The following provides an overview of the E, A and B level testing for Rubble. Please refer to the current version of the International Testing Standards for Rescue Dog Tests of the International Canine Federation and the International Rescue Dog Organization for more information.

Note: These standards are valid as of January 1, 2012.

RH-T-E Rubble Suitability Test

• Search area: destroyed or partially destroyed building, or different building materials at least 400-600 m2  all on one level
• Victims: 1 (concealed) (in position at least 10 minutes prior to the start)
• Time limit: 15 minutes
• Repeated and familiar voice commands and hand motions are permitted
• Permitted alerts are barking, bringsel and refind
• Dog should not wear a harness or collar; handler should wear appropriate safety equipment for working in rubble (boots, helmet, gloves, etc.)

RH-T-A Rubble Test

• Search area: destroyed or partially destroyed building which can consist of various building materials at least 800-1000 m2 spread over one or several levels. Site must include dark rooms and low lying hiding places buried up to approximately 1 meter. It is not allowed to be a building only search although individual rooms can be included in the search area. The dog and handler must be able to see into the search area.
• Victims: 2, concealed. The dog must not have any visual and or physical contact and the covering must be as inconspicuous as possible. The victims must be unable to be reached via the entrances. The distance between the victims must allow for a clear alert. Victims must be in position at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the test.
• Distractions: smoldering fires, running motors, hammering, drumming, etc.
• Time limit: 20 minutes
• Repeated and familiar voice and hand signals are permitted.
• Dog should not wear a collar or a vest—only a special collar with a releasing mechanism for dogs that use a bringsel alert is permitted
• The search will start upon instruction from the judge and from a suitable area. The dog must alert clearly, forcefully and in the direction of the scent until his handler reaches him. The handler must clearly identify the place where the dog picked up scent.
• At the command of the judge, the test will continue. The dog handler may instruct his dog to continue searching once from where he is standing. This may occur from the place of alert or from the edge of the rubble field.

RH-T-B Rubble Test

• Search area: destroyed or partially destroyed building which can consist of various building materials at least 1200-1500 m2 spread over one or several levels. Site must include at least 6 hiding places of which at least 2 must be dark roomrs or hollows, at least 2 lowlying hiding places buried up to approximately 2 meters, or at least 2 raised hiding places at a minimum height of 2 meters. It is not allowed to be a building only search although individual rooms can be included in the search area.
• Victims: 3, concealed. The dog must not have any visual and or physical contact and the covering must be as inconspicuous as possible. The victims must be unable to be reached via the entrances. The distance between the victims must allow for a clear alert. Victims must be in position at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the test.
• Distractions: smoldering fires, running motors, hammering, drumming, etc.
• Time limit: 30 minutes
• Repeated and familiar voice and hand signals are permitted.
• Dog should not wear a collar or a vest—only a special collar with a releasing mechanism for dogs that use a bringsel alert is permitted
• The search will start upon instruction from the judge and from a suitable area. The dog must alert clearly, forcefully and in the direction of the scent until his handler reaches him. The handler must clearly identify the place where the dog picked up scent.

At the command of the judge, the test will continue. The dog handler may instruct his dog to continue searching once from where he is standing. This may occur from the place of alert or from the edge of the rubble field.

For more information, please review the official testing standards.

Below is a short video of one of the rubble piles that testing will take place on.