CIEMAT and Madrid Fire Department: nuclear emergency protocol 2026

Key data

Since September 7, 2026, CIEMAT and the Fire Department of Madrid City Council operate under a joint emergency response protocol for the center's facilities. The Resolution of September 9, 2026, published in the BOE on September 18, formalizes this agreement and makes it public in compliance with Article 48.8 of Law 40/2015 on the Legal Regime of the Public Sector.

CIEMAT houses facilities classified as a Unique Nuclear Installation, which requires a level of coordination with external emergency services far superior to that of any conventional industrial facility. This agreement fills that coordination gap with a detailed operational protocol.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement signed on September 7, 2026 articulates collaboration between CIEMAT and Madrid Fire Department in three major areas: prior information, emergency response, and training and drills.

CIEMAT's obligations toward the Fire Department

• Provide information on the specific risks of the facilities.
• Grant access to data on the center's fire protection networks.
• Share the current internal emergency plans.
• Make available to the Fire Department the NRBQ (Nuclear, Radiological, Biological and Chemical) contacts available 24 hours a day.

Chain of command in real emergency

During an emergency, the protocol establishes a predefined communication and command chain:

• The starting point is the CIEMAT Control Room.
• From there, communication is activated toward the Fire Department command.
• There is a predefined communications code to ensure unambiguous coordination.

Joint training and drills

• Conducting joint drills between CIEMAT personnel and the Fire Department.
• Joint training activities for teams from both institutions.
• Familiarization sessions for firefighters with the center's critical infrastructure.

Economic and operational impact

This agreement does not generate direct costs for private companies nor does it impose fees or economic sanctions on third parties. Its impact is operational and institutional, concentrated in the two signatory entities.

For CIEMAT, the agreement means assuming formal information and availability obligations that were not previously formalized: maintaining operational NRBQ contacts 24 hours a day, updating and sharing internal emergency plans, and allocating resources to joint drills and training with the Fire Department.

For the Madrid Fire Department, the protocol improves its response capacity for incidents in nuclear and radioactive facilities, reducing reaction time and risks associated with lack of information at the critical moment.

From a risk management perspective, the agreement reduces institutional exposure for both entities in the event of an incident: the existence of a documented protocol, with a predefined chain of command and communications code, is a key element in any nuclear facility safety audit.

Who does it affect?

• CIEMAT (Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research): as the owner of the Unique Nuclear Installation, it assumes the information, availability and coordination obligations established in the agreement.
• Fire Department of Madrid City Council: as the designated external emergency service, it must participate in drills, training and familiarization with the facilities.
• Emergency personnel from both institutions: NRBQ teams, control room managers and Fire Department commanders involved in the response protocol.
• Other nuclear and radioactive facilities in Spain (indirectly): this agreement can serve as a reference for similar protocols in other centers with equivalent classification.

Practical example

Suppose a radiological incident occurs in one of CIEMAT's facilities during the early morning hours. With the protocol in place, the sequence of action would be as follows:

1. The CIEMAT Control Room detects the incident and activates the internal emergency protocol.
2. Using the predefined communications code, the Madrid Fire Department command is contacted immediately, without need for improvisation or searching for contacts.
3. The Fire Department, having previously participated in familiarization sessions with the center's infrastructure, knows the distribution of fire protection networks and the specific risks of each area.
4. The CIEMAT NRBQ team, available 24 hours a day, advises the Fire Department command in real time on the type of risk and necessary protective measures.

Without this protocol, each of these steps would have depended on improvisation and individual knowledge of those involved. With it, the response is structured, predictable and audited.

What should organizations do now?

1. CIEMAT — Review and update internal emergency plans: the agreement requires sharing them with the Fire Department, so they must be current, accessible and updated.
2. CIEMAT — Ensure 24-hour availability of NRBQ contacts: verify that specialized contact channels are operational at all times and that designated personnel understand their role in the protocol.
3. Both institutions — Plan the calendar for joint drills and training: the agreement contemplates these activities; they must be scheduled and documented to demonstrate compliance.
4. Madrid Fire Department — Organize familiarization sessions with the facilities: personnel who may intervene at CIEMAT must know the physical distribution of the center and its specific risks before a real emergency occurs.
5. Other nuclear and radioactive facilities in Spain — Evaluate whether they have equivalent protocols: although this agreement only binds CIEMAT and Madrid City Council, it serves as a reference for other centers to review their level of coordination with local emergency services.

Official source

View complete regulation at official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-19479