Learning by example and experience is a time-tested method for gaining knowledge, and Firehouse’s Station Design Awards program is a perfect example.
For the fourth year, Firehouse is hosting its annual Station Design Awards program and is currently seeking entries. The program is designed primarily for architects and builders as a way to show off their best work. Firefighters and communities will have the opportunity to see best practices and glean information for their own future projects from the top designs later this year.
“The Station Design Awards program is an excellent opportunity for fire chiefs and project managers to see trends and innovations from fire departments and architects across North America,” said Janet Wilmoth, Firehouse’s special projects coordinator.
- Visit Firehouse.com/sda for this year’s entry form.
Over the nearly dozen years Wilmoth has been involved with station design programs, she said it has been interesting to watch trends in fire station construction.
“One of the things that has been very surprising to me is fire poles are making a comeback,” she said. “A number of departments have living quarters on the second floor, and a pole is still the quickest way to get to the first-floor apparatus bays.” She said the pole structures of today are completely caged and have a lot more cushioning at the bottom. Some stations are now using slides as conveyances between floors.
Another notable trend is the desire to keep turnout gear and other contaminated gear out of the living areas. Wilmoth said many departments are creating red, yellow and green zones when they design new stations to isolate contaminates and reduce exposure to carcinogens, noting some departments are going so far as to integrate airlocks between the zones.
“Many departments are eliminating carpeting all together to reduce the spread of contaminants,” Wilmoth added.
Some stations are being built with rooms just for gear to totally isolate it from all parts of the station, including apparatus bays, Wilmoth said. She noted that many communities use fire stations for voting, dinners and other gatherings, and the apparatus bays are attractive because they offer large, open expanses when the apparatus is moved out. The tradition of ringing the apparatus bay walls with gear exposes not only firefighters to the bad stuff on turnout gear, but any member of the public who might have reason to be in the building.
“There’s a lot more thought going into the layout of stations,” Wilmoth said.
Another trend gaining popularity is sprinkler systems in fire stations, Wilmoth said, noting that all but one of last year’s award-winning stations had sprinkler systems. The one that didn’t was slated to have it, but budget reductions forced that option to be cut.
“I think sprinklers are really important,” Wilmoth said. “It makes a lot of sense. There are fires in fire stations.”
The deadline for the station design entries is July 22, and the portfolios are due Aug. 5.
All completed entries are included in the November Station Design showcase in Firehouse magazine and featured on Firehouse.com.
- View last year's winners here.
- In Quarters: Photos of 2015 Gold Winners: Career Station - Satellite Station - Volunteer Combination - Renovation Gold - Shared Facilities
