Fire Station Design: Additional Considerations for New Stations

Feb. 8, 2010

Fire department officers should also be aware of the “minor” changes in a community, changes that occur so gradually that most people are barely aware of them. For example, vacant lots are filled in, industrial interests are relocated, a small farm is sold to a real estate developer, and zoning ordinances are changed to attract more business and people.

Such changes directly affect fire spread and fire-fighting abilities. They should be taken into consideration by fire department officers when they look at recommending possible relocation. Another consideration that many volunteer fire departments fail to appreciate involves their own members. In many cases, members of a fire department find that they are unable to afford housing within the community wherein they volunteer.

This requires them to locate a community where their needs for housing can be met. Sadly this has a negative impact upon response that shows itself only slowly and over time.   It takes these folks longer to respond to the fire station from their new residence. In choosing a site for a station, this factor may play a part in where to build the station.  Let us now look at a number of the factors that go into the planning for and construction of a new station:  

  1. Station Design: Design considerations involve the apparatus, equipment and personnel that will make the station appropriate for the purposes it will serve in the near and distant future. Relevant issues are the space and height of apparatus areas considering the needs of specialized equipment that might be purchased in the future, training area, living quarters, communications center, office space, repair shop, parking areas, and potential expansion for laundry, infection control, and storage.
  2. Whether the department’s staff is currently paid or volunteer, station design should consider the needs of paid staff because a volunteer department may at some point be forced to add career fire fighters to their staff in the future. Although questions about future changes should be resolved in discussion with municipal officials, fire department members and other interested parties, the ultimate responsibility for location, design, and staffing lies with the fire department officials and their advisors. 
  3. A critical element in volunteer operational scenarios involves the provision of areas where members can come to spend time together. Bonding among members is a critical element involved in the creation and maintenance of teamwork among the members of the organization. Room should be set aside for recreational activities.
  4. Other important areas of consideration when planning station specifications are the heating and ventilating needs of the station and the setup of the watch-desk area. The design of the station should incorporate a heating system that is able to recover rapidly after apparatus responds, especially during the winter when the doors to the station are not closed immediately.
  5. In addition, adequate ventilation should be provided in the apparatus room before the doors are opened to avoid a buildup of carbon monoxide during the usual engine warm-up, drilling, or servicing.
  6. The proper setup of the watch-desk area is a major concern because that is where alarms are received. The watch desk should be a desk-console arrangement with wall space for maps, schedules, and instructions and with ample room for the necessary radio equipment, alarm control devices, floor controls, and traffic signal controls. The watch-desk area should be as soundproof as possible and should allow for clear visibility of the entire apparatus room. A desirable location for the watch desk is near the front entrance of the station, where visitors enter and seek information (Hickey 1985).  

Before final decisions can be made, department personnel must thoroughly research and understand traffic flow, terrain features, area characteristics, weather peculiarities, and other special considerations, in addition to the space needs, so they can communicate them to the architects. Next time around I will talk a bit about about money issues.

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