Cargo Container Burn Training

[SamsonFCDES]

I would just like to discuss this subject and get opinions as to wheater this is the way to approach live burn training.

It seems fiarly economical.

Are there any websites that cover this subject, from coversion, modification, operation, etc...

Experiences?

Opinions?

Thanks

[ff7134]

We have located one container and we are looking at others. I believe that Fire Engineering had an article awhile back about this I'll look and see if I can find it.

[Jonathan Bastian]

Originally posted by SamsonFCDES
I would just like to discuss this subject and get opinions as to wheater this is the way to approach live burn training.

It seems fiarly economical.

Are there any websites that cover this subject, from coversion, modification, operation, etc...

Experiences?

Opinions?

Thanks

NFPA 1402 gives guidelines on designing live burn facilities. It is a guide, not a standard, but you could incorporate the recommendations to ensure as safe an environment as possible. The Fire Service Training Technical Committee may give consideration to such burn facilities in its next issue of 1402.

[ThNozzleman]

We, too, are looking into this. I am trying now to locate an unfinished unit for our use. We had a local trucking company donate a used trailer to us, for use as a training maze. We might contact them to see if they have an intermodal container they would be willing to donate, as well. Any tips or plans that forum members have would be most welcome.

[ffexpCP]

My school brought in an old railroad boxcar. It has been fitted with hatches at the top for venting. I've never seen a boxcar used for burn training before, so I thought I would mention it.

[Flochief]

My Company uses a mobile burn building. It is made by Southeastern Industrial Fire Training Academy (SIFTA). We have used it for about 5 years. We have held several hundred burns with no problem. SIFTA is located in West Point GA. They are also building a fire training facility in Carroll County GA. The burn tailer we have works great for us.

[NCKSFIRE]

We trained in a container burn building in December at the training academy in the next county over. It was very good training. It gave the guys who had never been inside before an appreciation for their equipment. The Trainers had built this one. It has two emergency exits on the side and a door and hallway on the end you come in on. You will need to get a permit from your state health department for having a burn building. You can only burn wood or straw. No rubber tires or oil. They had a pallet suspended from the ceiling. It would ignite when the temperatures got hot enough.

[UTFFEMT]

Utah uses mobil burn trailers almost it seems exclusivily, they have quit a few that are in service and they made conix boxes and put on truck trailers. It weems to work really well since most of the Fd's in this State are vollyes and its hard to have an entire FD come to you so the Academy comes to them.

Here is there link, I think they have some photos of them also somewhere on the site. I know they have tralerised: Flashover trailer, burn trailer, S& R trailer, confined Space trailer, ventilation trailer, forcible entry trailer, and im sure I am missing some other, oh yeah and at least one propane trialer.



http://www.uvsc.edu/ufra/

[Skippy361]

you might want to touch base with Jim McCormack in Indianapolis, he is one of the principals of The Fire Department Training Network. They use the shipping containers at their traininf facility. You can email him at info@fdtraining.com.



Mike Donovan
Bridgeport Fire Department

[dmleblanc]

I'm bumping this thread back to the top because I'd like to see some more responses....we just obtained a 40' cargo container (donated)this week and any input regarding setting it up, safe operation, etc. would be appreciated.

I have reviewed the relevant NFPA standard and while I don't think they had cargo containers in mind when it was written, it's got a lot of good information that is applicable to live fire training in general.

I do know that we plan to install ceiling vents over the burn areas, which can be operated from the outside to quickly vent the prop if needed. A couple of additional doorways will be cut with steel doors installed. We may possibly also have a couple of steel-shuttered window holes for additional ventilation. The interior will be divided into two or three separate spaces to simulate interior rooms.

I have trained in a flashover simulator at LSU fire school, but it was a specialized unit designed for one scenario. It was a bit more complicated than what we intend to create but was made from a cargo container. They've been using it for a number of years and it has held up well. ( ffexpCP, LSU also has a converted railroad boxcar for a burn prop)

[ffexpCP]

Originally posted by dmleblanc
( ffexpCP, LSU also has a converted railroad boxcar for a burn prop)

Yep, that's the one I'm talking about. That's where I attend school.

[dmleblanc]

Ah, by LSU I meant Louisiana State University......

[ffexpCP]

Opps, my mistake.

[CommDiva]

One of the fellows on my job has a company that makes up box cars or cargo containers for flashover training. Here's the website address:

Flashover Systems

The website might give you some ideas on how to modify your equipment. From what I understand from the supression crews that have been inside the box, they love it!

Pat

[ffexpCP]

The town next to me just got this simulator. Ain't she a beaut? I'd love to try it sometime.

[ChiefReason]

Samson:
Do I understand that you want to hear from those who have trained in shipping containers that have been converted to burn cans or are you interested in how they are set up?
I have pictures from a training site that uses shipping containers almost exclusively.
Let me know if you want them posted here.
CR

[SamsonFCDES]

Both of those realy. I am intersted in weather or not you feel if it is quality training, and secondly I am intersted in findout out how they are built/modified/set up.

We are a poor group of VFDs, but we are blessed with a number of welders and mechanics. There is not much we cant build ourselves... If we have some plans and such to go by.

Just looking for any and all information, opinions, etc...

Thanks

[ChiefReason]

Samson:
Here are some pictures of shipping containers as training props.

[ChiefReason]

Opposite side view.

[ChiefReason]

View from the south.