GB/T 46578-2025Basic requirements for the capacity of earthquake rescue teams (English PDF)

Foreword

This document conforms to GB/T 1.1-2020 "Standardization Work Guidelines Part

1.Structure and Drafting Rules of Standardization Documents". Drafting is scheduled. Please note that some content in this document may involve patents. The issuing organization of this document assumes no responsibility for identifying patents. This document was proposed by the Ministry of Emergency Management of the People's Republic of China. This document is under the jurisdiction of the National Technical Committee on Standardization of Emergency Management and Disaster Reduction and Relief (SAC/TC 307). This document was drafted by: China Earthquake Emergency Search and Rescue Center, Hainan Provincial Earthquake Bureau, Gansu Provincial Earthquake Bureau, Fujian Provincial Earthquake Bureau, and Sichuan Provincial Earthquake Bureau. Earthquake Emergency Service Center, Third Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Emergency General Hospital, Beijing Emergency Technology Innovation Alliance, Beijing Boya Anzhou Science and Technology Center Technology Co., Ltd., North China University of Technology, Beijing Normal University, Urban Lifeline Industry Development Group (Anhui) Co., Ltd., and Aerospace Science and Industry Haiying Group Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Public Welfare Rescue Volunteer Federation, Chengdu Municipal People's Government Office, Shaanxi Provincial Emergency Rescue Association, Zhejiang University City City College. The main drafters of this document are. Qu Guosheng, Wang Haiying, Yang Huaining, Wang Jianping, Wang Nianfa, Lu Jie, Ni Jingyu, Gao Na, Yang Mudi, and Wang Juan. Jing Tianxiao, Huang Hongsheng, Chen Weifeng, Peng Bibo, Zhu Wei, Wu Zhiqiang, Yang Wenlong, Yang Xinhong, He Hongwei, Li Jing, Bu Bing, Li Li, Xie Bing, Yao Junshan Shi Xin, Chang Xiaoyang, Zhang Jun, Zhou Baijia, Xie Aize, Zhu Zijuan.

Earthquake and secondary disaster relief efforts are challenging, technically demanding, and cover a wide area, involving diverse rescue teams with varying capabilities. Significant differences exist in technical methods, equipment configurations, and management levels, which can easily lead to difficulties in coordinating rescue operations, reduced efficiency, and increased safety risks. This document is formulated to improve the effectiveness of earthquake disaster relief in my country and to support rapid response and coordinated dispatch. Basic requirements for earthquake rescue team capabilities

1 Scope

GB/T 46578-2025 is the Chinese national standard covering what an earthquake rescue team must be able to do - the search, breaching and shoring and the medical capability, the equipment held and its readiness, the self-sufficiency in the field, the training and the exercises, and the classification levels a team is assessed to. First edition, under the Ministry of Emergency Management. In force from 1 February 2026. Issued on 31 October 2025, it has been in force since 1 February 2026.

This document specifies the general requirements for the capabilities of earthquake rescue teams, as well as the capability requirements for heavy, medium, light, and micro earthquake rescue teams. This document applies to capacity building for earthquake rescue teams at all levels.

2 Normative references

The contents of the following documents, through normative references within the text, constitute essential provisions of this document. Dated citations are listed below. For references to documents, only the version corresponding to that date applies to this document; for undated references, the latest version (including all amendments) applies. This document. International Search and Rescue Guidelines (INSARAG Guidelines)

Note. INSARAG is an abbreviation for the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group.

3 Terms and Definitions

The following terms and definitions apply to this document.

3.1 earthquake rescue team A team of personnel with professional rescue knowledge, skills and equipment specifically established to respond to earthquake disasters.

Note. Earthquake rescue teams are classified into four levels according to their capabilities. heavy, medium, light, and micro. [Source: GB/T 26376-2010, 3.12, with modifications]

3.2 Heavy earthquake rescue team A formalized team capable of conducting professional rescue operations for people buried in deep confined spaces in the rubble of collapsed buildings.

3.3 medium earthquake rescue team A formalized team capable of conducting professional rescue operations for people buried in confined spaces from the middle to the deep layers of collapsed buildings and ruins.

3.4 Light earthquake rescue team A formalized team capable of providing basic rescue services for people buried in collapsed buildings or shallow to medium-depth confined spaces.

3.5 micro earthquake rescue team Established based on grassroots rescue forces, it possesses the capability to conduct basic rescue operations for people buried under the surface rubble of collapsed buildings and structures, and undertakes local rescue tasks. Grassroots teams responsible for rapid emergency response and initial rescue and disposal tasks.