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RULES & PENALTIES
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Sections:
Registration
All competitors MUST attend registration at 8am on the day of their race. Fire Service Identification Cards must be presented to registration to confirm attendance. Failure to attend registration prior to the first race starting may result in disqualification.
A maximum of 250 Firefighters can register for each competition. Participants must be competent Firefighters over the age of 18 years. Retired Firefighters or Firefighters that have left the service are welcome with a minimum of 10’years experience. To ensure registration is fair and available for all persons around the UK, the host Fire & Rescue Service will be capped at 20 registrations.
Payment
The British Firefighter Challenge entry fees cover administration costs, refunds therefore will only be considered up to 7 days after registration. In extreme circumstances, entries may be carried over to the following year. Thank you for your understanding.
Running Order
British Firefighter Challenge (herinafter BFC) reserves the right to revise the order in which competition categories run the course. Competitors will be assigned a number which does not necessarily follow the race order, it is therefore the responsibility of the competitor to ensure they are aware of their race time allocation. The next-up competitor must be in the staging area in full turnout gear when the preceding participants are at the start line. Individuals not ready for their allocated starting time will be disqualified.
Equipment
A breathing apparatus set for use during the competition will be provided for and must be worn by all Firefighters. Any wilful or malicious destruction of event equipment will result in disqualification from the competition.
Personal Protective Equipment / Turnout Gear
All competitors must compete in their own protective equipment. PPE (i.e., turnout gear – helmet, jacket, trousers, and boots) must be serviceable (i.e., without holes and clean), approved for national standard and consistent with NFPA / CE standards in effect at the time of manufacture. Fire hoods, face shields and earflaps are not required. Articles of turnout gear, SCBA, and all other equipment/worn apparel (including eyewear, radios, etc.) must not be removed or lost during the competition. If dropped, they must be retrieved and correctly replaced by the competitor before continuing. Non-retrieval results in disqualification.
Competitors found to be non-compliant either during or after a competition will be disqualified and their time nullified.
Questions about the suitability and compliance should be directed the Course Marshal prior to racing. Duct tape or other visible modifications are not permitted. Coats and jackets must be properly sized and cover the area of intended protection. Collars must be showing (not tucked in). Structural boots must have a steel sole/shank and toe (i.e., meet NFPA / CE protection requirements). Helmet decorations are allowed, however helmets must have an NFPA-compliant label with the original suspension and padding present.
Officials may inspect all gear prior to participation. Their decisions are final. Any competitor who reports to the Staging Area and is found to be in violation of these rules will be subject to a time penalty or disqualification depending upon the severity of the infraction.
Task Completion
All competitors are personally responsible for the completion of each task. No course volunteer has the authority to instruct a competitor in the negotiation of the events on the course; only the Course Marshal can intervene or direct the actions of a competitor. In those rare situations where the event staff, or the opposing competitor may have created an impediment, the options to rectify this situation may include a deduction in time to remedy the hindrance or allow another run of the course. All competitors must have completed the course in six minutes or be disqualified where they are, no matter how close to the finish line.
Disputes
The competitor and the Course Marshal will resolve all disputes regarding penalties. We do not review video footage under any circumstances, etc. All Course Marshal decisions are final. Protests must be filed immediately with the Course Marshal, before the next race, prior to leaving the course.
British Firefighter Challenge Penalties Summarised
- Failure to keep one hand on the external hand rail on the stairs: 2 seconds for each infraction
- Donut roll placement (not in or on the box): 2 seconds
- Skipped step (Crofton tower descent): 2 seconds
- Keiser Force Machine foul: 5 seconds per miss-strike
- Failure to finish forcible entry: 2 seconds per inch or fraction thereof
- Hammer placement (not touching mat): 2 seconds
- Failing to connect hose to the pump or hose becoming disconnected prior to completing the hose drag: 10 seconds
- Failure to place the hose branch over the designated line: 10 seconds
- Failing to place the hose completely in the box provided: 5 seconds
- Sliding the foam barrels: 2 seconds per barrel
- Failure to place foam barrels in the designated areas: 2 seconds per barrel
- Out of lane: 5 seconds per occurrence
- Unauthorized personnel on course: 10 seconds per occurrence
- False start: 5 Seconds
- Failure to stop clock: 10 seconds
British Firefighter Challenge Disqualification Infringements
- Failure to show
- Altered turnout gear
- Skipped event
- Disrupting the competition
- Unsportsmanlike behaviour (i.e., throwing gear)
- Interference on the course
- Unauthorized personnel on the course
- Failure to retrieve dropped equipment/apparel
