ADG is a nationally recognized firm specializing in the master planning and design of fire-rescue and public safety facilities throughout the United States. We understand response times, staffing levels, equipment types, training needs, site constraints, and health and wellness all impact fire-rescue design. There is a need for the fire station to accommodate diverse functions, such as vehicle storage and maintenance, living quarters for fire department crews, equipment storage and maintenance, housing, administration, training, as well as community education and services. We focus on each project’s individual needs, therefore, the specific types of emergency response provided by each client, and need to minimize response times, will impact the station’s design.
When designing for these special facility types, we focus on controlling and containing carcinogens on personnel and equipment. Consideration must be given to the proper ventilation of exhaust in the apparatus bays, the storage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in ventilated rooms away from living and administrative areas, transition areas to prevent cross contamination of living spaces, and separate laundry areas for PPE versus station wear. There are also innovative strategies for ensuring their physical wellbeing such as the inclusion of physical agility spaces and dry saunas, which allow the firefighter to sweat out carcinogenic contaminants.
Providing a well-designed station that makes decontamination procedures self-evident and easy to execute can minimize exposure to diseases and pathogens. Decontamination spaces located adjacent to apparatus bays provides direct access when returning from a call. Additionally, we recommend new automated / no touch technology employed in facilities to disinfect and decontaminate the interior of ambulances and apparatus to reduce staff and patient exposure to dangerous pathogens. These issues have become particularly important considering the impact the COVID – 19 pandemic has had on the design of these types of facilities.
To view a sample of our Fire-Rescue projects, please click here.
