Listed below are the rules for this year’s Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb. To ensure the safety and enjoyment of all attending, participants are expected to understand and follow these rules at all times. These rules can be amended or varied at any time at the discretion of the Event Management Team.
ELIGIBILITY
The Event is open to firefighters only, competing in approved structural Firefighting Full turnout Gear (FFG). Exceptions can be made for other Emergency Services at the discretion of the Event Management Team.
To be eligible to compete in the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb competitors must be currently employed or volunteer in the active role of a firefighter.
Firefighters may be employed in any Fire Service, Airport Rescue Fire Brigades, Industrial Brigades, and Rural Fire.
Firefighters from overseas must be currently employed or volunteer in a recognised Fire Service in the active role of firefighter, and on request be able to supply proof e.g. Fire Service Identification.
Firefighters must be fully fit to compete; proof of Medical fitness to compete may be required by the organisers. Firefighters must not be absent from work or full firefighting duties,
Minimum age for entry is 18 years on the day of the event.
All Participants must have met the minimum fundraising requirement of $100 by the 31st August 2024 to be eligible to climb on the 7th September 2024.
INDIVIDUAL EVENTS
There are five categories:
- Donned and started – wearing Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and “on air”
- Donned only – wearing SCBA only – mask removed from SCBA
- Victoria Police
- FFMV
- Victorian SES
Note: Virtual Stair Climb its own event, with independent rules.
Competitors shall ascend from the designated starting line and continue upward until crossing the designated finish line. The lowest time is taken to complete the course is the winner.
TEAM EVENT
All team members must enter in the individual event to be eligible for the team event.
All team members must be entered into the Donned and Started category.
All team members must be from the same station / local brigade e.g. Malvern Fire Station, Werribee Fire Brigade, Eastern Hill A Platoon, New Zealand Fire Service.
A team entry is achieved when a minimum of three competitors register from the same station / local brigade.
There is no additional fee or registration required.
There is no limit to team size but at least three members must climb.
Teams are not gender OR age based.
Competitor’s individual ascent time will be used to score the team event. The fastest three competitors from each team will have their individual time aggregated to give the team result.
Competitors can place in both the individual and team event.
SCHEDULING
Competitors in the Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb will be allocated a start time by Event Management. Competitors must check in at Registration one hour prior to their allocated start time.
Competitors are responsible for their expected start time and must be in the Crown Metropol Loading Dock on Haig St 30 minutes prior to their allocated Start Time for the collection of their Breathing Apparatus.
GENERAL RULES
All competitors shall have their number attached below the left knee of their structural firefighting turn out pants during the competition.
All Competitors can only wear the SCBA provided for them by the Event.
A briefing will be made available to competitors prior to their ascent on the use of the SCBA provided by the Event.
Competitors in the “Donned and Started” category will be required to present either Firefighter Employment Identification or a verification of your PUAFIR207/PUAFIR207B Qualification to Operate Breathing Apparatus at event check-in. The certificate itself or a brigade/individual competency report will suffice.
This event is arduous – take your time and don’t over exert yourself
Upon passing through the start gate, competitors may ascend the stairs taking as many steps at a time as they choose.
Slower competitors will allow the right of way by moving to the left to allow a faster competitor to make their way unimpeded.
Competitors may stop, if needed, but only on landings and must move to the left.
All competitors in the “Donned and Started” Category will be expected to complete the total ascent on one air cylinder (filled to the Manufacturer’s specifications). Any competitor failing to complete the course while using the SCBA will be dropped into the “Donned only” category. If you do remove your mask during the climb, you will not be penalised.
Event Staff will help any competitor who asks for, or is in obvious need of, their assistance to gain medical attention. Doing so will disqualify the competitor and he/she will be guided via elevator to the ground floor for medical attention.
Competitors are required to bring and compete in the following equipment. This equipment will NOT be provided by the event.
- Nationally certified, Structural Firefighting entry helmet
- Nationally certified, Structural Firefighting turnout coat
- Nationally certified, Structural Firefighting turnout pants
- Nationally certified, Structural Firefighting gloves
- Nationally certified, Structural or Wildfire Firefighting boots
Turnout coat and pants must meet NFPA 1971 standards on protective ensemble for structural firefighting.
Note: Nomex Flash Hoods will NOT be required for competition.
All participants will adhere to Occupational Health and Safety 5 principles of manual handling when lifting or carrying equipment (including SCBA) for the duration of the event as follows:
- Optimum posture: are you as close as possible to optimum posture
- Optimum Work Envelope: are your hands within the optimum work envelope
- Reduce the weight handled or force exerted: can you reduce the weight handled or force exerted
- Forward/ backward plane of motion: is the direction of force in a forward/backward plane and not across your body
- Duration and frequency: how often or how long is this task performed, and does it contribute to the risk
- Event Management and their assigned officials shall inspect the gear at the staging area prior to the competition and the start area for compliance. Event Management has the authority to disallow any equipment deemed not compliant. Competitors not able to secure approved equipment will be disqualified.
The turnout gear being used by competitors in the event must be freshly laundered and must NOT be contaminated or dirty. If contaminated gear is brought to the event the competitor will NOT be permitted to participate in the event.
AWARDS
Competitors shall ascend from the designated starting line and continue upward until crossing the designated finish line. The lowest time is taken to complete the course is the winner.
Each event offered requires a minimum of 2 entries in order to award medals.
“Donned and Started” category – Medals are awarded to 1st, 2nd & 3rd placed Overall competitors and 1st, 2nd & 3rd Male and Female in each age group.
The 5 age group categories are 18-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, 50-59 years, 60+ years
“Donned only” category – Medals are awarded to 1st, 2nd & 3rd placed Male and Female – No age groups apply.
Team event is for the “Donned and Started” category only, medals are awarded to 3 team members for 1st, 2nd & 3rd.