FIRESCOPE, the California Office of Emergency Services, the Fire & Rescue Branch of OES, and the authors of this Minimum Equipment List do not assume liability for the performance of any equipment item mentioned in the MEL. Inclusion in the MEL does not imply any approval or endorsement of a specific equipment item or tool to be assumed by mention of a model number, brand name, or manufacturer as provided in example notations.
These example notations are included in the main body of the equipment list for clarification and comparison purposes only. This MEL will describe a minimum level of performance for each equipment item or tool category in an attempt to establish a minimum level of standardization. The user of this document is solely responsible for the specific selection and purchase of items to be added to their agency’s inventory. Therefore, this MEL is a reference document only, and should be used as a guide in an attempt to meet the minimum level of standardization.

OBJECTIVE and PURPOSE

The overall objective of this MEL is to establish a California State standard reference document, and to promote better interoperability and standardization between all Hazardous Materials Companies in the State of California. Adoption and implementation of this MEL by emergency response agencies is intended to increase efficiency, safety and incident stabilization in the course of hazardous materials response company mutual aid.

The purpose of this MEL is to:

A. Provide and establish a uniform hazardous materials equipment list:

Establish an all-encompassing list of equipment that has been found to be consistent with and often utilized by hazardous materials response teams. The listing of equipment items included in this MEL is predicated upon the evolution of hazardous materials response intervention, the history of popularity and utility, and need as demonstrated by the maintenance of local agency inventories.

This master list serves as the basis for a sourcing document.

• Required items are identified to accomplish minimum functions of a mutual aid HazMat team.
• Suggested items are additional strongly recommended items that have been identified to enhance the capabilities to match common HazMat operations.
• Optional items are additional items that have been found to be useful to broaden the scope of response capability.

B. Establish standardized equipment and tool response categories and criteria:

Create a standardized set of “Categories” and “Sub-Categories.” Equipment will be listed within these categories and sub-categories based upon their function. The function shall be described in a criteria paragraph that will accompany each category and sub-category.

C. Adopt standardized equipment and tool performance descriptions:

Each item shall be briefly described in terms of a short use or performance statement. In many cases the description will also include example sizes or approximate dimensions.

D. Support Hazardous Materials Company Typing equipment needs:

Consistent with the FIRESCOPE Field Operations Guide (ICS 420-1), Hazardous Materials Company Types and Minimum Standards chart, this list will identify and establish the minimum threshold equipment items needed to meet any one of the three types of hazardous materials companies. This
list will also identify optional hazardous materials equipment items that could be included in a local agency’s inventory.

E. Promote use and adherence to industry accepted performance standards:

This list, where appropriate, shall identify various performance and regulatory standards to which the user (agency having jurisdiction, the employer or the employee) must comply. The MEL will also identify those standards that provide a minimum level of performance of the item, tool, or piece of equipment (i.e., the manufacturer).

F. Promote use and adherence to industry accepted performance standards:

This list, where appropriate, shall identify various performance and regulatory standards to which the user (agency having jurisdiction, the employer or the employee) must comply. The MEL will also identify those standards that provide a minimum level of performance of the item, tool, or piece of equipment (i.e., the manufacturer).