ISO TR 26368-2012 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/TR 26368:2012 — Environmental damage limitation from fire-fighting water run-off. This Technical Report provides guidance for developing specifications and procedures to limit adverse environmental impacts caused by contaminated run-off generated during fire-fighting operations at land-based facilities and wildland fires.

Abstract

The report summarizes potential approaches for controlling and eliminating environmental impacts from fire-fighting water run-off. It covers hazard description, measures for limiting environmental damage and guidance on the design and sizing of retention/containment basins to reduce dispersion of contaminated water from commercial and industrial sites, storage/transport activities and wildland fires (excluding offshore vessels and platforms).

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: 11 May 2012.
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.220.01 (Protection against fire in general).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2012-05).
• Number of pages: 24.

Scope

Provides information applicable to commercial facilities (warehouses, chemical storage, refineries, process plants), and vehicles used to transport potentially polluting substances. Applies to land-based operations and wildland fires; it is not intended for oil tankers or offshore drilling platforms. The report outlines hazard identification, mitigation options and gives guidance for the design and sizing of water collection/retention basins to limit environmental dispersion of contaminated run-off.

Key topics and requirements

• Identification of environmental hazards associated with fire-fighting water run-off.
• Measures and procedures to limit contamination spread during and after fire-fighting.
• Design principles and sizing considerations for retention and containment basins.
• Containment, collection and controlled disposal/neutralization of contaminated run-off.
• Site assessment, operational planning and emergency response coordination to reduce environmental impact.
• Applicability limits (land-based facilities and wildland fires; excludes offshore vessels/platforms).

Typical use and users

Used by emergency planners, fire and rescue services, environmental and health & safety managers, facility/site designers and plant engineers, regulators and consultants involved in hazardous materials management and spill/run-off control. It is intended to inform specification development, risk assessments and the design of containment/retention systems for sites with pollution-prone materials.

Related standards

Related documents typically referenced alongside this Technical Report include environmental management and fire-protection standards such as ISO 14001 (environmental management systems), ISO 13943 (fire safety vocabulary) and other ISO fire‑protection and emergency-response publications; national guidance on spill containment and hazardous materials response is also commonly used with this TR.

Keywords

fire-fighting run-off, contaminated water, retention basin, containment, environmental damage limitation, fire protection, hazardous materials, emergency response, spill control, site assessment

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: It is ISO/TR 26368:2012, a Technical Report providing guidance on limiting environmental damage from fire-fighting water run-off through prevention, containment and treatment measures.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers hazard description, procedures and potential approaches to control contaminated run-off, and guidance on the design and sizing of water retention/containment basins for land-based facilities and wildland fires (not offshore vessels/platforms).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Emergency planners, fire & rescue services, environmental and safety managers, site designers/engineers, regulators and consultants working on hazardous materials and spill/run-off control.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The report was published on 11 May 2012. As of 2 March 2026, ISO lists this Technical Report as published but with a review stage indicating it is to be revised (stage 90.92); it has not been indicated as formally superseded on the ISO record.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is a standalone ISO Technical Report produced under ISO/TC 92 (Fire safety) — specifically SC 3 — and is commonly used together with related ISO standards and national guidance addressing fire safety, environmental management and hazardous materials response.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: fire-fighting run-off; contaminated water; retention/containment basin; environmental damage limitation; spill control; hazardous materials; emergency response.