27 Public buildings CI/SfB: 314, 317, 372, 373, 374 UDC: 725.13, 725.15, 725.191, 614.88, 725.188
KEY POINTS: Many of these functions are tightly controlled by regulation Flexibility is needed to accommodate likely future change Value-for-money is a major design criterion The need for security against attacks from people both inside and outside while ensuring full access to those entitled makes design increasingly difficult.
• • • •
Contents 1 Town halls 2 Law courts 3 Fire stations 4 Ambulance stations 5 Police stations 6 References and Bibliography
1 TOWN HALLS 1.01 Town halls have a variety of functions to fulfil, and many of their parts are covered in other chapters of this handbook. The principal constituents of a town hall are:
• • • • • • •
A council chamber, with associated lobbies A civic suite, or mayor’s parlour A number of committee rooms An assembly hall Offices (see Chapter 12) A public reception and information desk A cash reception and disbursal facility (see Chapter 26)
1.02 Elected members’ accommodation The core of any town hall, county hall or city hall is the accommodation for those elected by the public. Apart from the council
chamber itself, space is needed for the Mayor, the party leaders and for informal gatherings of the members. In addition, delegations of the public and visiting dignitaries of all kinds have to be received in suitable surroundings, 27.1. 27.2 is by no means an over-elaborate arrangement; what cannot be seen from the drawing is the magnificence of the finishes! 1.02 Council chamber Few local government bodies emulate the House of Commons in their council chambers. Their forms are mostly segmental or horseshoe, 27.3, and the seating provides at least some accommodation for documentation, 27.4. They are sized to seat every Councillor plus a number of Council officers, and incorporate speech-reinforcement systems. Some chambers are tiered to aid visibility, and have imposing seating for the Mayor, but others are flat-floored with moveable equipment – rather more like a large boardroom. Some provision for the general public is essential, preferably well separated as in a gallery. It is usual to have one or more lobbies immediately outside the chamber for informal discussions. Voting is usually by a show of hands, or using voting machines; not by trooping through lobbies. 1.03 Civic suite Some provision for entertaining important guests is essential, and this is often combined with the Mayor’s office. This needs easy access to some form of catering facility. 1.04 Committee rooms Local government business is conducted principally through numerous committees and sub-committees. Meeting rooms of various sizes are required; these (including the council chamber) are often available for letting by outside organisations, producing useful additional revenue for the Council. For this reason, if for no other, they should be well designed and fitted out.
27.1 Relationship diagram for the elected members’ accommodation in town halls 27-1
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Public buildings
27.2 Hammersmith Town Hall: Council Chamber suite
a Approximately 300 seats in a five-tiered quadrant
b Approximately 60 seats in a three-tiered quadrant
e Approximately 60 seats in a three-tiered horseshoe
c Approximately 30 seats in a two-tiered horseshoe
d Approximately 100 seats in a three-tiered segment
f Approximately 30 seats on a level
27.3 Council chamber, various layout types: (1 ¼ mayor, 2 ¼ ordinary members, 3 ¼ officers, 4 ¼ committee clerks, 5 ¼ press and public)
Public buildings
27-3
matters (planning, building control, council tax, education, social services, leisure) should be available from one counter. Where a matter is more complex than the receptionist can deal with, other staff members come to the enquirer instead of the reverse. A few small interview rooms are available for such consultations adjacent to the counter. Literature relating to the facilities of the area should be displayed in the reception area; some but not all of this will free. It could be set out rather like a small bookshop. 1.08 Cash facility Some Council business is still transacted with cash, and a secure facility will be found necessary. Ideally this should be adjacent to the public reception and information to continue the ‘one-stop shop’ theme.
2 LAW COURTS
a Section through fixed seating at 600 to 750 mm centres. Number of seats in a row limited to avoid disturbance
b Section through moveable seating at 750 to 900 mm centres
27.4 Council chamber seating 1.05 Assembly Hall While not essential, this is a most valuable asset to a Town Hall; it brings in further income and also familiarises the public with the building and its occupants. It may be used for dances, exhibitions, concerts and recitals; and should have some associated accommodation for artistes, etc. 1.06 Offices The major need is for office space for the Council’s staff. They may be centralised in one building, or dispersed over many, some leased from the private sector. The principal requirement is for flexibility as, like most organisations, change is the only constant. 1.07 Public reception and information The current philosophy is for a ‘one-stop shop’. Particularly where the Council’s staff are centralised, the idea is that advice on all
2.01 The judicial system of England and Wales is in direct line of descent from that established by William I nearly a thousand years ago, subsequently modified by Magna Carta and many other reforms. Courthouses, therefore, are the visible manifestation of one of the most fundamental set of principles upon which our society is based. How this is to be expressed in architectural terms is the particular challenge facing the designer of a courthouse. He or she will have to consider the contextual and environmental constraints that apply to any urban structure, especially those on prominent sites in town centres. Planning problems posed by the specific requirements for a courthouse must also be addressed, such as the four segregated circulation routes (for judge, jury, defendant in custody and public), the servicing of the many and varied spaces within a complex layout and the need for flexibility to accommodate future developments in information technology. Athough courtrooms built 200 years ago are still able to cope, the law is constantly evolving and both the courtrooms and the ancillaries need to be receptive to inevitable change. 2.02 Court System The Court Service (formerly the Lord Chancellor’s Department) has existed in various forms for over 900 years. It took on its present shape as a major government department with wide responsibilities for the administration of justice in England and Wales in 1972. Following the Courts Act 1971 it was given the task of running a new system covering all courts above the level of Magistrates’ Courts. It is directly responsible for Court of Appeal • The Royal Courts of Justice • The The Court • The High Crown • The CountyCourt Court. • The Crown Court is a national court which sits at different centres. Practically all its work is concerned with cases committed for trial or sentence from the Magistrates’ Courts, or appeals against their decisions. Cases for trial are heard before a judge and jury. Centres are classified as first, second or third tier according to the nature and complexity of the court business. 2.03 The Courtroom The Crown Court sits in a courtroom, the design of which will always be subject to the continuous adjustments dictated by changes in attitudes to child witnesses, the need to protect witnesses and jurors from possible intimidation and developments in technology.
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Public buildings
The courtroom is the primary workspace and focal point in a courthouse, which is developed around it. It is the only place where all parties in a case are likely to meet. Of paramount importance is the need to segregate judge, jury, defendant and others in the courtroom and within the courthouse. Segregated circulation routes are provided so that the judge, jury and defendants (if in custody) make their way to the courtroom without meeting each other or any other users such as members of the public. Dedicated entrances are provided for:
• Judge • Jury in custody • Defendants • Public, witnesses and defendants on bail. Some prosecution witnesses have to be protected from intimidation; a separate secure waiting room for them is often situated with its entrance off the vestibule provided between the public entrance and the courtroom itself. An alternative arrangement has a separate access from the secure waiting area into the courtroom adjacent to the witness box. The public enter the court behind or to the side of the public seating at the rear of the courtroom; neither public nor witnesses pass areas dedicated to other participants (e.g. jury or defendants in custody) on entering or leaving the courtroom. 2.04 Relationships within the courtroom Courtroom layout incorporates specific and well-defined relationships between the various participants by means of carefully arranged sight-lines, distances and levels. There are four main elements in Crown Court cases:
• Judge • Jury • Witness • Counsel (barristers and solicitors). Defendants do not take part except as witnesses. Each element must be closely related, and be able to see and hear each other clearly at all times without mechanical or electrical aids, and without excessive turning from side to side. The basic positioning of the occupants is shown in 27.5. The theory behind these relationships can be summarised as follows: judge. Presides over the courtroom, should be able to • The observe the whole of it, to see clearly the principal participants
• • •
•
as well as the defendant in the dock and, when called, the antecedents and probation officers. The court clerk. Administers the case and needs to keep a watching eye over the court. He or she often advises the judge and should be able to stand up and speak to the judge without being overheard. The exhibit table. This is in front of the counsel benches for the display of exhibits put forward for evidence. Counsel. These are barristers and solicitors who represent the defendant or prosecution. They need to be able to see the jury, judge and witness to whom they address their remarks. The barrister at each end of the front bench should be able to keep every jury member and the witness on the stand within about a 90 angle to obviate too much turning to ensure that the judge, the other main party, shall have at least a part face view. The counsel benches are wide enough to hold the large, and numerous, documents and books that are often in use. The defendant. The defendant is assumed to be innocent until proved guilty and current practice is to reduce any prison-like appearance of the dock by lowering the barriers enclosing it as much as possible compatible with security. Defendants sit in separate fixed seats and if they are thought to be a security risk a prison officer will sit on a seat immediately behind, or at each
• •
• • • •
side of him. The dock is controlled by a dock officer and situated at the back of the courtroom. The jury. This comprises twelve members of the public whose duty it is to reach a verdict based on the evidence presented. The jury sit opposite the witness stand and must be able to see the defendant in the dock, as well as the judge and counsel. They must have a writing surface and a place to put documents. The witness. The witness waits outside the courtroom; and when called gives evidence from the witness stand near to the judge’s bench. The stand faces the jury who must be able to observe the his or her face. The witness is questioned by the barristers and occasionally by the judge. If the judge directs that a witness should be retained, he or she can wait seated within the courtroom. The shorthand writer. This official keeps a transcript of the trial and consequently must be able to see and hear everyone who speaks. Probation and antecedents officers. These give evidence from their seats after the jury have reached a verdict. This evidence is used to assist the judge in passing sentence. The press. These are not party to the proceedings, but they should be able to see the participants. The public. These are in court to see that ‘justice is done’. They are placed at the near end of the courtroom and have a general view of the proceedings, but with the minimum possible direct eye contact with the jury to reduce the risk of intimidation. A public gallery over the jurors is the most effective method of eliminating possible intimidation; but access to such a gallery and the increase in height of the courtroom has to be considered. The glass screen between the public and the dock is partially obscured to prevent members of the public from seeing the defendant(s) (and vice versa) while seated.
2.05 The Courtroom Environment The design of Crown courtrooms should seek perfection for their purpose. It should reflect the quiet dignity of the law rather than its power. A well-detailed, comfortable and quiet courtroom with efficient and simply managed ventilation, lighting and acoustics is the ideal.
2.06 Ventilation Well-balanced environmental conditions within the courtroom are essential to the smooth running of the court. They keep the participants comfortable and interested, and avoid distractions. The current trend, supported by most users, is for natural ventilation with openable windows. This will subject the courtroom to wider temperature fluctuations; but this can be minimised by integrated automatic control systems. Mechanical assistance (or in extreme cases full air conditioning) will be necessary where there would be unacceptable noise intrusion; or where the courtroom cannot have the height to induce air flow by the natural stack effect. It is normally more economical and energy-efficient to have separate air handling units for each courtroom, managed by time switches and occupancy sensors.
2.07 Lighting Daylight is provided if possible; but direct sunlight must be controlled and security risks avoided. The controlled use of daylight alone improves environmental comfort, but when it becomes for any reason insufficient, artificial lighting will be required. A combination of up-lighters and down-lighters reduces glare and contrast, and enhances the character of the courtroom. Lighting levels and colour should ensure correct colour rendering, and that all participants, exhibits and written evidence can be clearly seen without strain or dazzle.
Public buildings
27-5
27.5 Standard Crown Courtroom 2.08 Acoustics The acoustics and noise levels should ensure that the proceedings can be heard in all parts of the courtroom; while avoiding distraction and annoyance from movement by the public, press or others. There may be a need for reflective or absorbent surface treatment to walls and ceilings. 2.09 Functional relationships Outside the Courtroom Courthouse accommodation is divided into areas, each with its own self-contained circulation. Movement between areas is limited and restricted. Even those who need to move freely can only enter certain restricted areas by passing through manned control points or other secure doors. The relationship and pattern of movement between the elements is shown in the functional relationship diagram 27.6. 2.10 Judiciary The judiciary (judges, recorders, etc.) arrive at the court building and enter through a manned or otherwise restricted entry directly into their own secure area of the building. This contains the Judges’ Retiring Rooms and all areas devoted to judicial use. The only other users of this area in ‘working hours’ are the staff, i.e. ushers, court clerks, security staff and invitees, i.e. legal representatives, guests and some members of the public invited to a Judge’s Room. Invitees will always be escorted, and access for all will be either via the Judges’ entrance into court or through staff areas. Each entrance will be via a self-locking, secure door. 2.11 Jurors Persons, the number depending on the number and size of trials programmed, are summoned to the court building. They enter
through the main public areas until they reach the reception area to the Jury Assembly Suite where they are booked in. They then wait in the lounge or dining area where refreshments are available until called upon to form a jury panel. The period of waiting is variable and can be all day. Highest usage is before courts sit, and during lunch periods. Egress from the Assembly Area, other than back past reception, is into jury-restricted circulation, which leads to Court and Jury Retiring Rooms. These should be adjacent or close to related Court Rooms, and all capable of supervision by one jury bailiff. Once jurors have entered the Jury Assembly Suite they remain there, in court, or the Jury Retiring Room until sent home at the end of the day, or on dismissal. 2.12 Defendants The Custody area is a self-contained compartment within the court building designated for the temporary use of prison governors in the discharge of their duties to the court to produce and retain prisoners in custody. It consists of the following principal parts, each separate from its neighbour and all non-custody uses: custody core • The The entrance • The vehicle entrance • The visitors’ entrance • Threecourtroom independent secure connecting routes: • – custody core to vehicle dock – custody core to courtroom entrance – custody core to visitors’ entrance. While courts are sitting, the custody area is staffed and administered by prison officers. A principal or senior officer is in charge,
27-6
Public buildings
27.6 Functional relationship diagram for a Courthouse
supported by number of officers according to the number of courts and the level of risk. Some officers have fixed duties, for instance dock officer, cells officer; but the remainder are on escort duties. Custody areas are designed and constructed to contain defendants, and to produce them to the court. Containment requires the meticulous and consistent application of passive security measures. Confinement and attendance at court for defendants is stressful, and this is compounded by natural frustration and anxiety. The designer must: careful attention to all aspects of the design from the • Give overall plan and its approaches, down to fixtures, fittings, fixings, finishes, alarms and communications
a layout that will achieve maximum control, make the • Devise best use of staff resources and maintain an acceptable level of safety and security
the building fabric and the facilities within it to provide a • Use secure envelope the public direct view or contact with defendants while • Deny they are inside the custody area, except during authorised visits. 2.13 Public The public areas with their associated circulation form the central core or axis from which most non-judicial functions of the court building radiate. Except for the judiciary and specified car park users, all users enter the building by the main entrance door where space and facilities for security checks are provided. The arrival concourse contains the Information/Enquiry Point and the Cause List Display, both of which should be clearly seen on entering. Public circulation then leads to Court Waiting Areas. These may be combined with associated circulation to form concourses off which are located the courtrooms and consultation/waiting rooms. Waiting areas should be visually interesting, preferably with external views. Public circulation also gives access to private and semi-private accommodation occupied by Court Service (CS) staff, non-CS staff, the Probation Service, Custody Visits and to refreshment
facilities. Access must also be available to the Crown Court Office counters. Direct access from the arrivals concourse to the Jury Assembly Area is desirable.
2.14 Advocates Advocates enter the court building by the Main Entrance, reaching their suite via the public circulation. This is the area reserved for solicitors and barristers preparing for court, combining Lounge/ Study/Retiring Room for relaxation and quiet study in comfortable conditions, and for assembly, discussion, robing, etc. Lounge and Robing Room should if possible be contiguous otherwise direct access should be provided. The suite has easy access to courtrooms via the public concourse where advocates meet clients, and to the Advocates’ Dining Room. The Advocates’ Clerks’ room is closely related and shares the same private ‘Advocates’ circulation.
2.15 Crown Court Office The Crown Court Office is occupied by executive and administrative staff engaged in the general administration of Crown Court business. The General Office counter must be conveniently located to allow easy access for the public and for the legal profession; payment of expenses to jurors and witnesses may be made here. There should be separate circulation to other staff areas and for direct access to the judges restricted circulation by ushers. Within the Crown Court offices, accommodation is provided for some more specialised groups: Clerks who are responsible for business in specific court• Court rooms and who spend part of their day in court who spend part of their time in court and also • Ushers attending to judge and/or jury but will also do minor clerical work
Staff who are responsible for the planning and program• Listing ming of the court timetable (lists of cases).
Public buildings
2.16 Non-courts Service Users Non-courts Service Users includes Police, Crown Prosecution Service, Probation Service and Shorthand Writers, concerned with the running of the Court. The Police area consists of two sections: The Police Liaison Unit. This is the suite of offices for police staff attached to the courts and providing antecedents, etc. Included is a room where police witnesses can assemble and change if necessary. The Police Law and Order Unit. This suite of offices is for police who maintain security or ‘Law and Order’ in the building The Crown Prosecution Service is responsible for the prosecution of defendants in court. It needs an office for law clerks to perform casework arising during the progress of the case, and to consult with members of the legal profession and witnesses. The Probation Service, as attached to a Crown Court, will be active where persons have been made subjects of probation orders or inquiry reports at Court, although they may do some paperwork on other cases. The Probation Suite is a separate individual unit and where Night Reporting Facilities are required, must be able to operate in isolation while full security to the remainder of the court Building is maintained. Shorthand writers are usually hired directly or via a service firm to take notes and transcribe Court proceedings.
27-7
Firefighters’ operational activities are grouped into: Wet/Dirty: mobilisation, call out training and drill cleaning and Clean/dry:
maintenance. administration public interface stand-down/recreation arrival for duty.
A fire station may be built as part of a commercial development, but its long-term use must be assured, particularly in regard to ease of access and egress, radio communications reception and Fire Standards. Conversely, there must also be no interference with TV reception in adjacent properties. 3.02 Appliance areas Most stations have two or three appliance bays. The usual appliances are pump ladder appliances and turntable ladders mounted on the basic chassis, and there are other appliances such as bulk foam pods or mobile training pods mounted onto the standard heavy-duty chassis. New stations must also be designed to accommodate aerial ladder platforms (ALPs), which are very large, 27.8. ALPs are like large ‘cherry-pickers’ with hydraulically raised platforms but also incorporating ladders. Some will also accommodate special appliances outside the normal categories. The appliance area has a minimum headroom of 5 m. Appliances always face outwards and have a direct rear access to avoid reversing.
2.17 Catering Catering within Crown Courts involves self-service facilities for advocates, jurors, public and court staff, together with waitress service from a sideboard or servery for the Judiciary. The catering area should be sited on one floor with easy access for all court users, maximising usage and minimising operating costs. Multilevel catering areas should be avoided as less convenient and more expensive to operate.
3 FIRE STATIONS 3.01 Fire stations are required to fulfil efficiently the functions laid down by the national, regional and metropolitan bodies that supervise their work. Each fire brigade has a detailed brief for the design of new fire stations with the aim of dealing with each incident as soon as possible after the emergency call is received in the control room, 27.7, and this must be within the government’s laid-down maximum response time. Paramedics are now to be trained within the fire service; provision needs to be made for them in new stations. Fire Rescue Units may also need to be garaged.
27.7 Diagram of communications centre control operations
27.8 Hydraulic platform (cherry-picker), turntable ladder and aerial ladder platform: appliance footprint (path): Roadway width 6 m, turning circle 22.5 m, sweep circle 25.2 m. Max. length 11.3 m, max. height 3.77 m, max. width 2.5 m, max. width with jacks out 6.05 m Laden weight 28.2 tonnes, max. loading weight on either front axle 6.5 tonnes, on either rear axle 10.5 tonnes, max. single pressure on one extended jack with boom extension at maximum 12.4 tonnes Max. length wheelbase 5.6 m, track of rear wheels 2 m, minimum ground clearance 229 mm
When a call is received the appliances need to get onto the road as quickly as possible. A separate route and maximum visibility are required for each appliance leaving the station. Appliances must be able to turn without crossing the crown of the road, 27.9 and 27.10, which implies the need for a forecourt so that they can start to turn on exiting the bay doors. A forecourt 9 m deep permits appliances to pull clear of the automatic time-controlled doors. Returning appliances should also be able to drive easily from the return access to the covered washdown area, stopping on the centre line of its respective appliance bay. All areas traversed by appliances must be capable of bearing the load of the heaviest appliance and the pressure of out-riggers; and also withstand close turning movements and braking stress.
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Public buildings
27.9 Hydraulic platform (long chassis model) turning circle: Bay width with no forecourt 6.5 m Bay width with forecourt 5.5 m Minimum door width 4.2 m
27.10 Pump ladder turning circle: A ¼ Bay width with no forecourt 6.5 m B ¼ Bay width with forecourt 5.5 m C ¼ Minimum door width 4.2 m
Public buildings
27-9
27.11 Relationship diagram for a two-appliance fire station on one level
3.03 Station building The public, particularly small boys, are not allowed into the fire station except when accompanied by a firefighter. While the appliances are out on a call the station is empty. All doors are automatically operated on electric controls with photo-electric cells and they close automatically after the appliances have left. This is important to avoid theft or damage to the building, particularly when paramedics are accommodated on the station as they need to store drugs for immediate use. Everything in a fire station has to be very robust with the toughest finishes, easy to clean and maintenance free. 27.11 is a room relationship diagram for one type of fire station. Table I gives recommended areas for some of these spaces. 27.12 shows the necessary provisions to be made for rapid mobilisation, and 27.13 the almost equally important arrangements for standing down.
Lockers and ablutions Toilet and changing facilities must allow for the fact that there are now more women in the fire service. Fire stations work on a four-watch duty system. Each watch consists of from 12 to 15 firefighters and a station commander. Each firefighter has their own locker and gear hanging space. Taking into account junior officers and standby staff, at least 50 lockers should be allowed for; preferably a few more as there will be some staff on sick or general leave, retaining their individual lockers. Their temporary replacements will require their own lockers. The area required relates to the specific need of the particular station. Under present policy men and women share locker rooms with changing cubicles, but have separate ablutions. This simplifies matters as the male/female ratio is never constant. On-site sleeping accommodation is no longer provided. This has eliminated much of the need for recreational facilities, as the firefighters are either on duty or away from the station with very few waiting or resting periods.
Recreation A fully equipped gymnasium is required to facilitate firefighters achieving the level of physical fitness which their job demands. Television and darts are two other activities for which space is usually allocated within the dining/recreation area. Station office The administration in a fire station is covered by the station clerk who is sometimes non-uniformed. He or she deals with day-to-day routine and reports directly to the station commander. Fire prevention office The FPO relates to schools, scouts, etc. advises homes and businesses on dealing with the risk of fire. It will have leaflets on fire and smoke detectors, extinguishers, etc. The function of the Fire Prevention Officer devolves on the fire station commander in some smaller stations. 3.04 Training facilities Not all stations can sustain the full range of necessary training. Firefighting is now so hazardous, and includes many more dangers than straightforward fires, that firefighters tend to go on special courses to learn to deal with smoke, toxic fumes, ship fires, etc. Static training for smoke and foam is required on each station. Many existing stations have very restricted external space, limiting the scope of on-station training to an unsatisfactory level. The minimum provision should not be reduced, even on a restricted site. The following three categories are a guide to what can be achieved, with approximate areas: (a) Two-appliance station with minimal training facilities: Site area approximately 945 m2, the residual yard area approximately 400 m2.
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Public buildings
Table I Fire station accommodation Above ground level? OPERATIONAL Appliance Room Slide poles Fire gear (uniform) store Operational equipment and general storage Split into wet, dry and clean zones Operational equipment cleaning Clothes drying room The four spaces above need direct access to and from the appliances, and quick access from the rest areas. There may also be a small laundry in this area Breathing apparatus room Storing, testing and overhauling equipment Fuel storage/pump Required so that the appliances can be refuelled in their station. Safety regulations are rigidly followed. Oil/paraffin/propane storage Sand/foam/wheel store Foam trailer garage Spare hose store Defective gear store Maintenance of non-mobile specials store CONTROL AND ADMINISTRATION Watchroom or Operations Centre A critical room off the appliance bay. Must include teleprinter, radio controls, telephones, maps and route cards. Directly linked to Central Control. Station office Stationery store Waiting/reception with entrance lobby for the public to visit the station and see exhibitions, etc. There should be a toilet here for wheelchair users Station Commander’s office Watch Commander’s room with wash area/toilet/shower and office with couch Commander’s locker and washroom Fire safety office AMENITY Firefighters’ lockers and changing room Ideally situated adjacent to the appliance room as the firefighters will change into uniform on arrival and after duty change back. Firefighters’ toilets and washrooms Junior Officer study Junior Office toilet Lecture room Doubles as a rest area with fold-down beds for emergencies and extra standby shifts, video and TV, screens and whiteboards for teaching and debriefing. If a firefighter is killed or badly wounded a debriefing may involve several fire stations so that this room should be sufficiently large. Lecture Storage Gymnasium Needs direct or pole access to the appliance area Quiet/Study Room May double up as the Fire Prevention Office for public relations Kitchen Dining/TV viewing Needs direct or pole access to the appliance area Cleaner Consumables SERVICES Electrical Intake Standby Generator Boiler Room Refuse Chamber Gas Meter Communications with BT/Mercury equipment linked to the Watchroom Water Meter Total Total including 30% circulation (except to appliance room)
Facilities on such a site will be adequate for continuation training to be carried out at station level without the frequent need to go elsewhere:
N
Two-appliance
Three-appliance
N N
160 7 30 27
248 7 40 27
N N
8 10
8 10
N
13
13
N
10
10
Y Y N
17 11 8
17
Y Y
20 15
20 15
Y Y
15 10
15 10
Y
58
81
Y Y 4 Y
32 26 4 45
41 39
Y Y
10 38
10 38
Y
15
15
Y Y
25 35
25 40
Y Y
6 2
6 2
N N N N N Y
3 12 15 4 1 5
3 12 15 4 1 5
692 850
865 1050
N
N N N N N N
8
75
N
(b) Two appliance station with basic training facilities: Site area approximately 1800 m2, residual yard area approximately 700 m2.
facility of three floors (which could form part of station • Training Purpose-built training facility using a full range of standard ladders accommodation), with the ability to test equipment (particularly • gym and lecture room • Separate ladders) Drill yard with a single hydrant and pumping well, sufficiently yard with a single hydrant and as much space as possible • • Small large to enable the testing of ladders and the execution of drills for parking using ladders and hose. When not required for training purposes • Gym and lecture facilities available nearby. it will provide car parking for station personnel.
Public buildings 27-11
yard with two hydrants, pumping well and space for the • Drill partying out of comprehensive drills such as water relays. The
• • • •
yard will be sufficiently large to accommodate the turning circle of the largest fire appliances, the testing of equipment and the execution of combined drills Roof ladder training facilities Separate lecture room equipped with audio-visual aids Gymnasium enlarged for the training of physical training instructors Derv pump and underground tank.
3.05 Drill yard This area at the rear or side of the station serves several functions that cannot take place inside the appliance bays and ancillary accommodation: return access to covered washdown area and appliance • Vehicle bays • Drill/practice/instruction delivery • Fuel Essential car parking. • 27.12 Diagram of circulation routes for mobilisation: 1 Firefighters to appliances, rear access 2 Staircase or pole access when multi-storeyed 3 Firefighters to appliances, front access 4 Duty firefighters to watchrooms and appliances
The drill yard size and shape will be determined by the site constraints. Apart from routine training, it may also be used for special instruction incorporating a mock-up ship, factory or traffic situation to enable the trainees to gain experience of particular difficult and dangerous conditions. The drill yard and tower must not cause nuisance to adjoining properties, and should not be overlooked by them. Firefighters under drill or training would not appreciate an audience, and the control of water jets in these situations is not always predictable. Training involves the use of ALPs. The drill yard must be designed to take their heavy point loading as well as heavy vehicles. It should have a minimum fall of 1:50 to drain off the large quantities of water and foam to suitable gulleys.
3.06 Drill tower Drill towers were previously used for drying hoses as well as training. Hoses are now made of plastic and do not require drying out. Thus towers are not always provided in new stations. Where a tower is provided, it will include dry risers, firefighting lids, sprinkler systems, different types of windows and artificial smoke conduits for smoke exercises and use of breathing apparatus. There is less use of hose reels, now that Building Regulations have become so sophisticated. A tower can be either part of the station building or freestanding. A number of features must be provided: to three working faces, each at least 3.2 m wide in one plane • Up without copings or mouldings least three drill platforms at heights approximately 3 m • Atcentres, each with at least 4.65 m clear non-slip (even when 2
27.13 Diagram of circulation routes on return to fire station: 1 External rear access 2 Operational equipment store 3 Operational equipment cleaning 4 Breathing apparatus room 5 Lockers and washroom
• • •
(c) Three appliance station with full training facilities: Where there is a demonstrable strategic area training need. Site area approximately 3100 m2, residual yard area approximately 1400 m2. tower of four floors, incorporating a dry rising main • Training and additional breathing apparatus training facilities
•
wet), drainable working surface with a minimum width of 3.05 m across the face of the tower Orientation to avoid direct sunlight which could be dangerous during certain drills Clearance at the base of the working faces of at least 6 m free from hazards such as manholes, hydrant covers and bollards Ladders must continue through hatchways above drill platforms level to a point where the top rung is at least 1.5 m above the platform levels. The ladder apertures to be at least 840 840 mm, and access only by stepping sideways (never backwards). Ladders must comply with Health and Safety Standards as to rung spacings, wall distances and safety rails. Protected stepping off points to be provided at least 760 mm width Instead of ladders, a staircase could be used. In the case of a tower integrated into a station building, the staircase is acceptable as a secondary means of escape
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Public buildings
and anchor plates or points should be provided on each • Cleats working face with shackle points of suspension fitted beyond
•
any sill projections capable of withstanding test loads of 1 tonne A section of roofing should also be available to train firefighters in ladder craft, roof drills and particularly safe transfer of personnel from vertical ladders to inclined roof ladders. Safety walkways and protective railings should, however, be included for the full width of the roof, and safety handrails fitted along two of the inclined edges. In integrated towers the main building roof can be utilised as a training roof.
4 AMBULANCE STATIONS 4.01 Ambulance stations are either control stations or their satellites. The control stations contain larger store areas and a divisional office, and may have dining, recreation and activity areas. Onsite sleeping accommodation is no longer required. Satellite stations have from two to six ambulances and deal only with accident and emergency calls. They do not require dining or recreation facilities, as off-duty time is spent off the premises, but a rest room will be needed for waiting and relaxing between calls. Because drugs may be stored on the premises all doors need to be lock controlled. Like the police, more and more control equipment such as faxes, trackers and radios are in the ambulance, permitting greater use of these facilities with no need to return to base. However, to provide adequate hospital cover, ambulances are stationed there for halfhour periods. 4.02 Apart from accidents and emergencies, the larger stations also cover: transfer • Patient Hospital hospital • Home to tohospital • Taxi service for consultancy • 4.03 Regions are split into about four divisions with a central control. Each division normally consists of about six larger stations and twelve satellites, varying according to population density. All accident and emergency calls are received at central control. 4.04 Provision for vehicles In small stations with less than seven ambulances, vehicles will be reversed onto their parking bays. The station will have an easy-to-
27.14 Layout of an ambulance station with six vehicles
open individual exit door to each bay, 27.14. Larger stations use echelon parking with in-and-out access. There must be sufficient space behind the parked ambulance to permit easy removal of equipment. Large stations require a fuel loading bay, but not the smaller stations. The current trend is towards using petrol rather than diesel, for smoother running and fewer fumes. A vehicle washdown is required for each station. 4.05 Vehicle workshops Vehicle maintenance is carried out in separate workshop buildings, 27.15, covering at least six stations. It does not need to be on the same site as an ambulance station. A workshop normally caters for up to six vehicles at a time, so front access only is required. Larger workshops are designed for echelon parking with a through-access system. All workshops will be capable of carrying out day-to-day maintenance and repairs, including the equivalent of MOT testing, standard servicing and body repairs. They are not expected to replace engines or crankshafts or do heavy repairs. Finishes must be robust and durable and floor surfaces non-slip. 4.06 Duty rooms Duty rooms should be close to the garage, have adequate wall space for maps and natural lighting and ventilation. Staff in the rest room must be able to see what is happening in the duty room, so it should be adjacent with a glazed screen between. 4.07 Lockers and changing facilities are linked to showers and toilets. In the smaller stations unisex toilets and showers are acceptable. Elsewhere they should be designed to facilitate adjustment when the male/female ratio changes. 4.08 A toilet for wheelchair users and other disabled people is needed although the ambulance operatives themselves need to be fully able-bodied. This is because members of the public have come to expect such a facility to be provided at an ambulance station! 4.09 Stores The main store needs to be a secure facility close to the garage. It will accommodate the following in a single area or in separate stores: such as blankets, sheets, pillowcases and towels • Linen Medical • splints supplies such as first-aid dressings, bandages and
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27.15 Layout of a workshop for servicing ambulance vehicles equipment such as defibulators and resuscitators • Paramedic items to replace equipment normally stored in the • Spare ambulance stretchers, etc. belonging to de-kitted vehicles • Trolleys, • Expendable items and documents, log books and files. A separate store within the main store is required for drugs. This is separately lockable and alarmed to the duty room. Blankets should be kept well ventilated and heated. Dirty blankets, linen and contaminated clothes are temporarily kept in containers in a disposal store until they can be sent to a laundry. This disposal store should be near the ambulance parking, but away from clean stores and other clean areas. The same place can also be used for storing general refuse awaiting removal. Medical materials including used needles must be in separate containers for special disposal. The gas store holds entonox and oxygen in small cylinders for use by paramedics. This store must be warm and well ventilated with easy access to the ambulances.
4.10 Some regions still require a small blanket laundry in the larger stations. However, due to health and safety legislation, with stringent regulations relating to temperature controls, cleanliness and hygiene, there is a strong move towards using contract cleaning companies instead.
5.02 Organisation Over the last few years there has been radical change in organisation. Some forces still maintain divisions and subdivisions; others have gone over to regions and areas. Some police forces collaborate with others to provide support services for their joint use. Regional crime squads come under this heading. Because so much of the work has become extremely technical and specialised, many of the specialities are accommodated away from the custody and public departments. The different levels of the organisation require different building types: 1 Headquarters buildings with control extending over a force area, 2 Divisional HQs 3 sub-Divisional HQs, which may be located separately or may be combined. Headquarters buildings and police stations are all based on the same principles, and only vary according to need. A facility like a custody suite or communications centre is located in the most suitable place regardless of the rank of the building.
5 POLICE STATIONS
5.03 Siting Stations should be near public transport, readily available both to the local inhabitants and easily found by strangers. They no longer need to be near magistrates’ courts. However, when they are, they should be totally separate with no shared facilities. In busy shopping centres and high streets police posts with direct communications to their headquarters are proving popular with both police and public, who provide information there that might never be otherwise obtained. The authorities are even considering having police posts in supermarkets.
5.01 The police aim to foster public goodwill; their buildings should be as pleasing and friendly to the visitor as possible compatible with essential security requirements. The Home Office has produced most detailed and comprehensive guides covering legislative requirements, cost and design. New stations should be based on the Home Office Building Guide 1994, modified to suit the individual local requirements.
5.04 Design of the station The zoning diagram, 27.16, is a guide to circulation. The public area must be designed with an awareness of the dangers posed by explosives and people with weapons. It should still try to maintain a pleasing and welcoming atmosphere. It must be easily accessible from the police area. Access and toilet accommodation for disabled people is essential.
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27.16 Relationship and zoning diagram for a large police station The reception counter should be located to permit officer-onduty supervision of the building entrance. A security screen between counter area and waiting is desirable in some circumstances, so that only a limited number can enter at a time. This provides both privacy and security. Where there is no screen a privacy booth in or on the counter is desirable. Waiting areas are provided with seating and notice boards for posters on road safety and crime prevention, etc. The public interview area is entered off the waiting area. Interview rooms should be large enough to take several people at a time and are fitted with taping equipment. The victim examination suite should be adjacent to the public entrance and is for interviewing and medical examination of assault, child molestation or rape victims. It must be pleasantly designed in order to reduce stress, 27.17.
Found property This is an area accessible only to the police for storing unclaimed stolen property and items handed in by the public or found by the police. No live animals are kept there, although some stations do have special facilities for animals. People seeking lost property enquire for it at the reception counter, so this should have easy access to the found property store. Its size will depend on local requirements. Some forces use warehouses due to the very large quantities that are collected. Where no large store or warehouse is available, bulky items such as bicycles are usually stored in out-buildings.
Assembly room, lockers, changing and drying rooms They should be located close to the police entrance. Showers and toilets should be adjacent to the lockers and to the drying areas which should be operational in summer as well as winter.
27.17 Plan of a victim examination suite
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Report writing room These should be adjacent to the assembly room. Booths and acoustic treatment are advisable. Communications and control are central to the police function. Workload is extremely heavy and the working environment should be designed to mitigate stress, 27.18. The control room deals with force or area-wide facilities including VHP radio, and has direct access to police resource information and criminal records. Communications rooms are principally used for message transfer and receipt of information. The location and design of the central control room should be such as to frustrate any deliberate attempt to dislocate its vitally important functions by physical or electronic attack. Its vehicular access must ensure an uninterrupted road in an emergency; but no parking should be allowed within 15 m of its perimeter. Major incident room A force will on occasions need to work on serious crimes requiring extensive investigation, civil emergencies or major incidents. Accommodation with easy communication connections will be required for temporary use by CID, traffic or uniformed branches; when not so required, it will be designated for an alternative function such as a gymnasium.
Operational group provides office accommodation for patrols • Beat Uniformed • Operationalsection control • General administration. • Administration covers general administration as opposed to operational dependent administration and activities. Traffic includes accommodation for motor patrols, traffic wardens, garages and workshops. Garages and workshops may be on the same site as the station, or be a separate unit with attached accommodation for motor patrols depending on the size of the area and the number of vehicles. It is preferable not to have this unit in a busy city centre where it would add to congestion, and also hinder police cars quickly reaching the scene of an incident. If the police area includes motorways the unit should be sited near an access point, or even within a motorway service area. The police car is becoming more ‘high tech’, with built-in computers in addition to two-way radios. It is becoming an office in its own right, so that there is less need for the occupants to report in person to a police station.
Criminal justice office This is for documentation of cases to be brought before the courts.
Prisoners’ vehicle dock This must be provided away from the main police vehicle yard; totally secure and adjacent to the prisoners’ entrance to the building, 27.19. 27.20 gives data for the prisoner transport vehicle.
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) In some cases CID would have their own unit separate from the police station.
Identification parade facility This has to be carefully sited outside the custody area but linked to it by a secure access route. Witnesses should be rigidly segregated
27.18 Relationship diagram of a Control Room suite
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27.19 Plan of a prisoner transport vehicle dock
a Dimensions
b Turning circles
27.20 A vehicle for transporting prisoners from each other, and from all members of the parade before, during and after the parade; there must be no possibility of physical contact at any time, or visual contact except during the parade itself, 27.21. Toilet facilities should be available for witnesses and volunteers. Messing and recreation Catering is usually provided by self-help appliances such as frozen packaged food with grills or microwave ovens and hot/cold drink dispensers. In large stations there may be a canteen, but 24-hour operation is easier to control through packaged meals. Toilets Lavatory accommodation is related to size of station and disposition of rooms. Separate provision is made for: sergeants, constables and civilian staff • Male Female sergeants, constables and civilian staff • Senior officers • Chief constables and assistant chief constables have en-suite • facilities usually located at the public entrance • Visitors, people, also close to the public entrance • Disabled • Cell accommodation. Blast proofing is now mandatory for all police stations; no car parking should be positioned within 15 m of the buildings, 10 m for operational vehicles. Mechanical ventilation and cooling is provided for information and communications accommodation without natural ventilation. Emergency electrical supply is essential throughout, not only for power failure but also in the event of fire. In large stations it will be necessary to ensure continuity of supply to the custody suite, radios, computers, teleprinters, and communication service equipment, and must have ‘direct on-line automatic start’.
27.21 Plan of an identity parade suite
An uninterrupted power supply (UPS) will be required for computer areas.
4.05 Custody suite This includes detention rooms, charge desk(s) and ancillary accommodation, 27.22 and 27.23. The police have to be alert to the possibility of someone in custody attempting suicide. Care needs to be taken to avoid this eventuality particularly in the design of the cells (see Section 5.06 below). The custody area should be securely separated from other parts of the building. It should be located on a single level to avoid moving prisoners up and down stairs which should be avoided at all costs. Where minor changes in level are unavoidable internally or externally, ramps should be used. Corridors and cells for female prisoners should be segregated from those for male prisoners. Each should have separate access to the exercise yard. Detention rooms for juveniles should also be separate from adult areas. Catering Prisoners and police within the custody area need to be fed. However, a kitchenette within the custody area is undesirable as it would divert the custody officer from essential tasks and also be a fire risk. The
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27.22 Relationship and zoning diagram for a custody suite
self-catering facility in the amenity area is also unacceptable as it would take officers away from the custody area. There is little alternative, therefore, to a staffed kitchen immediately outside the custody area preparing food in compliance with food hygiene regulations and providing the meals close to the users. If there is a canteen which is fully staffed for 24 hours, this may be used.
Detention suite This is a facility where the WC is outside the cell, 27.24, where additional washing facilities can be securely provided.
WCs The compartment should have a stable-type hinged door, not a sliding one, with an observation aperture. The cistern should be outside the compartment with secured access and a protected flushing pipe. The flushing device should be outside the reach of a prisoner attempting suicide by drowning, and should not be a chain or project from the wall. There should be no projecting toilet roll holder, exposed
overflow pipe, bracket, service pipe or stopcock. Fittings should be not be able to be broken or extracted to make tools or weapons.
Washing facilities Basins should not be inside cells. They should be supported on metal stands, not cantilever brackets, and provided with captive plugs without chains. Towel holders are not used as the towels could be used to facilitate suicide, and the holder would provide points to which a ligature could be attached. Facilities for female prisoners must be properly screened. For use inside cells, prisoners are provided with disinfectant/cologne-impregnated washpads as on aircraft.
Cell corridor The entrance should be fitted with an iron gate. The corridor should have alarm pushes for the custody officer’s use if attacked. There should be no exposed pipes, valves, electric cables or conduit, and any thermometer should be outside the reach of a passing prisoner.
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27.23 Plan of a custody suite (for security reasons this is based on the design principles, but is not an actual example)
Exercise yard The walls should be high enough to prevent a prisoner escaping, at least 3.6 m. There should be no ledges or other features which enable a prisoner to climb. However, where for any reason the height and detailing of the walls are deemed insufficient to prevent escape, a top cover may be used. There should be no doors or windows opening into the yard which might enable a prisoner to reach the top cover, nor any unlockable inspection chamber covers or gully gratings which could be lifted. Rainwater and soil pipes should be flaunched up in cement mortar to obviate handholds.
27.24 Plan of a detention suite
4.06 Cell design The Police Design Guides are explicit in their requirements reflected in a typical design, 27.25.
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Ventilation Casings to trunking should be secure against breakage and use by prisoners to facilitate suicide. Grilles under cell benches should be securely fixed using non-withdrawable screws. High-level airvents with perforations should not be larger than 4.7 mm diameter, of a material that will break under load and fitted flush with the wall surface.
Lighting Cell light fittings should be fitted flush with the ceiling with unwithdrawable screws. They should have twin lamp holders and plastic lenses. Electrical supplies should not be exposed and the switches should be outside the cell with cover plates that cannot be removed to gain access to live parts.
27.25 Plan of a custody cell Windows Cell windows which are unguarded and with openable panes should not overlook roads or other public areas. Windows overlooking exercise yards should be both guarded and screened to prevent observation. Windows to ancillary accommodation within the cell suite such as blanket store, property store, cell corridor, gaoler’s room, toilets, etc. should all be guarded. The glazing should be of toughened opaque glass fitted flush to the wall with no protrusions to facilitate injury or suicide, or ledges facilitating escape and attacks on officers. The thickness of the glass increases with larger panes. Glass should not be replaced for ventilation purposes with, for example, perforated zinc. Ceilings Most suspended ceilings can be easily broken, giving access to other parts of the building and possibly providing improvised tools or weapons. Doors All doors should be prisoner-proof and flush. Cell furniture These should not be of timber or able to be prised loose to make a tool or a weapon.
Heating Electric radiant heaters with exposed wiring should not be used to heat cells, neither should exposed hot water radiators. There should be no protrusions of any kind to which a ligature could be attached.
Cell call system This should comprise a press button within the cell fitted flush with the wall operating a bell and indicator light externally. It should be on a separate circuit from the lighting, and the indicator light board should be under constant observation by the officer-in-charge.
Maintenance Damaged cells should be withdrawn from use.
6 REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY Home Office Building Guide 1994 NHS Estates, Health Building Note 44 Nadel, B: Building Security: Handbook for Architectural Planning and Design. McGraw Hill, 2004 Wong, FM: Judicial Administration and Space Management: A Guide for Architects, Court Administrators and Planners. University Press of Florida, 2001