Explosives Detection Certification

Florida Law Enforcement Canine Association
Explosives Detection Certification

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Certification Rules:

• Ten total hides
• One miss will be allowed for certification. 90%
• A total of four different distractions will be used throughout the certification. One distraction in each area of testing. Examples of distractions, (food, animal odors, clean packaging materials, pungent but not harmful chemicals, clean reward toys, etc.)
• Basic odors for certification:

1. RDX (C-4, Flex-ex, Semtex, etc.)
2. PETN (det-cord, Semtex, etc.)
3. TNT
4. Powders (black or smokeless, potassium nitrate)
5. Water Gel (slurries, ammonium nitrate based)
6. Commercial Dynamite

• There needs to be at least one explosive odor from each category used.
• All substance weights will be between 1/4 lbs and 1 lbs.
• All substances must be placed out 30 minutes prior to testing.
• Indications must be obvious to the certifying officials and called by the handler.
• The agency requesting a certification should supply the detection odors or make arrangements with the certifying officials before certification.
• The testing will be judged on a pass or fail.

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If a canine team fails:

• The team must wait 24 hours before attempting the re-test.

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Vehicle Search:

• Six vehicles will be used. Four hides and two blanks.
• The vehicles may be of any type or model and may include automobiles, trucks, buses, airplanes, boats, etc.
• No two hides will be placed on the same vehicle.
• The substance will be placed on the exterior of the vehicle where scent is available to the canine.
• The substance must be placed 30 minutes prior to testing.
• Total allotted time to complete the vehicle testing will be ten minutes.

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Interior Room Search:

• Four rooms will be used. Three hides and one blank.
• The rooms must be at least 200 square feet.
• Large rooms can be sectioned off with a makeshift or temporary barrier to reduce it to the 200 square foot minimum.
• No two hides will be placed in the same room and no hide may be higher than six feet from the ground or floor.
• The substance must be placed 30 minutes prior to testing.
• Total allotted time to complete the interior room testing will be twelve minutes.

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Exterior Building Search:

• One outdoor hide will be completed.
• The area must be at least 150 linear feet.
• The substance must be placed 30 minutes prior to testing.
• Total allotted time to compete the outdoor testing will be eight minutes.

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Parcels, Luggage, or Lockers:

• Two hides will be placed out in two different locations.
• A minimum of ten parcels, ten luggage bags, or ten lockers will be used containing one hide.
• The substance must be placed 30 minutes prior to testing.
• Total allotted time to complete the parcel, luggage, or lockers testing will be five minutes.

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