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Licensure & Copyright

To ensure that the IAFF Fire Ground Survival (FGS) Program is being delivered properly and only as intended, a formal licensing policy has been implemented that specifies the way in which this IAFF FGS Program can legally be used. This procedure was instituted by the IAFF to protect the integrity of the IAFF FGS Program and the interests of the members of the IAFF by ensuring that the IAFF FGS Program is implemented properly and as intended.

Fire Ground Survival (FGS) Training

The IAFF implemented a formal licensing policy to ensure the IAFF Fire Ground Survival (FGS) program is delivered properly and only as intended. The purpose of the policy is to specify how the FGS program can legally be used, and to protect the integrity of the FGS program and the interests of IAFF members.

Full Licenses to deliver the FGS program are only granted to fire departments that administer the FGS program to members of their department in strict compliance with the licensing policy.

Limited Licenses may be granted to third-party training organizations (limited to federal, state, or provincial agencies; state/provincial fire academies; and colleges/universities that conduct fire fighter training).

Limited Licenses allow third party training organizations or regional consortiums to use and teach the IAFF FGS Program for purposes of training fire fighters when the training is not provided or available from their fire department. However, this license is granted only upon the express conditions that the Limited Licensee may only deliver the IAFF FGS Program in full for a fire department. Limited Licensees shall not use the IAFF FGS Program to train any person without first obtaining a written agreement with the fire department to which the person is employed.

The licensing policy ensures that the IAFF FGS Program used by either the Full Licensee or the Limited Licensee fully covers every aspect of the IAFF FGS Program, including all required safety measures. Any use of the IAFF FGS Program without a license or any misuse of the IAFF FGS Program is a violation of the IAFF copyright on this IAFF FGS Program.

Purchase the required IAFF FGS equipment and props and verify that such equipment and props conform to all specifications on the IAFF FGS website.

Provide to the IAFF, on an annual basis, a roster of all individuals trained to the IAFF FGS Operations Level. Sample of roster here.

Full License

The IAFF FGS Full License is granted only upon the express conditions that the Full Licensee must use the IAFF FGS Program in whole and only for the purpose of survival training. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, preventing the Mayday, being ready for the Mayday, self-survival procedures, self-survival skills, managing a Mayday, and proper program administration including using specified equipment, props, safety measures and IAFF-Certified FGS Instructors. The IAFF FGS Full Licensee shall be permitted to use FGS Assistant Instructors in conjunction with their fire department training and consistent with the IAFF training requirements. Any attempt by the Full Licensee to use only a portion of the IAFF FGS Program or to use the IAFF FGS Program without the proper safety measures and certified IAFF FGS Instructors is inconsistent with the scope of this license and is therefore prohibited. The Full Licensee is only authorized to make use of the IAFF FGS Program in accordance with the terms and conditions of the IAFF FGS manual. Full Licenses will only be issued to fire departments for the purpose of training members of their own fire department

As a condition of receiving a Full License, an applicant must agree that it will conduct the IAFF Fire Ground Survival Program in accordance with the IAFF’s licensing requirements. The full licensee shall:

  • Utilize only IAFF-Certified FGS Instructors — FGS Assistant Instructors are also permitted to be utilized by Full Licensees
  • Instructors must be active IAFF members or members of the IAFF Alumni
  • FGS Assistant Instructors must complete the FGS Awareness course, receive instruction from an IAFF-certified FGS Instructor and be competent in delivering the FGS Operations course under the supervision of an IAFF certified FGS Instructor, and the Full Licensee must pay to the IAFF a $200 fee. It is the Full Licensee’s responsibility to keep track of its FGS Assistant Instructors and ensure their ongoing competency in skills delivery
  • Purchase the required FGS Program’s equipment, props and signage. Verify that such equipment and props conform to all specifications on the IAFF FGS website.
  • Ensure that it can administer the IAFF FGS Program in conformity with the specifications set forth with the FGS Program
  • Ensure that each trainee has completed the IAFF FGS online Awareness Course
  • Provide to the IAFF, on an annual basis, a roster of all individuals trained to the IAFF FGS Operations Level. Sample of roster here.

Certificates

The IAFF will provide a custom certificate template for the fire department to issue to members successfully completing training.

Limited License

A Limited IAFF FGS License is granted to allow the use of the IAFF FGS Program for purposes of training fire fighters in the 24-hour Operations Course when the training is not provided or available from their department. The Limited License is granted only upon the express conditions that the Licensee may only administer the IAFF FGS Program in full for a fire department. Any attempt by the Limited Licensee to use only a portion of the IAFF FGS Program or to use the IAFF FGS Program without the proper safety measures and IAFF-Certified FGS Instructors is inconsistent with the scope of this License and is therefore prohibited.

IAFF FGS Limited Licenses shall only be issued to third party training organizations or regional consortiums that are:

  • Federal, state or provincial governments or agencies
  • State or provincial fire academies
  • Colleges/universities that conduct fire fighter training courses
  • Regional consortiums of fire departments within a state or province.

As a condition of receiving a Limited License, an applicant must agree that it will conduct the IAFF Fire Ground Survival Program in accordance with the IAFF’s licensing requirements. The Limited Licensee shall:

  • Utilize only IAFF-Certified FGS Instructors; FGS Assistant Instructors are not allowed to be used by Limited Licensees
  • Instructors must be active IAFF members or members of the IAFF Alumni
  • Purchase the required FGS Program’s equipment, props and signage. Verify that such equipment and props conform to all specifications on the IAFF FGS website.
  • Ensure that it can administer the FGS Program in conformity with the specifications of FGS Program
  • Ensure that each trainee has completed the IAFF FGS online Awareness Course
  • Provide to the IAFF, on an annual basis, a roster of all individuals trained to the IAFF FGS Operations Level. Sample of roster here.

To ensure compliance with this policy, the IAFF will conduct on-site reviews and audits of the facilities holding a Limited License, and the Limited Licensee must agree to fully cooperate with such efforts. The on-site review and audit will include the following:

  • Verification of FGS training procedures and use of FGS Program training materials
  • Verification of IAFF-Certified FGS Instructors
  • Equipment inspection to ensure all equipment and props meet the FGS specifications
  • Verification of roster of all trained individuals

Certificates

The IAFF will provide to the Limited Licensee a custom certificate to present to those members who successfully complete the FGS Operations Course.

Limited License Cost

To ensure that the IAFF has adequate resources to conduct on-site reviews and audits, Limited License holders will be charged an annual licensing fee of five thousand dollars ($5,000), payable only by check or money order. Credit card payments are not permitted. Limited Licensees will also be provided all updates to the FGS Program. Limited Licenses are non-transferable, non-exclusive and revocable at will for any reason.

Copyright

The IAFF has copyrighted the IAFF Fire Ground Survival (FGS) Program in order to prevent unauthorized use of this Program. The IAFF owns the exclusive right to reproduce copies of the IAFF FGS Program; to prepare derivative works from the IAFF FGS Program; to distribute the IAFF FGS Program to the public; and to publicly display this work. The copyright on the IAFF FGS Program is registered with the United States Copyright Office. Because of this registration, the IAFF may invoke certain remedies in a lawsuit for copyright infringement. These remedies include actual damages, injunction, any profits realized by the infringer, and statutory damages, including attorneys’ fees and litigation costs. The IAFF’s copyright on the IAFF FGS Program is also afforded complete protection in Canada pursuant to the Universal Copyright Convention. The IAFF reserves all rights under Canadian and international law for copyright infringement for any illegal use, distribution, copying and creation of derivative works that are not allowed by this license. Under Canadian laws the IAFF may invoke certain remedies in a lawsuit for copyright infringement. These remedies include actual damages, injunction, any profits realized by the infringer, and punitive damages.

Any use of the IAFF FGS Program is only allowed within the terms and conditions spelled out in a licensing agreement, which must be strictly adhered to by all licensees. This agreement states that the licensee may only use the IAFF FGS Program in its entirety.

This copyright protection does extend to any derivative fire ground survival program that is “substantially similar” to the IAFF FGS Program. Further, the IAFF does NOT grant a license for the creation of derivative works, or works that are based on whole or in part on the IAFF FGS Program. This includes works that are written as well as oral. Specific, written permission is necessary from the IAFF in order to create derivative works.

While the IAFF may permit the reproduction and reprinting of the IAFF FGS Program upon request, this does not authorize the licensee to reprint or reproduce, in whole or in part, the IAFF FGS Program. Specific, written permission is necessary from the IAFF in order to reprint or reproduce the FGS Program. The IAFF reserves all rights and remedies for copyright infringement for any illegal use, distribution, copying or creation of derivative works that are not covered by this license.

The IAFF is entitled to, and will, institute legal action against any infringement of its exclusive rights or its licensing agreement. The remedies for copyright infringement include obtaining an injunction to prevent further infringement and to ensure the destruction of unauthorized copies. They also include the recovery of any damages suffered by the IAFF, recovery of the profits of the infringer, and the recovery of attorneys’ fees and costs of the litigation.

This license is subject to termination at the election of the IAFF by written notice. This license cannot be transferred or sub-licensed to any third parties without permission from the IAFF. The IAFF owns the copyright and other related rights to the work entitled “IAFF Fire Ground Survival (FGS) Program”. The IAFF owns the proprietary rights to the IAFF FGS Program.