK
was recommended as a good source of information about the actual status of dangerous goods
regulations. Further information about subscription can be given by Ted Pearn.
The chairman reported that the CTIF initiative concerning the a-marginals for the transport of limited
quantities of dangerous goods (proposal drafted at the last meeting) has been succesful in ADR and RID.
With the adopted regulation we have reached that a valuable information source can be retreived easily
by emergency responders.
The same proposal will be presented to the UN-subcommittee of experts for adoption in international
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carriage.
The chairman pointed out that several new regulations will come into force from 1.1.1999 both in
RID and ADR.
There are still pending proposals in RID and ADR, e.g.
- Full loads of a single substance, (Norway / CTIF)
- 10385 Instructions in writing for consolidated consignments
- 10500 Visibility of orange plates
which we will have to deal with in the future.
The CTIF-proposal to become advisory status in the UN-(Sub)committee of experts was submitted
to the delegates (see annex). This UN-committee is of major importance for our initiatives for better
labelling and mor precise UN-numbers.
Under this perspective the visit of delegates from the US-Department of transportation, Fritz
Wybenga and Bob Richards, was very important. During the meeting we could establish good
personal relationships and could exchange our views especially to a proposal by the US-delegation
concerning "Toxic by inhalation - substances". A comment on that proposal was drafted (see
annex) and will be submitted to the UN-committee. Delegates should contact their national
representatives to explain them why CTIF supports that US-proposal.
9. Hazardous materials emergency response - information strategy
a) Step 1 - Results of the questionnaire "CTIF - emergency action code"
The questionnaire was drafted by Barney Franklin, UK, translated to German by the chairman and
send to all member states of the CTIF by the new general secretary A. Zeilmayr, Austria.
So far 21 answers were received the votes are presented hereafter:
Votes in favour of the code from
Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Poland,
Romania, Slowenia, United Kingdom
Votes not in favour of the code from
Canada, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, USA
Mixed votes from
Germany, Sweden, Iran (no equipment available)
No votes received so far from:
Slowak Republic, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Ireland
Bosnia-Herzegowina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Israel, Iran, Kazakstan, Latvia, Lithuania,
Morroco, Russia, Vatican. Yugoslawia
b) Step 2 - American strategy - North American Response Guide Book
George Cushmac from US-DOT who is in charge of drafting this guide book which was handed out
to the delegates explained the major principles behind it and outlined that this book is given free of
charge to all actors in hazmat-response. The NAERG has proved over the last decade its value and
will be even more important since the joined edition with Canada and Mexico. He offered his help
for all countries wishing to translate the book into their language.
c) Step 3 - Computerized database in USA - CHEMTREC
d) Step 4 - Cooperation fireservice - chemical industry in USA
During a visit of CHEMTREC both items were addressed.It was outlined that the chemical industry
volunteerd to build CHEMTREC as a system of support for emergency responders. For that
purpose a big number of MaterialSafetyDataSheeds MSDS are stored in their computer system.
CHEMTREC´s help is provided free of charge and provides information by phone 24h and through
contractors also on the scene both with advice and technical assistance.
The Operation Response Emergency Information System OREIS which is run by a private
company covers the majority of the carriers (Rail and road) and provides information about the
product which is actually on a truck or waggon. For a given truck or tank number a direct link to the
consigner is estabilshed and the relevant information is provided by telephone link.
10. Report: Relevant changes in the field of chemical laws, regulations, - Slovakia
Postponed to a further meeting
11. Seveso directive - actual status in the member countries - all delegates
In this context guidelines for emergency response and the calculation of the effects of the release
of toxic gases are of special interest. Ben Janssen, The Netherlands, volunteerd to prepare a
discussion paper for the Lisboa meeting. He already provided the delegates with a folder for the
information of the public from Rotterdam.
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12. Miscellaneous
A report of the EU-workshop organized by CEFIC in Spain was not possible during the meeting and will
be given at the Portugal meeting.
During the stay of the committee at the HAZMAT-conference of IAFC a proposal for the Joint meeting
RID/ADR concerning the labelling of waggons/vehicles carrying packaged goods was elaborated.
13. Items for the next meeting in Portugal: (14.-18. October 1998 / CTIF-symposium)
The following programme is scheduled for our committee
1. 14th October: Arrival until 15.00 hrs., Warm-up session from 16.00 to 18.00 hrs
2. 15th October: Session 2 ( 9.00-12.00 ); Session 3 (14.00-18.00)
3. 16th October: Session 4 ( 9.00-12.00 ); in the afternoon participation at the CTIF-symposium
4. 17th October: Participation at the symposium with presentations from our committee in the afternoon.
Inscription deadline 30 May.
Inscription fee for non-speakers.
14. Further meetings
Bordeaux, France 27.5. - 30.5.1999
Luxemburg Autumn 1999
Rotterdam, the Netherlands 2000
Hasselt, Belgium 2000
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