When we put our heads together with the F.I.E.R.O. team and came up with the concept for this stand-alone magazine, we focused entirely on fire station design and its many elements and inspirations. This includes the architects, city planners, fire administration representatives, and firefighters who help create such dynamic and innovative concepts.
Everything inside a fire station should inspire, support, and motivate firefighters to keep their health and wellness at the forefront of their minds.
We partnered with F.I.E.R.O. to create what we feel showcases the future of holistic fire station design and innovation from a practical and sustainable perspective. We're not just building fire stations in communities: we're empowering communities to build fire stations that prioritize the health and well-being of our firefighters. This partnership is a collective mission, and we're excited to have you on board.
Whether it’s the air you breathe inside the walls of a firehouse, the sounds that wake you for a call, the art and colors that encircle you while you eat, or the plants and greenery that surround the station, each aspect should be designed with consideration for the firefighter.
Kory Pearn
PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
BILLINGS, CRAIG CARTER, TONYA HERBERT, CHRISTOPHER KEHDE, TRAVIS MILLER, ROBERT MITCHELL, ERIC F. PROS, DENNIS A. ROSS, GREGORY SCOTT, JAMES STUMBO, BRENDAN ZIMMERMAN, RICK MARKLEY, JAMES ZWERG
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHER STEPHEN BAER
CRACKYL Magazine is published four times a year by CRACKYL Media Inc. with copies delivered to firefighters across North America and beyond. No part of the content, including but not limited to editorial, advertising or photography, may be copied or reprinted without the permission of the publisher. ISSN # 2563-612X PUBLISHED AND PRODUCED BY: CRACKYL MEDIA INC.
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The opinions presented in our magazine are those of the authors of the articles. We enjoy the opportunity to present a variety of viewpoints but do not necessarily endorse them.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
I hope you enjoy this, our first, CRACKYL Magazine supplement on fire stations. F.I.E.R.O. recognized a need to provide education on fire station design 25 years ago.
As the logistics officer for the Charlotte (N.C.) Fire Department, I was responsible for purchasing station furnishings for 12 years. Through this role, I got premium seating to watch the design and construction of 10 new fire stations and the total renovation of two others. It seemed each project begged the question — where did this idea come from?
It turns out that information on how to design a fire station was basically non-existent. A lot of uninformed decisions were being made. And this was certainly not unique to my department. So, the idea of developing a fire station symposium was born. Fortunately for F.I.E.R.O., our board member Don Collins was a professor in the School of Architecture at Clemson University, as well as a captain with the Clemson University Fire Department. Don grew up in a fire service family and his love of the fire service, coupled with his
passion for architecture, was a perfect situation for the first-ever fire station educational event anywhere. Our first symposium was held in 2000.
Since its inception, the F.I.E.R.O. Fire Station Symposium has become an annual event with its own design awards program. We have a unique group of passionate jurors who select the winners. Each juror is a current or retired fire service member with a degree in architecture. To remain as unbiased as possible, none of our jurors can be employed by an architectural firm.
I often say that a fire station is hard to define. It can include many features such as a garage, café, sleeping quarters, living and dining rooms, fitness facility, office space, meeting rooms, equipment repair rooms, training props, laundromat, decontamination room, storage for PPE, EMS supplies, firefighting equipment, and janitorial supplies and equipment. You get the picture. Due to this complexity, there are only a handful of architects with the background to design a proper fire station.
In addition to this, the emergence of firefighter cancer prevention initiatives has had a tremendous impact on station design. An architect friend, Paul Erickson, said that firefighters are like farmers. Farmers go to their fields, harvest their crops and bring them back to their barn. Firefighters go to fires, harvest carcinogens and transport them back to their station. We are also now learning how station design can impact firefighter behavioral health.
F.I.E.R.O. takes immense pride in knowing we have had an incredibly positive influence on station design. A phrase we often hear from those who attend our Fire Station Symposiums is “Wow, I would have never thought of that!” We hope to see you at our next Fire Station Symposium — Sept. 21-24, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in beautiful downtown Greenville, S.C. — where we’ll be tackling the issues facing fire station design and handing out our second supplement with CRACKYL Magazine.
Robert Tutterow
Robert Tutterow
PRESIDENT
F.I.E.R.O.
HOW TO SERVE
UP
FIREHOUSE KITCHENS Tasty
A WELL-DESIGNED KITCHEN BLENDS FUNCTIONALITY, SAFETY AND COMMUNITY AND IS THE HEART OF THE FIREHOUSE
By Eric F. Pros, AIA, MBA, CPD, DS Architecture director of design, AIA Ohio president-elect
It’s said that an army marches on its stomach – and this certainly holds true for the fire service. The firehouse kitchen space gives us an opportunity to nourish both the bodies and the sense of community for firefighters.
Heart
LIKE THE DAYROOM, THE KITCHEN IS THE COMMUNAL OF THE FIRE STATION.
The primary function of a firehouse kitchen is to keep first responders nourished with a well-balanced diet.
THE DESIGN MUST PRIORITIZE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOODS WHILE FACILITATING CONVENIENT HEALTHY MEAL PREPARATION.
Ample refrigeration and pantry space will ensure the kitchen can store a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. High-quality cooking equipment enables firefighters to prepare wholesome meals with minimal effort, and encourages cooking methods that retain nutrients and flavor.
When carefully considering food consumption and diet, accountability is key. Encouraging healthy eating habits make it less likely for processed or junk food to become a routine part of the firefighter diet. A shared culture amongst a shift can develop a philosophy of accountability and care for one another.
Firefighters are exposed to various hazards throughout their day, but cooking and food preparation should not be one of them.
Separating the living quarters of a firehouse from the apparatus bays and other working spaces keeps the occupants and food away from harmful carcinogens, pathogens and noxious gasses.
Adequate ventilation in the kitchen is important for removing smoke, steam and cooking odors, minimizing air pollutants and improving indoor air quality. High-performance exhaust hoods effectively capture and expel airborne particles. Pairing the hood with an Ansul system and emergency gas shut-off bring a holistic approach to safety.
Design for adequate lighting levels with dimmable controls.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVER-LIGHT THE SPACE, WHICH COULD CREATE GLARE AND VISUAL FATIGUE.
Additionally, non-slip flooring that is easy to clean will reduce the risk of slips and falls. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to flooring material. Consider the product’s cleaning, maintenance and long-term durability when making a selection.
LIKE THE DAYROOM, THE KITCHEN IS THE COMMUNAL HEART OF THE FIRE STATION.
It is where bonds are forged, stories are shared and friendships are strengthened. Interactive cooking spaces, such as communal cooking islands, allow firefighters to collaborate on meal preparation and share culinary skills and techniques.
An open kitchen layout that seamlessly integrates communal areas such as the dining room and dayroom encourages spontaneous interactions and facilitates socializing among firefighters during meal times. The kitchen, like other living spaces of a fire station, should promote a sense of respite from the daily tasks through a variety of comfortable seating styles.
Decor can reflect the distinctive identity of each fire station. Photos, mementos, memorabilia and awards that celebrate the achievements and camaraderie of the firefighting team can all play a role.
The kitchen area of a fire station can also serve as a hub for social activity beyond the crew who use the space on a daily basis. Every fire station is different, but each should have the flexibility to host holiday meals, retirement parties and visiting family. Teambuilding activities such as cooking competitions or themed potluck dinners can also enhance camaraderie and morale.
Well-planned kitchen design isn’t only for career departments. Volunteer and part-time stations need to plan how their kitchens will be used today and how the department is likely to change over the coming decades. Some departments will focus on cooking for
internal holiday parties. Some will need to prep food for fundraisers or station rent outs. Some will be looking to a future when staff are spending 12, 24 or 48 hours at the firehouse.
Although the kitchen in a firehouse performs in a similar capacity as a commercial kitchen, it need not be a harsh and sterile environment. Softening the space through a variety of other materials may subtly support a more welcoming and comfortable setting for the end users of the space.
A THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED KITCHEN CAN PROMOTE A POSITIVE CULTURE, WHERE MEANINGFUL INTERACTIONS
ARE CREATED BETWEEN THOSE WHO PREPARE FOOD AND EAT TOGETHER.
Giving sufficient space for food preparation and cooking invites multiple participants into the process. The camaraderie that comes along with preparing and sharing a meal can also support a culture of healthy eating habits.
And that is a great way to keep troop morale up and ready for the march.
the hub
HOW TO GET A FROM YOUR FIRE STATION
By Gregory Scott, Stewart-Cooper-Newell Architects
Our mental health has an intrinsic relationship with our physical health. We are dependent on nature and natural processes for life and longevity.
So how can we integrate the built environment with the natural environment to improve our wellbeing? And more specifically, how can we integrate them into firehouse design?
BIOPHILIC DESIGN IS THE KEY. IT SEEKS TO INTEGRATE THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT WITH THE NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT TO IMPROVE OUR WELLB EING.
The term biophilia was coined in 1973 by German-born American psychoanalyst Erich Fromm in his book The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness. Fromm defined biophilia as “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive.”
The term was further explored by world-renowned biologist, naturalist and ecologist Edward O. Wilson in his 1984 Pulitzer Prize-winning book Biophilia. He defined it as “the innate tendency
BIOPHILIC DESIGN
INTEGRATES THE BUILT AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS, BOOSTING FIREFIGHTERS’ PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING
to focus on life and life-like processes.” Wilson links biophilia with human adaptation to the natural environment, evaluating our intrinsic attraction to nature for not only our physical but also the psychological needs required for mental development.
In the writer’s second iteration of biophilia, The Biophilia Hypothesis (published in 1993 with Stephen Kellert and Edward O. Wilson), the term is explained as “the human tendency to relate with life and natural processes might be expressed
& MUSEUM
9. OUTDOOR DINING & GRILL
10. DAY ROOM
11. OUTDOOR LOUNGE 12. EXERCISE ROOM
13. OUTDOOR EXERCISE
14. SLEEP ROOMS
15. ACTIVITY AREA
16. SERVICES
17. APPARATUS BAYS
18. BAY OASIS
as a biological need, one that is integral to the human species’ developmental process and is essential in physical and mental growth.”
SO HOW DO THESE DEFINITIONS APPLY TO ARCHITECTURE, ESPECIALLY FIRE STATION DESIGN?
Though biophilia was born from preservation, biology, ecology and natural science, its definition seeks to envelop all aspects of human life. The built environment poses a
While it would be too presumptuous to expect architecture to resolve all of society’s issues, it is a realistic goal to invite life and the focus of living forms and textures within our buildings. 1.
unique challenge, since traditional building methods have removed the natural environment, replacing it with the artificial forms and amenities that support modern society.
YET “BIOPHOBIA” SEEKS TO SEPARATE US FROM THE OUTDOORS.
If biophilia regards our focus on nature and lifelike processes as innate to humans, what ills have resulted from the walls we have built?
According to Kellert and Wilson, all
our values are learned from observing nature, which is a continuous process. In our modernity, we have cut off the tributaries of knowledge that flow into our consciousness from the natural environment, hence stagnating ourselves in the perpetual cycle of today’s unhealthy trends: insulate, sit, sleep and repeat.
SUSTAINABILITY
Implementing concepts from the publication 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design - Improving Health & WellBeing in the Built Environment (by William Browning, Catherine Ryan and Joseph Clancy in 2014) is a great start towards a mental health focused fire station design. The 14 patterns are split into three categories or patterns.
• NATURE IN THE SPACE
• NATURAL ANALOGUES
• NATURE OF THE SPACE
Nature in the space patterns, as they relate to fire station design, emerge through the integration of plant life, water, animals, breezes, sound, scents, etc. This integration has been realized through, but is not limited to, potted plants, flowerbeds, bird feeders, butterfly gardens, water features, fountains, aquariums, courtyard gardens and green walls or vegetated roofs.
Natural analogues patterns are non-living, but organic mimicry of nature. These are expressed in objects, materials, colors, shapes, sequences and patterns found in nature. Analogues provide indirect connections to nature by imitating things such as shells and leaves, furniture with organic shapes, and natural materials that have been processed or extensively altered. These examples are also found in wood planks, granite countertops, travertine floors, etc. Natural analogue experiences are strongest when the richness of native information is provided in an organized and evolving manner.
Nature of the space patterns foster our innate and acquired curiosity to see beyond our immediate surroundings. These configurations also explore our fascination with the slightly dangerous risk of the unknown to create moments of obscurity and revelation or even
phobias induced by including trusted elements of safety. For example, rails or barriers provide security but also indicate peril. The strongest nature of the space experiences is achieved by creating deliberate and engaging spatial configurations commingled with nature patterns in the space and natural analogues.
SO HOW DOES BIOPHILIC DESIGN IN FIRE STATIONS IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH?
Humans’ native environment is the natural environment. The built environment, especially indoors, is a new habitat that is inherently artificial. We have walled ourselves into environmental sterility in our best efforts to meet comfort, safety, security, energy requirements and physical health standards.
THIS DIVORCING FROM THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT HAS WEAKENED US AS A SPECIES.
These weaknesses are evident in our multiple allergic reactions to nature. Antigens, substances such as pollens and molds, activate immune cells to generate antibodies and chemical mediators to neutralize the antigen. These antigens, previously recognized as normal, are now becoming foreign, an accidental rejection of nature affecting our human resiliency to the outdoors.
Biophilia as a solution reinvites nature into our lives, thus restarting the continuous learning process
mentioned by Kellert and Wilson. All our values are learned from observing nature, which is a continuous process.
In his 1964 book Architecture Without Architects, Bernard Rudofsky wrote “To stave off physical and mental deterioration, the urban dweller periodically escapes his splendidly appointed lair to seek bliss in what he thinks are primitive surroundings: a cabin, a tent, or if he is less hidebound, a fishing village or hill town abroad.”
Biophilia being “the innate tendency to focus on life and life-like processes” offers solutions to the induced mental health illnesses caused or exacerbated by the built environment’s past ignorance of “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive.”
A 2010 scientific experiment in Sweden by Anette Kjellgren and Hanne Buhrkal of the Human Performance Laboratory at Karlstad University showed physical improvement from natural environment exposure. The paper resulting from that study, A Comparison of the Restorative Effect of a Natural Environment with that of a Simulated Natural Environment, showed that the natural environment reduced stress, regulated blood pressure, increased energy, created a state of tranquility, increased well-being and quality of life. While the simulated natural environment resulted in lower states of altered consciousness, it also reduced stress and increased positive emotions.
BIOPHILIA CAN CREATE A THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT BY BALANCING THE NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENTS. AND THAT IS A BENEFIT ALL FIREFIGHTERS CAN REAP.
FIRE STATION 2
NEW BRAUNFELS FIRE DEPARTMENT
NEW BRAUNFELS, TX - COMAL COUNTY
BROWN REYNOLDS WATFORD ARCHITECTS
GET OUTSIDE YOUR OUTDOOR COMFORT ZONE
By Craig Carter, BKV Group
GOING BIG FOR OUTDOOR USE AND TYING IT TO TRANSITIONAL INDOOR AREAS CAN IMPROVE FIREFIGHTER WELLNESS
With most career firefighters working 24- or 48-hour shifts, it’s important to provide the comforts and amenities of home within the confines of the fire station. We all love our yards, patios, balconies, porches and decks at home. Why shouldn’t fire stations include similar features to allow people to get outdoors and enjoy fresh air?
An indoor-outdoor living space holds many benefits: it can enhance camaraderie, reinforce circadian rhythms,
increase access to vitamin D, ease stress, improve mental health, reduce sick days, improve employee retention and boost morale. A simple patch of grass with a picnic table and a grill can help kick-start this process
BUT TO ENCOURAGE YOUR TEAM TO USE THE SPACE AND GET ALL THE BENEFITS, A TRICKED-OUT PATIO SPACE IS THE WAY TO GO.
INDOOR-OUTDOOR BASICS
The most successful outdoor spaces flow easily from the dayroom or dining room space and feature a lot of glass so the spaces seem to blend together. This entices people to head outside, and also allows them to enjoy the visuals even if they choose to stay inside. There should be a large door between the patio and the interior, with enough un-cluttered space on both sides of the door so it’s easy to move back and forth.
Similar design elements bridging the gap can help tie the spaces together. These might include a flooring treatment that extends outdoors, a ceiling element or a brick wall that continues from outside to inside.
Indoor plants are another great way to transition the indoors to outdoors. Blending nature to the interior of the building is a key feature of what’s called biophilic design. And as a bonus, indoor plants also reduce toxins and clean the air in the building.
Minimum patio amenities include a picnic table, cooking appliances, shade and privacy screening. The patio table and chairs will be heavily used and should be viewed as an opportunity for visual interest. Highly durable commercial-grade furniture with a wide variety of styles and fun colors can be found from Landscape Forms or Sitescapes as well as a few other manufacturers. Pieces that are designed for urban public plazas should be able to withstand the traffic of a firehouse.
Outdoor meal prep is a must. Plan for a high-powered grill, but also leave space for a smoker or griddle. A shade structure will extend the functionality of your patio at hotter times of year, but a full roof over part of the patio can do that plus allow cooking and eating in rainy weather.
If the patio space is too visible from the street or a public area, it won’t be comfortable and you’ll feel on public display. Views can be blocked with fencing or masonry walls, but dense plantings with evergreens, such as arborvitae can achieve the same effect – and both can help diffuse street noise.
UPPING YOUR PATIO GAME
For a high-end patio feel, you’ll need to move beyond these basics. Consider layering in a lot more visual interest, creating a living space with varying heights, textures, colors and patterns. The design process for a landscape architect is actually pretty complicated, but fire departments can start the process by brainstorming for at least five of the following features, plus one for every 100 square feet of dedicated space.
LAWN FOR GAMES SUCH AS BAGS, BOCCE OR HORSESHOES
SPACE FOR EXTERIOR FITNESS ACTIVITIES
ADIRONDACK OR CHAISE LONGUE SEATING AREA
FIRE PIT WITH CHAIRS
WATER FEATURE, EITHER DUG INTO THE GROUND OR A PLUG-IN WATERFALL OR FOUNTAIN
BIRD BATH AND BIRD FEEDERS
SMALL SCULPTURE – EVEN SOMETHING KITSCHY LIKE A GARDEN GNOME OR PINK FLAMINGO STRUCTURES LIKE A MICRO DECK, PERGOLA OR GAZEBO
STRING LIGHTS OR SOLAR STAKE LIGHTS
HANGING PLANTS
CONTRASTING PAVING AREA (TEXTURED CONCRETE, FLAGSTONE, TILE, RIVER ROCK, ETC.)
SOFTSCAPE SUCH AS SYNTHETIC TURF
VARIED MATERIALS LIKE CORTEN STEEL, NATURAL STONE MASONRY, CLAY BRICK, AND STAINED WOOD
CONTRASTING TEXTURES AND COLORS OF PLANTINGS
SEAT WALL
TERRACED LAWN
RAISED BEDS OR LARGE POTS
VEGETABLE GARDENS
GAS-FIRED PIZZA OVEN
BUILT-IN COUNTERTOPS AROUND THE GRILL BOULDERS
A metal and wood trellis on this patio is echoed by a wood slat ceiling system,
To make maintenance easier, make heavy use of plants native to the region. Those plants will be more likely to thrive, and with proper spacing they can inhibit weed growth. It’s important to remember that the use of native, drought-tolerant plants significantly reduces the need for traditional irrigation. But vegetables and a few
OUTDOOR MEAL PREP IS A MUST.
A portion of the patio at the Staples Mill Firehouse is covered by the building roof, creating space for cooking and eating outdoors in rainy weather, and providing a transition between interior and exterior space.
Elk River Fire Station #3’s patio will be screened from parking by a combination of arborvitae trees and a low wall.
showpiece plants might need frequent watering. If your station doesn’t have an irrigation system that can be easily modified, Rain Bird offers automatic drip line systems that are easy to install and connect directly to a hose bib.
Include some of the landscape maintenance tasks like leaf blowing,
plucking weeds and watering potted plants into your daily chore rotation. Maintenance will seem simple when you spread it across three shifts.
The best part about planning and building a compelling outdoor space that engages your senses and soothes your mind is spending time in it.
tying the patio to the dayroom across a glass wall.
HOW COLOR & ART CAN CHANGE YOUR MOOD
BEING DELIBERATE WITH COLOR AND WALL ART CHOICES CAN INFLUENCE HOW FIREFIGHTERS FEEL ON THE JOB
By Gerrald Adams, LEED AP, director Perlman Architects
We recently completed the construction of a series of fire stations we had designed in southern Arizona. The fire chief asked what we would recommend for wall art to complement the more lively color schemes throughout the station in the key spaces the occupants would use most during their 48-hour shifts.
I asked about his vision for the newly built stations, and if there was any art or historic memorabilia he wanted to showcase.
There was, but nothing he thought was appropriate. He added that they have a database of several thousand photographs from staff photographers. But so many show those who died in the line of duty,
residents or former employees who had died, or captured a tragic event or destruction.
This, he said, was not what he wanted portrayed. His vision was to allow only photos of positive imagery and a culture to be proud of.
This really hit home with me. I started thinking more about how we can influence a positive image in the design of the interior spaces in such facilities.
COLOR IS A POWERFUL COMMUNICATION TOOL AND CAN BE USED TO SIGNAL ACTION, INFLUENCE MOOD AND PROVOKE PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTIONS.
BY USING COLOR ALONG WITH ART BY USING INSPIRATIONAL AND INTENTIONAL COLOR, ART, AND PHOTOS, WE SHOWCASE HOW IMPORTANT THE ROLE OF A FIREFIGHTER IS - AND MAYBE EVEN MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THOSE FIREFIGHTERS
Photographs have often been used in fire stations to show a history of the heroism and destruction that firefighters face. Often, these scenes and memories become a badge of honor that represents what these men and women experience. Or maybe they are just the opposite and become a reminder of hardship and actually invoke PTSD.
Photographs can be great for training by providing glimpses of real-world situations. But they also can have a negative impact on first responders, the community, city leaders and families of the firefighters.
We accepted the challenge.
We set up a website and allowed select city leaders, senior fire department staff, some residents and members of the design team to go through all the photos and choose the most positive ones.
None were to show the negative or hardship stories of years past. No firefighter faces, references to them or to civilians if they had perished. We were to avoid images of extreme disaster or destruction. The process was a bit cumbersome, but the committee narrowed this vast database to the best 36 to 40 photos to be framed and displayed throughout the facility.
The images were carefully selected and placed along walls with similar color, emotions or feelings to further the positive experience and create an art-like experience.
Color is a powerful communication tool and can be used to signal action, influence mood and provoke psychological reactions.
CERTAIN COLORS HAVE EVEN BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES, INCLUDING IMPROVED BLOOD PRESSURE, METABOLISM AND EYE STRAIN.
Take a moment to think about a space you’re familiar with. Is there a color that stands out about that space? Think about how different colors make you feel when you see them. Perhaps the next time you are feeling kind of blah, think about this and see if your mood shifts by going to a different space or even outdoors. Many times, it's the small things that can have the largest impact.
The scientific exploration of color psychology is relatively new, but people have long been interested in nature and the impact of color. In ancient cultures, colors were often used to treat different conditions and influence emotions. They also played a role in different spiritual practices.
While perceptions of color are somewhat subjective, some color effects have universal meanings.
I N COLOR THERAPY, IT IS BELIEVED THAT DIFFERENT COLORS ARE ABLE TO IMPACT THE BODY DIFFERENTLY.
The use of color in the right conditions can have a positive benefit for those living and working within a facility. Several ancient cultures, including those
CLEANLINESS SIMPLICITY INNOCENCE HONESTY FORMALITY DRAMA SOPHISTICATION SECURITY
of the Egyptians and the Chinese, practiced chromotherapy, or the use of colors to heal.
CHROMOTHERAPY IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS LIGHT THERAPY OR COLOROLOGY.
While more research is needed, one 2020 study published in Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior
said that chromotherapy may be an effective way to combat feelings of compassion fatigue and post-traumatic stress in high-stress environments.
When applying these findings and the mental health benefits, the colors were chosen to best align the activities of each of the spaces. For instance, the main colors in the interior were a soft white, which provided the feeling of relief and indicated a sterile and clean
environment. The fitness room and dayroom were painted in a warm yellow-orange, while the accent walls in the dorms were a dark green. The offices and training rooms had darker oranges for a more energized working area.
Other projects have used reds and yellows with darker tones in the sleeping areas and blues in common and kitchen spaces, all with great feedback.
HOW RESPONSE TIME FIREHOUSE LOCATIONS DRIVES
By Travis Miller, MS-PPA, Criterion Associates
Whether you're a city manager, fire chief, union president or concerned citizen, the process of deciding when and where a new fire station should be located is a complex one. It’s fraught with challenges from every side: political, policy, fiscal, operational, and of course – the unexpected.
Stakeholders will often have very different views on need, service level objectives, timing, and the best use for available parcels.
Whether your community is growing in population and scope or you are shrinking and facing budget challenges, one thing is critical:
THAT YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHERE TO PUT YOUR STATION(S) ARE BASED ON REPEATABLE ANALYTICAL METHODS.
The use of geographic information systems has become a de facto part of this process. While exceptional analytical results might not drive every decision, the lack of them can put policy makers, managers and labor partners into a no-win situation.
In the realm of public safety management, the pursuit of faster response times is often viewed as an unequivocal goal. But delving deeper
RESPONSE TIME IS JUST ONE FACTOR IN DECIDING WHERE TO PUT A STATION, BUT IT’S CRITICAL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT RESPONSE TIME MEANS
reveals a complex interplay of factors that influence decisions regarding facility location. From budgets and land availability to community concerns and staffing, public safety leaders face myriad considerations when determining the optimal placement of emergency response facilities.
Before delving into the complexities of facility location, it is imperative to understand the components of total response time that can be influenced by such decisions. Facility design and location can impact the ability of first responders to react to calls and reach incidents promptly. While location primarily affects
travel time to incidents, it does not directly influence call processing, readiness or on-scene response.
Analyzing response times will highlight fractile performance, assessing the percentage of calls that can be reached within a predefined time frame. This has become a key focus in fire, rescue and EMS discussions. It is driven in large part by NFPA 1710, which took its lead from contracts between municipalities and private EMS providers that set response time effectiveness targets using fractile derived targets.
ESTABLISHING
CLEAR RESPONSETIME STANDARDS AND OBJECTIVES IS PARAMOUNT, REQUIRING COMMUNITY CONSENSUS AND ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANS.
Moreover, it is essential to frame the discussion around the overarching goals of minimizing response times, ensuring overlapping coverage in high-demand areas, and adapting to temporal variations in service demands.
Many communities look to NFPA 1710, and use the response-time targets of four minutes for the first arriving unit, and eight minutes for the total initial response.
These numbers are derived from research into the efficacy of EMS systems in their response to cardiac arrest, and to extensive research into the behavior of fires in residential structures with no built-in fire suppression systems.
GIS emerges as a powerful tool in the quest for optimal facility locations. By integrating location data with various descriptive information, GIS enables comprehensive mapping, analysis, and visualization of key community questions. Using between three
and five years of incident data, GIS facilitates response time studies that address specific queries and scenarios.
These can include where best to locate a new station; which station will have the least negative impact if closed; or where neighboring communities might best co-locate a facility.
In our experience, we have found that fire rescue departments and their municipal leaders frame their objectives in several ways. No one approach is better than the others. But it is critical that some consideration is given to what questions you are trying to answer. Examples might include:
• We have three fire stations today, and our community has grown by 15% in population in some noncore locations. Where should I put a fourth and/or a fifth station?
• Our EMS agency covers three communities in a relatively dense geographic area. Should I spread my stations out, or run from a single station where I can guarantee arrival of at least one ALS ambulance in less than eight minutes to all three communities?
• My fire chief says we need to add a new station. What will that do for our response times to emergency calls?
• Both of my stations are more than 100 years old and no longer meet the agency’s needs. How many stations do I need to cover my city, and where should they go?
• We are finally getting a heavy rescue, and the personnel to staff it. Should I put it downtown or near the freeway?
Through GIS analysis, public safety agencies can address pertinent questions such as accommodating community growth, optimizing station consolidation, or relocating
aging facilities to address changing community service demands. Key outputs include fractile performance metrics, coverage assessments and comparative analyses of alternative scenarios. These outputs serve as invaluable resources for engaging stakeholders and informing decision-making processes.
Beyond GIS analysis, evaluating site suitability involves a multifaceted assessment encompassing various physical, logistical, and community-specific factors. Considerations range from site size and accessibility to environmental impacts and competing land uses. The development of a comprehensive site selection matrix, tailored to the community's needs and priorities, enables systematic evaluation and scoring of potential sites.
Weighting criteria within the selection matrix reflects the community's values and objectives, whether prioritizing response times, fiscal considerations, or municipal planning goals.
ULTIMATELY, THE CHOSEN SITE SHOULD ALIGN WITH BROADER COMMUNITY NEEDS AND FACILITATE THE DELIVERY OF CRITICAL SERVICES EFFECTIVELY.
The evolution of first-response facility location analysis underscores the importance of leveraging modern technologies and data-driven approaches. From rudimentary methods to sophisticated GIS solutions, the landscape of decisionmaking has evolved significantly.
However, amidst technological advancements, the fundamental challenge remains: balancing the diverse objectives of safety, efficiency, budgetary constraints and community engagement.
FIRE STATION NO. 2
CITY OF FAIRMONT
MARION COUNTY, WV
ADAM ROHALY, OMNI ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS, INC.
HOW TO BUILD FOR BETTER SLEEP
By Joel Billings, Ph.D., assistant professor of Emergency Services at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
We know that sleep quality is a predictor of longand short-term health and wellness. And we know that sleep deprivation impairs physical skills and decision making. We know that firefighters are susceptible to illnesses such as cancer and heart disease, which are exacerbated by poor sleep.
And most importantly, we know firefighters don’t get great sleep. Whether building or renovating a fire station where firefighters will sleep, there are design and system options to improve sleep quality.
There are two vital facets of fire station design: CREATING OPTIMAL SLEEPING ENVIRONMENTS TO ENHANCE REST.
1
FOLLOW THESE SEVEN TIPS TO GIVE FIREFIGHTERS THE BEST NIGHT’S SLEEP POSSIBLE IN A SLEEP-DEPRIVED WORLD 2
INTRODUCING ADVANCED ALERTING SYSTEMS THAT MINIMIZE STRESS RESPONSES.
Fire stations should be equipped with adjustable thermostats that allow each room's temperature to be individually controlled. This ensures that every firefighter can customize their sleeping environment to their comfort level. Additionally, proper ventilation and airflow can help in removing odors and maintaining a fresh environment conducive to sleep.
DUCTION
Noise is a significant disruptor of sleep. To combat this, stations can implement solidcore doors and insulation in walls, ceilings and floors to minimize internal and external noise. Using white noise machines or devices that produce a consistent sound can also help mask disruptive noises, creating a quieter sleep environment. Sleeping quarters should be located in an area away from loud machinery, traffic, and other internal and external noises.
Low light settings and the ability to block out light are important features for sleeping quarters. Installing blackout curtains can prevent external light from disturbing sleep. Motion-activated red lights can also be used to minimize disruption when moving around at night, since red light is less likely to affect sleep than bright, white light.
Traditional fire station alerting systems rely on loud, sudden alarms that can be startling and stress-inducing. This abrupt awakening can have adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and overall health. Modernizing these systems with technology that mitigates the startle response can enhance safety and well-being. Here are three options:
New alert systems, such as those developed by EaseAlert, that use vibration rather than loud noise. These devices target the assigned responders directly and provide a gentle yet effective wake-up signal. Research shows that tactile alerts can reduce the physical startle response, lower heart rate increases and minimize pupil dilation, which helps maintain night vision.
Advanced fire station alerting systems can automate various aspects of the station, providing information more quickly and efficiently. Zoned alerting ensures that only the necessary responders are notified, reducing unnecessary disturbances. Automated systems can also tailor alerts based on the type of call, the time of day and the specific needs of the station. FIRE
Instead of sudden, loud noises, ramp-up alarms gradually increase in intensity. This type of alert can be less jarring and more effective in waking individuals without causing a severe startle response. Stations can also use lighting systems that transition from dim to bright in sync with the alarms. This helps firefighters wake up in a more natural and less disruptive manner.
Fire stations should establish a regular schedule for replacing and cleaning mattresses so they remain in good condition. Providing options for adjustable mattresses can cater to individual preferences. Moreover, the layout of sleeping quarters should offer varying levels of privacy. Transitioning from open bunk rooms to semi-private cubicles or fully private rooms can significantly enhance sleep quality by offering a sense of personal space and reducing disturbances.
THE PHYSICAL SPACE TO GET PHYSICAL
By Brendan Zimmerman
Tired of using old retired fire hose as makeshift battle rope?
Do you find yourself picturing the perfect gym in your fire station even while you commute to the local gym next door?
Being a firefighter does not require you to be jacked (though that may end up being a nice side effect). But it does require your body to be functionally strong. To that end, every fire station needs a dedicated space where firefighters can build strength, flexibility and endurance.
While focusing on the basics in a workout program (strength training, cardio and mobility) can be enough, there are also different types of exercises that can be tailored to different job situations and the movements necessary for them. These include crawling, jumping, balancing, climbing and exerting muscle strength. Having an in-station designated fitness room can make it easier for firefighters to train and focus on these areas without having to go elsewhere during off-work hours.
Before you start daydreaming about the perfect squat rack setup and endless rows of dumbbells, start with the basics such as where the new gym will be located.
HOW TO PLAN FOR A DEDICATED GYM THAT MEETS FITNESS NEEDS AS WELL AS SPACE AND BUDGET NEEDS
TIRED OF USING OLD RETIRED FIRE HOSE AS MAKESHIFT BATTLE ROPE?
Ideally, it should be on the first floor. There, it will be more accessible to the crew and moving machines in and out will be easier.
Keep the workout facilities separated from the station’s public sections. Also, don’t locate fitness rooms near sleeping quarters, offices or any other area where some quiet would be appreciated. Nobody wants to hear you max out your lifts when they’re trying to get some rest. And while keeping it out of public sight, install plenty of internal windows. This makes it easier for others to see if a firefighter working out goes down with an injury or medical emergency.
If you have the space and the budget, locate your new gym along the station’s perimeter with outside access. This makes it easier to mix indoor and (weather permitting) outdoor training. Setting up outdoor obstacle courses for a more in-depth training regimen can be a fun way to break up training routines.
Hydration stations can be easily overlooked, but should be available nearby.
It is also important to locate restrooms and showers nearby. It goes without saying that proper plumbing and electrical systems need to be considered when laying out your dream gym.
Fire stations with space constraints will often place workout equipment and facilities in or near the apparatus bay. Avoid this if at all possible as it poses both health and
safety risks to firefighters. There’s the obvious risk of being hit by vehicles as they are moved around the station. The health threat comes from exposing firefighters to the toxins in engine exhaust, especially when they are most susceptible to those toxins entering their bodies through heavy breathing and open pores during a workout
The type of equipment for firehouse gyms must match the station’s needs. You don’t want to plan for rows of benches and treadmills if the station has no space to house them. Nor do you want too few machines or those that don’t provide maximum benefit.
One solution for fire stations with limited space is portable rowing machines, which store upright, can be moved around a gym with ease and provide a full body/cardio workout. Cable machines also provide a large variety of strength-building exercises for the amount of space they take up.
EVERY FIRE STATION CAN BENEFIT FROM HAVING A FITNESS FACILITY. THE GRIM REALITY IS THAT MANY FIRE DEPARTMENTS STRUGGLE WITH SPACE AND FUNDING FOR GYMS.
Look for grants or other funding options if you are struggling to buy fitness equipment. And plan your justifications for the costs of including fitness space in your design plans.
h O l IsTIc
DESIGN STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT FIREFIGHTER MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
By Christopher Kehde, AIA, LEED AP, FGM Architects Inc.
CRACKYL magazine's article Firefighter Syndrome: A Proposed Whole Systems Framework (Summer 2023 edition), made the point that “a career in firefighting involves regular exposure to chronic stress, lethal risks, and potential for a wide range of injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and toxic exposures. The accumulation of these physiological, physical, psychological, and neuroendocrine (i.e., high allostatic load) injuries can lead to profound physiological changes upon the individual.”
The article then goes on to describe the complex web of the mental
and physical risks experienced by firefighters and how these conditions demand focused and specialized attention.
WHAT IF WE COULD DESIGN A NON-TRADITIONAL FIREHOUSE THAT ADDRESSES THESE HOLISTIC ISSUES?
Station design that’s holistic – taking into consideration that everything is interconnected – strives to support firefighter health and wellness. This can be achieved through design strategies such as sensory activation, sleep hygiene, design that’s biophilic
(aligned with nature), prospect and refuge, encouraging social interaction, building resilience and reducing contaminant exposure.
Mental and behavioral health is influenced by a broad range of factors that may impact individuals in very different ways. And a holistic design approach that includes a variety of supportive strategies is recommended to benefit as many first responders as possible.
Let's take a deeper dive into those seven design considerations for a holistically healthy firehouse.
1. SENSORY ACTIVATION
The body and brain experience our environment through sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. Each of these senses can positively or negatively trigger neurotransmitters and chemicals in our body that can impact a broad range of physiological conditions including stress response, heartbeat, blood pressure, breathing, moods, cognitive ability, sleep, healing and digestion. A few specific examples include melatonin, serotonin, and dopamine.
Melatonin helps regulate sleep cycles and is activated by light as part of the body’s natural circadian rhythm. Serotonin is referred to as a feel-good chemical, which at normal levels can help you feel focused, emotionally stable, happy and calm, while low levels are associated with depression. Dopamine is also a feelgood hormone that is often associated with pleasure and motivation.
Through sensory activation, our environment can trigger the release or
production of these neurotransmitters and chemicals in our body to support physiological balance and health. Colors, natural materials, daylighting and views of nature can all impact mental health and should be carefully considered. These concepts can be applied throughout a station. They can also be incorporated into specialized spaces such as private resiliency rooms with colors, sounds, materials and aromas to trigger the desired physiological response.
2. SLEEP HYGIENE
Whether career or volunteer, disrupted sleep is part of the job. This inherently increases firefighters’ risk of sleep deprivation. It can misalign the circadian rhythms and sleep/wake cycles, which can directly impact physical and mental health. Designing for good sleep hygiene seeks to maximize the opportunities for quality sleep when possible.
Key considerations include sensory activation factors such as bunkroom colors that promote calm and rest, natural daylighting or synthetic circadian lighting to support alignment with natural sleep/wake cycles, and temperature controls that afford individualized comfort to promote rest. Other design elements to support sleep hygiene include the use of blackout shades in bunkrooms;
station alerting systems that can localize alerting to individual bunks; and ramped alerting that adjusts light and tone levels at night to support healthier waking and response.
It is also important to emphasize that the physical and mental strain of shift work often warrants good post-shift sleep hygiene at home to make up for the lost quantity and quality of sleep.
3. BIOPHILIC DESIGN
Biophilic design is based on the inherent human inclination to connect with nature and aims to create spaces that support human health and wellness by incorporating
natural and organic elements. These elements may include indoor plants, windows that provide views of nature, natural materials such as wood or stone, and organic textures and patterns. These elements and the corresponding connection to nature are additional triggers for sensory activation that promote physiological balance and wellness.
This design concept speaks to the dual interests of having views of one’s surroundings, and feeling in control (prospect) while also feeling
TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION that everythInG Is IntercOnnecteD AND STRIVES TO SUPPORT FIreFIGhter health anD Wellness
safe, secure and protected (refuge). In station design, it may be important to consider where and how windows are used to maximize daylighting
and views, while also providing occupants with the appropriate sense of safety, security and privacy.
Similar to prospect and refuge, humans need a balance between social interaction and private reflection. Camaraderie and social
engagement are an important part of managing fire service stress. Open kitchen, dining and dayroom environments with views and natural
daylighting support these activities. This can be balanced with spaces such as resiliency rooms that afford private recuperation, recovery and reflection.
It is important to incorporate strategies and space to build resilience and readiness. On-site practical training
opportunities and regular physical training also support mental and physical readiness while building camaraderie.
Having an appropriate learning space for these wellness initiatives will help foster comfort and closeness for those in participation.
REDUCING CONTAMINANT EXPOSURE
Incorporate red, yellow and green zones that follow the principles of hot-zone design. This will protect firefighters against carcinogens and biohazards
in all stations. These strategies are primarily a protection against physical illnesses. However, implementation this zone approach can also benefit
mental and behavioral wellness. It does this by showing firefighters that the department supports best practices to reduce contaminant exposure.
WEST NATICK FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE STATION 4
NATICK FIRE DEPARTMENT
NATICK, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MA
TECTON ARCHITECTS, PC W/H2M ARCHITECTS + ENGINEERS
7 PPE STORAGE MUSTHAVES
When designing or remodeling a fire station, use these best practices to plan for storing and transporting PPE.
The new proposed NFPA 1850 Standard addresses the storage and transportation of gear. While this standard has not yet been adopted, the strategies outlined in the document are essential for maintaining the effectiveness and longevity of firefighter turnout gear.
By following these seven guidelines, fire departments can ensure their personnel are equipped with gear that provides optimal protection in the line of duty, while maintaining their health and wellness.
PROTECTION FROM UV RAYS
Turnout gear should be stored away from sources of UV radiation such as fluorescent lights, direct and even indirect sunlight. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can degrade the materials and compromise the protective properties of the gear.
The material in bunker gear is made from a unique blend of Nomex and Kevlar or PBI and Kevlar fibers, and is designed to withstand extreme heat. UV light, either direct or indirect, can damage the gear’s fibers.
A 2012 NIST study, Accelerated Weathering of Firefighter Protective Clothing, found that UV irradiation caused a loss in tensile strength, as well as a change in color.
By Tonya Herbert, president and CEO of Florida PPE Services, Thin Red Line Decon and Responder Wipes
3
CLEAN AND DRY STORAGE
Before storing, ensure that turnout gear is clean and completely dry. Storing soiled gear can cause contaminates to become more deeply embedded in the fibers of the fabric, causing deterioration. Dirty gear can lose its ability to repel water or other hazardous fluids and may have an increase in electrical conductivity.
According to the 2020 edition of NFPA 1851, gear that has been exposed to products of combustion should be subject to a routine cleaning on scene, as well as an advanced cleaning. Advanced cleanings should also be conducted at least twice per year. This requirement emphasizes the importance of cleaning gear to ensure proper performance.
Studies have suggested that gear that has undergone advanced cleaning has better thermal protective performance. The most recent of those studies was Impact of Repeated Exposure and Cleaning on Protective Properties of Structural Firefighting Turnout Gear published in 2021.
Moisture left in the gear can promote mold, mildew and fungi growth, and deteriorate the materials. Do not dry gear in direct sunlight. And avoid storing gear in airtight containers. While new and unissued gear may be stored in airtight containers, avoid them for extended storage of in-service gear as they can trap moisture.
It goes without saying to store gear away from contaminants such as oils, solvents, acids, etc. These substances can compromise the integrity of the gear and reduce its effectiveness. By the same token, storing contaminated gear properly until it can be cleaned prevents it from contaminating clean gear, station wear and other items.
4
KEEP PPE OUT OF LIVING QUARTERS
Prevent cross-contamination by prohibiting turnout gear in living quarters. Gear should be allowed only on apparatus bay floors, bunker gear storage areas, and the decontamination room. This reduces the risk of bringing contaminants into living spaces.
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TRANSPORTING CONTAMINATED PPE
According to a 2017 study, Contamination of Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment and Skin and the Effectiveness of Decontamination Procedures, volatile organic compounds from contaminated firefighter turnout gear can increase
after a fire and then decrease between 17 and 36 minutes later, whether or not the gear is decontaminated. However, the study also noted that semi-volatile compounds, which have higher molecular weights than VOCs, may take much longer to off-gas. It is preferable to store contaminated gear outside the apparatus cab; however, this is not always possible. When transporting contaminated gear in the cab, even if it has undergone preliminary exposure reduction, use airtight bags or containers to prevent crosscontamination. It is recommended that bags be at least 2 mm thick. Do not store PPE in black garbage bags. There have been multiple incidents
in which gear has been mistaken for trash and disposed of. Use clear or light-colored bags instead so the contents can be easily identified. Another option is to use specially designed turnout gear bags, such as the DOT System from Sweden. They are gas-tight, waterproof and can be cleaned in an extractor and re-used. Command staff may find it necessary to transport their gear in their command vehicle. PPE in command vehicles should also be stored in airtight protective cases or bags to prevent cross-contamination. Make sure you remove PPE from airtight containers or bags as soon as possible to prevent moisture buildup and allow for proper airing.
TRANSPORTATION IN POV
Often firefighters must transport their gear in their personal vehicle if they are floating, working overtime or attending training. If this is necessary, do not store the gear in the main passenger compartment if possible. Gear continues to off-gas. Improperly stored gear can cross-contaminate the vehicle, affecting not only the firefighter but their family as well. No matter where the gear is stored, use airtight protective cases or bags to prevent crosscontamination or exposure to hazards. Here’s a cautionary tale: A firefighter in south Florida was transporting gear in the back of his pickup truck along with pesticide, which leaked. The gear was not stored in any type of bag or container and became contaminated. Unfortunately, the gear could not be adequately cleaned and had to be condemned.
DEDICATED STORAGE AREA
Store PPE in a dedicated room with isolated HVAC and good air movement to allow for the removal of residual contaminants from off-gassing. PPE that is assigned should be hung in well-ventilated lockers. New or unassigned gear can be stored in airtight containers or bags (consider using UV protective bags).
All PPE should be stored away from sunlight, fluorescent lighting and diesel fumes. It is not suitable to store bunker gear in the apparatus bays. However, many departments have no other current option. If it is necessary to store gear on the bay floor, use locker covers to minimize exposure. If your bunker gear room has windows, employ UV tinting or other means to block the sunlight, along with motion activated lights. Additionally, if you want to pre-position your gear near the engine to minimize response times, place a towel over the gear to protect it from UV exposure. Ensure the storage area maintains suitable temperatures between -25°F and 180°F (-32°C to 82°C). Extreme temperatures can damage the materials and affect gear performance
EASLEY FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS
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DESIGN HACKS TO OVERCOME GENDER ISSUES
By Katie Atwater, AIA, LEED AP BD&C, Senior Associate at FGM Architects
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Arlington County, Va., hiring the first female career firefighter Judith Brewer (née Livers). She retired as a battalion chief.
In those early days, Brewer had to endure resistance from the wives of her colleagues about having a woman in the firehouse. Fast forward to 2020 when a US Fire Department Profile completed by the National Fire Protection Association cited approximately 17,200 career firefighters in the US who identify as female.
Yet fire and EMS station facilities have been slow to change. As with any change, there can be hurdles in retrofitting, updating or rebuilding facilities to accommodate the current fire service demographics.
As Chief Brewer proved, hurdles can be cleared. Best practices for gender neutrality in station design include a handful of options. Sleeping quarters, bathing/showering facilities and locker areas
CAN ALL BE DESIGNED IN A VARIETY OF CONFIGURATIONS TO ACCOMMODATE ALL STATION PERSONNEL, REGARDLESS OF GENDER.
Many of these options can actually result in more efficient
use of space depending on the previous configuration.
For example, take a department where the standard is to provide a men’s locker/toilet/shower room that assumes 100% of the personnel assigned to a station will be male. This department also provides facilities for females who could one day make up half the station’s personnel. The new station would need to include space for 150% of the maximum shift size, 50% of which will constantly be unused.
If this department is using semiprivate group bunk rooms, with two to six staff sleeping in the same room, they’re also likely to need at least one additional bunk room in case there is a single female on a shift that would otherwise be all-male. Going to single user bunk rooms (where each person has their own sleeping room), single user unisex toilet/shower rooms, and a unisex locker room, would save an additional bunk room and 50% of the gender divided locker and toilet/ shower rooms. With current building square foot costs averaging between $400 and $1,200 (or more), that can be a substantial savings to the project.
Single user bunk rooms where each person has a fully enclosed, private sleeping space leaves the department fully flexible in terms of equitably accommodating personnel regardless of the gender balance of a specific company, shift, station or the entire
SLEEPING, SHOWERING AND CHANGING DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A WAR OF THE SEXES
department. It also offers improved sleep hygiene as distractions and interruptions from loud snorers, restless sleepers and calls not related to a given apparatus unit can be minimized or eliminated.
Departments and protocols are slow to change. The camaraderie of locker room time with the crew is often raised as a reason to keep things the way they have always been.
CREATING A GENDER NEUTRAL LOCKER ROOM DOES NOT REMOVE OR REDUCE CAMARADERIE.
It allows all members of the department to experience the same amount of camaraderie, which will improve the mental health by decreasing the stress of exclusion for each person in the station.
Current best practices in station design offer several options to get there. One example provides for a single locker space that essentially functions as a
AS OF 2020
17,200
Single user, private bunk rooms along response hallway.
storage space for toiletries, clothes, uniforms, etc. that is not intended to be used for changing. Personnel enter the locker room, grab the items they need to shower and change, and take them into the individual shower/changing rooms to undress, shower and don clean clothes.
One way to ensure these rooms are not used for changing is to not have any doors. Leaving the locker space open to corridors will help personnel understand the new dynamic requires changing within the toilet/shower rooms
Some departments prefer to have lockers within the bunk rooms. But this layout may result in conflicts if a person is sleeping late at the end of their shift, preventing the incoming person from putting their belongings in a locker prior to starting their shift.
To get around this, there are passthrough lockers with access from both the bunk rooms and the corridor. These need to be carefully designed to mitigate noise going from the corridor through the lockerto the bunk room. They also need to address any fire separation issues required by building codes.
An option to single-user toilets mimics trends seen in restaurants and other public spaces where toilets and, in the case of a fire/EMS station, separate shower stalls are created with full height walls and doors for privacy and can be used by any person regardless of gender. In this layout, the sinks or toilets are in a shared space. This is a significant change from the past, but it allows someone to use the toilet while someone else is shaving at the sink, and yet another person is showering and changing.
If neither option seems viable, a department can create a suite that functions similar to a hotel room.
The private bunk room is directly attached to an ensuite toilet/shower room using an alcove that includes lockers dedicated only to that suite. This concept results in a private toilet/ shower room, locker space and bunk room for each person on a given shift. This can add cost to a project, but allows for the ultimate in future flexibility and privacy for everyone.
Regardless of which option fits your department, planning for the future is paramount. A well-designed emergency services facility should last 50, 75, or if you are lucky, 100 years. To hit these milestones, department stakeholders and the design team need to work together to design a station that includes as much flexibility as can reasonably be foreseen.
GURNEE FIRE STATION NO. 3
PHOTO BY PETER MCCULLOUGH
CITY OF FAIRFAX FIRE STATION 33
PHOTO BY SPIELMANN STUDIO
STATION AT POTOMAC YARD
PHOTO BY ERIC TAYLOR
Gender neutral sinks within an open locker room across the hall from individual, gender neutral toilet/shower rooms.
Gender neutral locker room with attached single user toilets.
Pass-through lockers that can be accessed from the corridor and from the bunk room allowing added flexibility.
STREAMWOOD FIRE STATION NO.33
PHOTO BY PETER MCCULLOUGH
By Robert Mitchell, AIA
It may not be the first stop you take visitors on a firehouse tour, but the laundry area is critical to health and wellness.
The fire service has learned a lot about the dangers of contaminants that travel from the fire scene back to the station. Research and experience have taught us
that a well-designed decontamination facility in the station is essential to firefighter health and safety.
Whether building new or retrofitting old, it’s essential to understand your operational needs and how to scale the decon laundry area to meet them. The area set aside for decon typically
THE PATHWAY
Returning personnel should enter directly into a gross decontamination area, then the laundry, showers with clean clothes lockers, and then the living area. They then enter the station’s green zone clean and ready to debrief, return to the living quarters or head home.
It’s critical that the decon laundry is located in the red zone with no need to cross into the yellow or green zones. It must be physically separated from the apparatus bay and administrative and living spaces. In addition, contaminants should be
kept inside the decon area by maintaining a negative air pressure differential by correctly designed ventilation rate of up to six air changes per hour in the decon laundry when occupied.
The central elements of this space are: shelving to hold contaminated PPE; a general-purpose tub sink with drip-dry racks; and a gross decon area with a high-volume hand sprayer. Often included in this area is a washing machine or ultrasonic cleaner for SCBA face masks, air cylinders, backpacks and helmets.
varies from around 450 to 800 square feet. This will be determined by your operations, shift size and frequency of fires. Without careful planning, you may find yourself shoehorning in your new washer only to find out later that it can’t be serviced because it was wedged into a space too small, or that the drainage system can’t handle the flow.
Once gross decontamination is complete, we move into the laundry area. Two kinds of washers and dryers are located here: a washer/ extractor designed for PPE, and a residential washer and dryer that can produce higher temperatures for suitable PPE and personal clothing. Because toxins from fire scenes pass through the gear, through undergarments and can enter the skin, undergarments should be washed at the station in the decon area and not in the living quarters — and never sent home dirty.
WHAT'S IN A LAUNDRY MACHINE
Prior to designing the station, determine the size washer/extractor you need. A 60-pound capacity machine can meet the needs of many departments, but make sure your choice is based on the size of staff and the number of calls for your department. Individual manufacturer recommendations for capacity may vary, so ask questions. Bigger isn’t always better. If your typical load is too small for the size of the machine, it can become unbalanced and make for extra wear and tear on seals, bearings and bushings.
Likewise, don’t undersize. A load too big for the machine can decrease the effectiveness of the cleaning process. Be sure to follow all manufacturers’ specifications and installation recommendations, especially regarding clearances, water supply and discharge. Not all manufacturers publish the information. If that’s the case, demand it.
Keep in mind that the more you know, the better questions you can ask.
Equipment anchors must be strong enough to secure an extractor that can weigh over 4,500 pounds and produces significant G force during extraction. Refer to manufacturers’ recommendations. The slab under the washer/extractor must be specifically designed to handle the load.
Make sure your plumbing engineer is aware of all the specifications before work starts. A typical 65-pound capacity machine will discharge approximately 25 gallons or more of water in 30 seconds at the start of extraction. Your drainage must accommodate that.
Laundry equipment manufacturers generally prefer trench drains as the best solution. Stainless steel is preferred.
SHOWER & LOCKER AREA
This area includes individual shower stalls that are enclosed with doors designed to ensure privacy. There is a dry area for dressing and beyond that a curtained shower.
Nearby is a locker area where each firefighter can keep clean street or station clothing to bring into the shower stall for changing.
Countertops and shelving should be made of stainless steel for easy cleaning. Some should be more than two feet deep to lay out PPE without gear falling to the floor.
Make sure all surfaces are smooth and easy to clean. Watch out for nooks and crannies that can harbor dirt and germs. All piping should
The trench drain should be in-slab for new construction, but can be an above slab box in the case of a renovation.
Plan for soap storage and metering. This might seem like a minor matter, but too often containers feeding the machine and stored for future use end up on the floor, creating trip hazards and cleanup problems.
Consider time, space and air contamination issues related to gear dryers. There are two basic types of dryers: the externally vented cabinet or the tubular, internally vented rack. Up to 40% of the PAHs remain in the PPE after washing. Tubular rack drying can be quicker, but contaminants remaining in the gear will be vented directly into the room. Some stations locate these ventilated racks in a separate drying room ventilated out of the station.
be buried in the wall so that the walls are smooth and easy to clean. Ceilings are hard to clean and often neglected. Provide a washable suspended ceiling. Install sanitary coving at the wall and floor junction.
THE LAUNDRY
HOT ZONE SHOWERS & LOCKERS
WHITE SHIELD PUBLIC SAFETY
WHITE SHIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT
WHITE SHIELD, ND
COREY BRUNTON, AIA, NCARB, CID
HOW TO CLEAR THE AIR IN THE FIRE STATION
By Dennis A. Ross, AIA, practice leader for H2M Architects + Engineers
INDOOR AIR QUALITY IS CRITICAL TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND NEEDS TO BE PLANNED OUT EARLY
The U.S. Clean Air Act became law in 1970, simultaneously creating the Environmental Protection Agency with the authority to enforce it. Since then, much research and information has been gathered and studied about air quality in the micro-climate of the fire station.
Additionally, research on cancer among first responders, their health and well-being, protection from carcinogens and crosscontamination has led the way for emergency response architects and engineers to re-think how we design stations. Today, designers manage air quality, treatment and movement to promote responder health and safety.
RED ZONES YELLOW ZONES GREEN ZONES
Include the apparatus bays with their firematic support areas such as a work room, bay storage, PPE storage, etc.
MOST NEW OR SERIOUSLY RENOVATED FIRE STATIONS CAN BE DIVIDED INTO
3 ZONES
Areas created to address how air moves between red and green zones.
Include the living, administration and public areas.
It is these yellow zones that are most in flux as to what exactly they are, what they should be, how they are designed and how they integrate into standard operating procedures.
We design the living and administration green zones to have a higher degree of treated air and greater amount of air pressure than the red zones. This method of air treatment and pressure reduces contaminates emanating into the air through off-gassing from apparatus, equipment, tools or PPE and then flowing into the living side of the station.
A cost-effective method to help safeguard this pressurized air flow is to ensure that doors between red, yellow and green zones are fully weather-stripped, have a threshold, a door sweep and an automatic closer. As added protection, an alarm can be installed to alert the crew if the door is propped open or does not close properly.
As a responder in the apparatus arrives into the red zone, moves through yellow zones and eventually into the green
zone, the air movement should be exactly in the opposite direction.
LIKE A SALMON SWIMMING UPSTREAM,
RESPONDERS SHOULD BE TRAVELING THROUGH A FLOW OF CLEAN AIR PUSHING CONTAMINANTS DOWNSTREAM, EVENTUALLY TO BE EXHAUSTED.
Clean, treated air moves from the green zones through the yellow zones and into the red zone. When a responder answers a call and moves from the green zone through the yellow zone and to the apparatus in the red zone, the clean, treated air moves with them.
Diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen. There are many types of vehicle exhaust removal systems, and one or more must be used. There are no such determinations for gasoline exhaust fumes, but as more research is done, exposure to these fumes may also need to be mitigated.
In the red zone areas – even those with VEX systems – vehicles, hose, equipment and cleaned PPE can still emit harmful contaminants. Advanced systems can incorporate indoor air quality sensors that automatically activate the system when air quality drops below acceptable levels. This approach, which may result in higher initial installation cost, is a more sustainable approach than alwayson exhaust ventilation systems.
Current thinking on PPE storage has it confined to separate rooms with separate air movement for drying, exhaust, HEPA filters, overhead fans and other room specialties to control cross-contamination, off-gassing from exposure during fires and to allow proper drying and storage.
On the green zone side of the station, state building and mechanical codes will most often rule the day. Most of these areas are habitable spaces and will require minimum standards for introducing fresh air, minimum air changes and exhaust requirements.
The mechanical engineer and architect will suggest various types of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems. Like all systems, each will have its pros, cons, longevity, complexity, controls and of course, initial budget and life-cycle costs.
Evaluate different portions of the station separately. For example, if the station design includes individual bunk rooms, consider individual HVAC controls for each room. This may be more expensive than one set of controls for a bank of bunk rooms. The individual comfort, wellbeing and lack of mental stress over each responder’s environment can be worth it.
In stations with training or community rooms not in regular use, some cost-effective methods can control air movement and reduce energy costs. A carbon dioxide sensor in the return air duct can keep the system from constantly cycling on. The
sensor can be set to measure the occupant load when the number of people in the room (measured by the amount of CO2 they exhale), will trigger the HVAC system to operate at levels to remove CO2.
WHENEVER POSSIBLE, FITNESS ROOMS
SHOULD HAVE DEDICATED HVAC SYSTEMS WITH HEAT RECOVERY.
At the very least, make sure there is adequate fresh air supply and exhaust to control odor and maintain a healthy, comfortable environment.
Some jurisdictions consider a fire station kitchen a commercial kitchen. The commercial designation may require an exhaust hood with an Ansul suppression system. A true kitchen exhaust (not recirculating) hood involves large volumes of makeup and exhaust air. The trick is to be able to supply makeup air as close to or within the hood itself, so that the hood minimizes drawing heated or cooled air from the kitchen.
In addition to the major spaces in the station, don’t overlook the minor, but important rooms. The lowly janitor’s closet, for example, is top on the EPA’s list of indoor contaminant sources. Consider a constantly running exhaust fan to manage odors and contaminants from cleaners.
Instead of a room dedicated to storing volatiles such as oil, paint and various fluids, consider using a specific ventilated storage cabinet. These are fire rated for this type of storage and can save the cost of supplying HVAC and exhaust to an entire room.
CLEARING THE AIR IN A NEW OR RENOVATED FIRE STATION DOESN’T TAKE AN ACT OF CONGRESS, BUT IT DOES TAKE THOUGHTFUL LONG-RANGE PLANNING.
RESEARCH IS PLAYING A LEADING ROLE IN FIREFIGHTER HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND THAT’S MAKING ITS WAY INTO FIRE STATION DESIGN.
By Rick Markley, Science Alliance
DOES WHERE YOU WORK CHANGE YOUR OVERALL WELL-BEING?
Not “where,” as in which fire department, or part of the country, but “where,” as in terms of the physical space — the real, three-dimensional structure. And by wellbeing we’re not talking about anything insubstantial or unproven, but measurable, data-backed well-being. Can where you work increase your physical conditioning, create better mental focus, encourage more sleep, and result in fewer health problems and injuries?
In other words: Could the fire department where you work have a positive or negative affect on your mental and physical health?
Many of the leading architects who specialize in fire department design believe it can. And in many cases, scientific research backs that up.
Preventing firefighter cancer, of course, is the most shining example of fire station design working in step with known science. For more than a decade the science has been clear: firefighters are at greater risk than most of contracting certain cancers. And we’ve done a remarkable job of learning how firefighters become contaminated, including PPE offgassing and carcinogen absorption through the skin and by inhalation, to name a few.
Firehouse architects have responded by, for example, building fire departments that incorporate direct-capture exhaust removal systems to contain diesel exhaust (a known carcinogen). HVAC systems have been designed to create positive pressure in the living quarters in order to keep the nasty stuff in the bay areas and away from eating, sleeping and exercising firefighters. Apparatus bays have been given independent HVAC systems as another way to keep contaminants out of living areas. These days we’re seeing gear cleaning and storage areas being isolated, and better contamination control in apparatus bays.
Rick Kuhl, president and principal of WSKF Architects, says having environmental control and separation is fundamental to firefighter health. Kuhl was a consulting architect for Des Moines when the city designed its new Station 11. In addition to designing hot, warm and cold zones with the greatest air pressure moving from cold to hot zones, the station was planned to make it easy for firefighters to decontaminate and isolate carcinogens. For example, after a fire, firefighters move from the bay to a decon room with laundry
SCIENCE
HAS
BEEN
and washing equipment, on to a personal shower, and then to living quarters. The design is meant to reinforce the department’s wellness policies — to make the intended function firefighter proof.
And of course these measures benefit both volunteer and career firefighters.
Kuhl says combination and volunteer fire departments need to pay special attention to a building’s areas for cleaning and storing gear. “This would include the ability to change clothes at the station prior to returning home as well as cleaning worn clothes at the station,” he says. “Contaminated clothingand personnel - need to be managed and maintained proactively.”
Chris Roman, a senior associate with Moseley Architects, agrees. “Keeping the gear in bunk rooms contradicts best practice carcinogen strategies,” he says. “Storage of a recently-cleaned ‘B set’ of gear in the sleep rooms, living spaces, or even in a volunteer’s personal vehicle can bring carcinogens into their living space.”
CLEAR: FIREFIGHTERS ARE
AT GREATER
RISK THAN MOST OF CONTRACTING CERTAIN CANCERS
Many of these cancer-reducing design measures can also have a positive effect on cardiovascular health — another long-recognized concern because of its contribution to firefighter death and illness.
RICK MARKLEY OF THE SCIENCE ALLIANCE BELIEVES HEALTHY DESIGN LEADS TO HEALTHY FIREFIGHTERS.
Firefighter sleep is another area where design and research are working in concert. While sleep may seem a less hardcore health issue than carcinogen exposure, science continues to find new, direct links between sleep, health and longevity. And that science isn’t confined to the general public.
“Sleep is quickly becoming the Holy Grail of firefighter health and wellness,” says Sara Jahnke. And she should know: Jahnke is a leading industry researcher who recently launched Science to the Station: A Health & Wellness Alliance (Science Alliance for short), a platform to bring important firefighter health and wellness science to firefighters. “We’ve intuitively known that firefighters don’t sleep well. But now with the data to back that and data showing that sleep is as integral to firefighter wellness as diet and exercise are, sleeping quarters need to be a top design priority.”
Researchers affiliated with the Science Alliance have conducted several firefighter sleep studies.
For example, recent research showed a connection between career firefighter shift schedules and sleep quality. In short, firefighters had the worst sleep on both the nights before starting a shift and before ending a shift. Later shift-change times may be one fix to that issue.
A previous study by Science Alliance researchers examined the degree to which career firefighters experienced excessive daytime sleepiness based on sleep deprivation and other variables. It was the first study of its kind for the fire service. They found that many firefighters were likely experiencing undiagnosed sleep disorders. They also found a correlation between depression and sleep problems in firefighters.
In 2019, researcher Christopher Kaipust, also affiliated with Jahnke and Science Alliance, published findings that showed a direct link between firefighter obesity and poor sleep. What was interesting there was that poor sleep was a predictor for obesity, and obesity was a predictor for poor sleep. Not surprisingly, both were linked to a greater chance of on-duty injury. In short, obesity and poor sleep become a vicious cycle, tearing away at firefighter health and wellness.
SPACES USED TO REST THE BODY AND THE MIND ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TO RETAINING STAFF AND REDUCING BURNOUT.
Fire service-focused architects have matched these findings by ditching the large communal sleeping room for individual bedrooms with improved bedding and individual controls for temperature, noise and light. Architects and fire chiefs are also working with alarm vendors to find less jarring ways to alert firefighters to calls during the small hours of the night.
Even harder to quantify is the notion that things like direct light play a role in firefighter health. More and more, firehouse architects are looking for ways to get more of the natural environment — sunlight, trees and even animals — built into the design.
Biophilia is the term for our affinity with the natural world, and the term “biophilic design” has been pushing its way toward the front row of building planning for the past few decades as a catch-all for those efforts. This can be done with windows and skylights that let in more natural light, provide access points to outdoor gardens, the incorporation of indoor plant life, and even the choice of materials and colors used for furniture.
Here again, the movement is backed by scientific research. One study found hearing natural sounds after an exposure to stress improved mental health recovery by 37 percent. Other researchers studying patients found that hospital stays were shortened, recovery was faster, pain medication was used less and depression was less prevalent when views of nature from a window and indoor plants were made available.
“The increased risk of suicide in first responders has prompted the push for respite spaces, biophilic elements and a focus on
sleeping space design, all in the name of reducing everyday stress in the station and reducing secondary trauma,” Roman says. “Adjustable lighting, sound attenuation, and familiar materials in bunk rooms all contribute to the ability of staff to maintain a natural circadian rhythm. Spaces used to rest the body and the mind are becoming increasingly important to retaining staff and reducing burnout.”
And for those departments not planning to build a new station any time soon, there are a few firehouse hacks that can improve firefighter health and wellness without busting the budget.
“At the top of the list of budget-friendly options for firefighter health and wellness are tack mats,” Kuhl says. “Place a tack mat on the living quarter side of every door that leads into the apparatus bays. The mat should be large enough to catch one stride into the living quarters. Particulate from the apparatus bay floor (where the exhaust particulate settles out) will be tracked and captured by the tack mat. Monitor and replace the sheets when they appear to be dirty.” It costs only about $60 for 60 sheets of 24"x36" tack mat.
He also recommends sealing the doors separating the apparatus bay and living area with gaskets between the door and frame along with a sweep between the door and the floor. This can be done for around $100 per door, he says. And he says to have sanitizing stations with both liquid sanitizer and individual wipes in the apparatus bay at each door going into the living space. This can be done for less than $250.
TOMORROW’S
One of the biggest challenges in designing firehouses for optimal firefighter health and wellness is a big question mark: the future. Research into what harms firefighter health is ongoing, and the recommendations for better health outcomes can change based on new findings. And with fire stations being built to last 25 to 50 years, a lot can and will change over the life of the station.
When asked how health and wellness will drive fire station design in 10 years, Roman laughed and said things are changing so fast, they aren’t sure what to expect over the next 10 days.
“We do see that overall awareness of the importance of health and wellness is on the rise,” Roman says. “Changes in apparatus and technology are altering how we respond to emergency calls and what we do when we arrive on site. We are also seeing a shift in recruitment. Today’s recruits have grown up learning through completely different methods and media than the current generations. They will ultimately dictate what
future stations will look like. We can’t predict what technologies or strategies will exist in the future, so flexibility is key when we look at facilities being constructed today.”
KUHL AGREED TO GO OUT ON A LIMB AND OFFERED THESE FOUR PREDICTIONS ABOUT DESIGN TRENDS IN 2030:
• The ability of the environment of the station to be completely sanitized on an hourly basis.
• The ability to clean gear through gear storage environmental systems (without the use of an extractor).
• Technology systems that sense stress levels and can automatically adjust lighting, temperature and sound systems to de-stress and rejuvenate.
• Bunk rooms that are chambers of restorative sleep and relaxation.
FIREHOUSES WILL NEED TO BE BUILT WITH THE FLEXIBILITY TO ADAPT TO WHAT WE DON’T YET KNOW.
“We probably can’t breed out all of the money-wasting design fads driven by junk science and greed,” Jahnke says. “Tomorrow’s firehouses will need to be built with the flexibility to adapt to what we don’t yet know. And we will need to continue educating those planning and paying for the stations on the importance and accuracy of what we do know about firefighter health and wellness.”
FREMONT FIRE STATION, FREMONT, CA
REIDVILLE FIRE - WILLOW CREEK STATION
REIDVILLE AREA FIRE DISTRICT
SPARTANBURG, SC
DP3 ARCHITECTS, LTD.
Securing the Firehouse
By
Times have changed.
All too often you see the article in your news feed, on your 24-hour news station or, if you have a few more years under your belt like I do, in the printed newspaper. The headlines are not new:
• Firefighter Killed in Shooting at Fire Station Suspect Believed to be Found Dead
• Multiple People, Including Firefighter, Ambulance Crew, Shot in Series of Attacks
• Fire in New South Side Fire Station Believed to be Arson
The world we live in is not as simple and innocent as it once was. The days of responding to a call and leaving the bay doors open after you go en route, assuming everyone will respect your firehouse, are gone.
We must look at securing your house. But before we look at protecting the firehouse, we must understand what the risks are.
Is it vandalism? Terrorism or the threat of a bomb? Theft? Arson? Gun violence?
The department must perform a risk assessment to understand what the risks are, as they are not all addressed in the same way.
One thing we have learned from medieval times and the invention of the moat around the castle is that keeping the risk as far away from your house is important. This is the starting point. When securing your fire station, think in terms of “outside-in.” Start with keeping the danger outside and away from your house.
As we survey the area that surrounds the firehouse, there are several things to look at. According to the strategies in Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, there are four main categories
GOOD PLANNING CAN MAKE YOUR FIREHOUSE A FORTRESS WITHOUT LOOKING LIKE A MEDIEVAL CASTLE
James Stumbo, AIA, NFPA, principal architect, Stewart-Cooper-Newell Architects
The four
main security categories
The thinking is that if we can design the exterior space so that it defines the space as part of the firehouse, it creates a natural sense of “trespass” when someone purposefully comes into or moves through the space, thus making the visitor feel as if they are in someone else’s space and do not belong.
If we add to that the ability for natural surveillance, where the site surrounding the fire station is easily watched and a person cannot easily hide, we are protecting our station. Natural surveillance can be enhanced with appropriate site lighting to increase the ability to survey the property.
Image can be how the property is maintained. If a property is well kept, the landscaping properly pruned and the lawn mowed, the sense that people are paying attention is stronger.
Last, fold into the mix, where and if needed, separation by fencing, natural features or both. This can replicate the concept of the moat and keep the risk as far as possible from our house.
Unfortunately, even if everything is designed correctly outside of the station and around the site, we still need to protect the physical structure. Depending upon the nature of the actual risk to the structure, the selection of noncombustible (arson) or non-stainable and non-porous materials (graffiti) might be important.
Is it purposeful or random gunshots? Ballistic rated materials might be important. Vandalism? Different types of durable materials might be the answer. The purposeful design and selection of the materials that provide the outer fenestration of the firehouse is important in addressing different risks.
Even if we protect the exterior of the firehouse, we still need to prevent unwanted intrusion into the facility. As stated earlier, the days of responding to a call and leaving the bay doors open and expecting everyone to respect your firehouse are gone.
There are many simple solutions provided by the overhead and bi-fold bay door manufacturers to assist with this. All manufacturers provide the option of doors that close after a predetermined amount of time, or remotes that can close the bay doors.
But this may not be enough. We should provide further access control from the bay into the remainder of the firehouse to prevent wandering visitors from entering even when the firefighters are present, or the bay doors are open but no one is directly monitoring the entry points. Access controls can be in the form of proximity cards, biometric readers or simple mechanical keypad locks.
Other rooms off the bay such as tool storage rooms, equipment or pharmacy storage rooms also need to be secure. In some cases, thinking specifically of medical supplies and pharmacy storage, we may need to have multiple locking devices to access the room and possibly more to open a specific locked storage unit. At least one of these access points should have logging and tracking capabilities to allow entry access auditing along with video surveillance within or of the critical locations to provide personnel or product verification.
Once we have moved past the bay into the other areas of the firehouse, do we have or need secure points at human resource, training files or other sensitive storage? We may laugh at it, but do we need to separate and lock shift food to prevent “unintentional borrowing?”
Another point to look at is the safety of staff during a severe storm It may be desirable to harden a portion of the firehouse for use as an emergency shelter in the event a storm moves through the area.
Regardless if the threat is natural, environmental, or intentionally or unintentionally human-caused, it behooves us to design a firehouse that is a secure home away from home – even if we don’t opt for a croc-infested moat.
2023 AWARD WINNERS
Each year F.I.E.R.O sponsors a new station design contest. We rely on aunique group of passionate jurors to select the winners. Each juror is a current or retired fire service member with a degree in architecture. To remain as unbiased as possible, none of our jurors can be employed by an architectural firm. Here are this year's winners.
ROBERT TUTTEROW, F.I.E.R.O PRESIDENT.
HONOR
Excellent use of a very difficult site. Providing good flow for response as well as a design for personnel’s well-being. The high level of detail and balanced use of the exterior material is extraordinary.
HONOR
The modern aesthetic of this station shows a commitment to personnel’s well-being and provides civic pride in a rapidly developing urban area. The floor plan is functional, efficient and flows cleanly to the apparatus bay.
A very good example of how to replace an old out-of-date station with a modern facility with added resources, an efficient functional floor plan, tons of amenities, while still maintaining the familiar aesthetic character of the previous station.
TUCKWILLA STATION 51, TUCKWILLA, WA
NATICK STATION 4, NATICK, MA
CHARLOTTE STATION 11, CHARLOTTE, NC
A very clean and simple station with very good circulation. Care was taken in response time and for the health and safety of personnel.
UPPERCO VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, UPPERCO, MD
A good, clean floor plan and circulation for a very complex program.
WOBURN CENTRAL FIRE HEADQUARTERS, WOBURN, MA
Huge and complicated program that is very efficient and separates functions very well.
A very good floor plan for a very difficult and complicated site to replace a historically significant firehouse.
Good massing with a simple roofline. Good use of topography to separate functions of administration and station operations.
RECOGNITION
BLUEGRASS AIRPORT PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY, LEXINGTON, KY
Good use of the variation in elevation to enhance the separation of functions within the building and providing security for the flight line.
STAPLES MILL STATION 20, HENRICO, VA
TUCSON STATION 3, TUCSON, AZ
VALLEY PARK STATION 2, VALLEY PARK, MO
RECOGNITION
RIVIERA BEACH STATION 88, RIVIERA BEACH, FL
An attractive South Beach style of station with a good floor plan. The Department invested in providing space for the personnel’s mental and physical well-being.
RECOGNITION
SPRINGFIELD STATION 4, SPRINGFIELD, MO
A highly efficient, super-simple understated station that met the requirements of a tight budget, but also kept the health and wellness of the personnel in the forefront.
INNOVATION
CHARLOTTE FIREHOUSE 30, CHARLOTTE, NC
The first all-electric fire station for the Charlotte Fire Department.
RECOGNITION
SAGINAW CENTRAL STATION, SAGINAW, TX
An attractive mix of color, textures and materials. Good efficient floor plan. Bio swale/water garden adds to the calmness of the structure.
RECOGNITION
VILLAGE OF MINNEOLA NEW FIRE HEADQUARTERS, MINEOLA, NY
High attention to details made for a classic exterior on a turn of the 20th century fire station for this volunteer department with commercialquality facilities that support their fund-raising operations.
INNOVATION
PHOENIX STATION 62, PHOENIX, ARIZ.
Floorplan 1: In station staff quarters for the Community Assistance Program. Floorplan 2: After call personal decontamination area.
12 THINGS THAT INFLUENCE GOOD STATION DESIGN
THE LOCATION WHERE THE DEPARTMENT HAS DETERMINED THE GREATEST NEED EXISTS.
CALL VOLUME, TYPES OF CALLS AND THE 4-MINUTE RESPONSE MODEL.
THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE LOCATION (INDUSTRIAL, RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, RURAL, ETC.).
HOW MUCH MONEY IS AVAILABLE FOR THE PROJECT; HOW MUCH MORE IS NEEDED?
WILL THIS PROJECT NEED TO BE PHASED?
In the world of fire station design and construction – and I’m intentionally saying both in the same sentence – good design is fundamentally form following function. There are so many influences that drive the need for a fire department to go to the trouble of building a new station in their community, and frankly the rare opportunity to do so, that there is very little room for architects to be allowed to design in the traditional sense.
Here are just 12 of these influences:
WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO MOVE FORWARD AND ADVERTISE THE PROJECT?
HAS THE DEPARTMENT ACQUIRED THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE NEW FACILITY?
HAS THE DEPARTMENT HIRED THE STAFF FOR THE NEW FACILITY?
WILL THE STATION BE ONLY A FIRE STATION OR CAN OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY ENTITIES BE INCLUDED?
ARE THERE ANY CONTRIBUTING FUNDING SOURCES?
WHICH ENTITY IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE PROJECT (THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE MUNICIPALITY, BOTH)?
BASED ON THE DEMOGRAPHIC, WHAT APPARATUS IS INTENDED FOR THIS LOCATION, HOW MANY BAYS AND HOW MANY STAFF ARE POTENTIALLY BEING HOUSED – AND WHAT IS THE 100-YEAR PROJECTION?
There are other areas to consider:
The list above is just the start of the process needed to begin the fundamental framework of the design for a new fire station. Other areas to include are the local and regional climate – what is the weather like year round where the project is to occur? And are building materials readily available?
By James Zwerg, architect and CIP project manager, Buckeye, Ariz.
TUKWILA FIRE STATION 51
TUKWILA FIRE DEPARTMENT
PUGET SOUND REGIONAL FIRE AUTHORITY, TUKWILA, WA
A+U
WEINSTEIN
FIRE STATION DESIGN
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FGMA specializes in the design and construction of fire and EMS facilities, including fire stations and training centers, with a focus on functionality, safety, and efficiency while prioritizing the safety and well-being of first responders.
RESCUE Intellitech offers innovative solutions to help firefighters fight cancer. The Solo Rescue® cleans SCBAs, helmets, boots, gloves and tools, reducing cancer risks by decontaminating protective gear from hazardous chemicals and carcinogenic contamination.
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864.232.8200
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704.525.6350
melanie.hawley@littleonline.com
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Little is a national, transdisciplinary design firm with over 60 years of experience specializing in public safety facility design and delivering sustainable, innovative solutions that elevate community performance and quality of life.
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937.836.8898
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904.206.9834
blake@easealert.com
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App Architecture specializes in fire/EMS station design. Design Principal Timothy Bement has over 25 years of experience in the design and construction of these facilities and leads a highly experienced design team for every project.
EaseAlert is a full-suite fire station alerting system that improves health and efficiency by delivering tactile and visual alerts directly to responders. Turnout faster, more focused, and ready to work with less strain on your body.
Robert Krzyzanowski 716.688.0766
rkrzyzanowski@wendelcompanies.com
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375 Essjay Road, Suite 200, Williamsville, NY 14221
The Five Bugles Design team provides planning and design services solely to the public safety service industry. Our focused design team is comprised of members who are among the most experienced fire station design professionals in the United States.
Robert Tutterow 704.0576.1386
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F.I.E.R.O. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational information to aid in the health and safety of firefighters. Primarily, we focus on fire station design and PPE.
Wendel’s award winning public safety design team
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dee@sootsoap.ca
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cleanair@plymovent.com
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kenp@perlmanaz.com
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Jeff Murphy
763.576.8200
sales@wendellsmint.com
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6601 Bunker Lake Blvd NW, Ramsey, MN 55303
SOOTSOAP is an all-natural, industrial strength line of personal decontamination products lab-developed for firefighters.
Proven to eliminate more toxins, SOOTSOAP draws out contaminants and even the worst odors, reducing the risk of exposure.
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Ted Galante
617.576.2500
info@galantearchitecture.com
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146 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138
For nearly 50 years Plymovent has been providing clean air at work and is the world leader in protecting firefighters and emergency responders from the dangers of vehicle exhaust fumes. The design and functionality of the patented Plymovent Magnetic Grabber® system is unparalleled and unmet by any other vehicle exhaust removal system on the market.
Moseley Architects is one of the region’s most trusted architectural and engineering firms, offering exceptional experience and service to civic, commercial, educational, justice, and senior living clients. Over our 55-year history, our firm has earned a reputation for quality, reliability, and responsiveness.
Our goal is to provide quality designs that balance function, cost & aesthetics while creating an environment that enhances the quality of life for those it serves.
Proudly American and committed to the Fire Service, Wendell's Mint manufactures cost effective, custom-made challenge coins. Not a storefront, not a reseller, we make our products in-house with American labor and American materials.
We are a team of passionate architects, designers, and public safety experts deeply involved in our craft. We are dedicated to keeping our first responders healthy by making safe, durable, and efficient buildings for them.
