ASTM_F_3027_-_13.pdf

Designation:F302713Standard Guide forTraining of Personnel Operating in Mountainous Terrain(Mountain Endorsement)1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3027;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This guide establishes the minimum training,includinggeneral and field knowledge,skills,and abilities,for search andrescue personnel who conduct operations in mountainousterrain.1.2 A Mountain Endorsement is intended only for thoseindividuals capable of operating in the difficult conditionsfound in mountainous terrain,at altitudes that may have anegative impact on human physiology.1.3 Specifically,Mountain Endorsed individuals may,underqualified supervision,perform their normal duties safely andeffectively in mountainous terrain.1.4 A Mountain Endorsement alone is not sufficient toindicate that an individual has the knowledge,skills,and/orabilities to perform any specific duties,including search andrescue operations,other than those defined within this guide.1.5 This guide alone does not provide the minimum trainingrequirements for performing operations in partially or fullycollapsed structures,in-or on-water,in confined spaces,underground(such as in caves,mines,and tunnels),or in analpine environment.1.6 Type I-IV teams(as defined in F1993)which may utilizepersonnel trained to this guide are KindA(wilderness),Kind B(urban),and Kind C(mountainous),Kind D(disaster/collapse),Kind E(inland water),Kind G(cave),Kind H(mine),Kind I(avalanche),Kind J(evidence/cadaver),Kind K(aircraft),and/or Kind L(unclassified).1.7 Mountain Endorsed SAR personnel must work underqualified supervision,as deemed appropriate by the AuthorityHaving Jurisdiction(AHJ).1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2F1773 Terminology Relating to Climbing,Mountaineering,Search and Rescue Equipment and PracticesF1993 Classification System of Human Search and RescueResourcesF2209 Guide for Training of Level I Land Search TeamMemberF2752 Guide for Training for Level I Rope Rescue(R1)Rescuer Endorsement2.2 Other References:National Wildfire Coordinating Group(NWCG)publicationPMS 304-2,“Fitness and Work Capacity”“Mountaineering:The Freedom of the Hills,”8th ed.3.Terminology3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 alpine environment,nmountainous terrain,typicallyabove tree line,where the ability to negotiate routes rated Class253is required and where travel is further affected by anycombination of altitude,extreme weather,extensive exposureto snow/ice obstacles,avalanche risk,and crevasses.Ingeneral,the alpine environment includes all mountainousterrain above 3,500 meters.3.1.2 alpine ice axe,nas defined by the UIAA(UnionInternationale Des Associations DAlpinisme),a Type B icetool(the UIAA Basic type)with lower strength,for use ingeneral circumstances,as on glacier for snow hiking,for skimountaineering,etc.,and which meets the requirements ofUIAA 152 or CE EN 13089:2011.3.1.3 exposure,nthe degree to which a person is exposedon a high,sheer,and unsheltered rock face.3.1.4 mountainous terrain,na tract of land characterizedby steep slopes and great variations in elevation,where the1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F32 on Searchand Rescue and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F32.03 on Personnel,Training and Education.Current edition approved Sept.1,2013.Published October 2013.DOI:10.1520/F3027-13.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Route Class is defined by the Yosemite Decimal System:Ronald C.Eng andJulie Van Pelt,eds.,Mountaineering:The Freedom of the Hills,8th ed.(Seattle,WA:Mountaineers Books,2010),p.564.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 ability to negotiate routes rated Class 244,and occasionallyClass 55,is required,and where travel is limited by steep tovertical rock,steep forested or brush-covered terrain,talusslopes,boulder fields,and occasional snow and/or ice ob-stacles.3.1.5 qualified supervisor,nan individual with demon-strated knowledge or competence in a task,to whom the AHJhas granted the authority to observe and oversee an individualperforming that task.3.2 For definitions of other terms used in this guide,seeTerminology F1773,Guides F1993,F2209,and F2752.4.Significance