In 2005, the judges of a fire station awards program predicted several trends in future fire stations.
Among the predictions were: “Doors that fold open.” “A five-foot arc of radiant heat in the apron of the bay doors.” “Individual bunk rooms.” “Controlled light systems that turn the lights up slowly…” and “Workout rooms built into the facility instead of finding space.”
Over the past fifteen years, those predictions have come true. If you build new or renovate a fire station, what trends should you be including for the 50- or 75-year life span of your department’s facility? Where do these innovations come from and how do you learn about them? The answer is from fire, rescue and EMS facilities across the country, North America and around the world.
In the past five years, the focus on preventing firefighter cancer and the term “hot zone” was introduced to define the areas of a station with most exposure to carcinogens and cancer-causing elements. The zone concept has progressed to starting on-scene with shedding and bagging turnout gear.
The current COVID-19 pandemic brings yet another demand for more aggressive methods to protect firefighters, EMS personnel and emergency vehicle technicians; in fact, everyone in administration, stations and training facilities.
Jeff Humphreys, principal for Mackenzie, shared areas that, as a result of the pandemic, will impact new fire stations. Among those areas are HVAC systems, material, and technology.
“The COVID-19 virus is testing the function and safety of fire stations and police stations in ways they haven’t been tested before,” said Humphreys.
“The future of essential facilities like police and fire stations will require new design thinking across materials, systems, finishes and workflows. Considerations will include increased ventilation, air filtration to maintain optimal humidity, decontamination rooms, touchless technology, anti-bacterial finishes and fabrics, built-in UV light sanitation and others. Creating design solutions around sterilization and cleanliness that does not interrupt workflow or impact response times.”
Humphreys also predicts the need to create an environment in the station where there is nothing in the building you must touch. Sensors on doors and lights, auto flushing toilets, and hand dryers. “Why not put sensors in fire stations for doors. Doors – technology automated doors that take less space,” he said.
Humphreys added that designing solutions to make these facilities as workable and safe as possible “will become the responsibility of the architects who design them.”
However, input will be needed from the men and women in the fire, rescue and EMS departments that experience the problems firsthand. And by sharing their ideas, solutions are designed into new stations. Bringing the latest innovations and trends to their peers across North America is what the Station Design Awards and the Station Design Conference; one through their submissions and the other, through education.
The Call for Entries for the 2020 Station Design Awards is an opportunity for fire departments, public safety agencies, architects and construction firms to enter their new facilities to be featured in the November issue of Firehouse Magazine and online at Firehouse.com. During the judging process, as each entry is studied and reviewed by a team of judges, innovations and ideas in the stations are picked up and noted. Working with a difficult site plan, creating a method to deal with a unique local community, or incorporating a sustainable aspect to help the environment or increase efficiency.
The 2020 Station Design Conference will be held August 10-13 in Rosemont, Illinois. Over 50 fire chiefs, officers, project managers and architects will focus on levels of fire station, training and public safety facility design from beginning to end. The conference is an opportunity to learn, ask question and network with professionals from across the country.
Every fire/EMS station, training and facility is unique in its design and goal to meet the needs of its department and community. If you completed a new facility, share your ideas and design through the Station Design Awards. And, if you are planning to build, attend the Station Design Conference in August, and bring your ideas and questions to the men and women who can help.
Janet A. Wilmoth | Special Projects Director
Janet Wilmoth grew up in a family of firefighters in a suburb of Chicago. Wilmoth, who is owner of Wilmoth Associates, worked with Fire Chief magazine for 27 years until it closed in 2013. She currently is the project director for Firehouse, overseeing the Station Design Conference.
