In my first article I wrote about my project and dream to establish ‘one’ uniform standardized global way of providing information for first and second responders, regardless of technology, means of transport… so that they can do their job safely and adequately, provided with standardized crucial and life-saving information.
By developing templates, symbols and information guidelines, the vehicle manufacturer has tools to provide its information in a uniform way so that the emergency services can perform their task safely and adequately.
In this article I am going to explain what ISO 17840 part 1/2/3/4 for road vehicles (Passenger cars, Busses, trucks) contains and the extension to:
- Railroad vehicles
- Motorsport vehicles
- Maritime vehicles
- Agriculture, construction and heavy machinery vehicles
- Air vehicles
- Stationary Energy Storage systems
- Stationary power producing systems
- Future systems that need to have the same approach.
Responder proof
When I started to develop a uniform standard 10 years ago, I started from the principle that it should be simple and easy to use by emergency service providers, in other words ‘Responder Proof’.
There was a need for quick information at the scene of the intervention and information for training purposes.
When the responder arrives at the place of intervention, they must know what form of energy they are dealing with.
This is not always clear, because the manufacturers have different or sometimes no designations to indicate this on the vehicle.
There are different symbols available worldwide, but they are not harmonised.
Here came my first idea to develop international uniform symbols that can be used both on the vehicles and in rescue information. The starting point was that they must contain as much useful information as possible for the responders.
Symbols for identifying the power source
Background colour
The symbols each have a specific background colour associated with a particular power source. This specific background colour is also used in further rescue information. For example, the blue colour for hydrogen will again be used to indicate hydrogen tanks and pipes in the Rescue Sheet and Emergency Response Guide (ERG).
From a distance, the responder can already distinguish which power source they are dealing with just by the background colour. This is important for tactical decisions to be made by the incident commander. The closer the responder gets to the symbol, the more info they can read.
The Rescue Sheet and Emergency Response Guide
Key points here are: uniform colours, chapters and symbols.
Rescue sheet
A rescue sheet is a ‘quick information guide’ that consists of a maximum of five pages. On the first page, the responder has a clear idea of where the various components are located.
On the following pages, they get more information in a structured way.
This structured information is built up using uniform chapters that follow the responder’s way of thinking.
Images supplied by Author / Contributor
Images supplied by Author / Contributor
Images supplied by Author / Contributor
Images supplied by Author / Contributor
Uniform chapters
Emergency Response Guide
If the responder does not have sufficient information at the location of the intervention, they can obtain more information in the Emergency Response Guide (ERG).
This ERG is an ‘extensive guide’ with more in-depth information.
The search is very easy because the same chapters are used as in the Rescue Sheet.
The ERG is also a very good training tool to prepare the responders.
Example of rescue sheet and ERG from a passenger car
I have made, together with Tesla USA, an example of how a good rescue sheet and ERG should look. I want to thank Tesla for their cooperation in this.
For more information, email kurt.vollmacher@telenet.be
About the Author
Kurt Vollmacher, Expert New Energies Creator, ISO 17840.
