Abstract: 

Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) is a functional capability that has been

developed to allow the United Kingdom Fire and Rescue Service to deal with ‘major

incidents’ primarily involving structural collapse. The nature of the work undertaken

by USAR means that staying out of a damaged or collapsed building structure is not

usually an option for search and rescue personnel, as a result there is always a risk

that they themselves could become victims. For this paper a systematic and

investigative review using desk research was undertaken to explore the role which

structural engineering can play in assisting search and rescue personnel to conduct

structural assessments when in the field. The main focus being how search and

rescue personnel can assess damaged and collapsed building structures, not just

in terms of structural damage that may be encountered, but in relation to structural

stability. Natural disasters, accidental emergencies, acts of terrorism and other

extreme events can vary significantly in nature and ferocity, and can cause a wide

variety of damage to building structures. It is not possible or even realistic, to provide

search and rescue personnel with definitive guidelines and procedures to assess

damaged and collapsed building structures as there are too many variables to

consider. However understanding what implications damage may have upon the

structural stability of a building structure will enable search and rescue personnel to

better judge and quantify risk from a life-safety standpoint. It is intended that this will

allow search and rescue personnel to make informed decisions and ensure every

effort is made to mitigate risk, so that they themselves do not become victims.