DESCRIPTION:  Properly designed live fire training structures offer a logical balance between initial construction cost and long-term maintenance expense, while providing the safest live fire training environment possible. This is achieved by minimizing the structural elements exposed to fire, thereby minimizing expensive thermal lining systems required to protect those structural elements. A simple structural concrete frame is used. Ceilings and columns are protected with System 203. All of the walls are non-structural concrete block that does not require protection. Those walls are designed to be maintained and/or replaced as needed over time. This approach renders an affordable burn building in which fires can be conducted throughout the structure. Many of these structures have more than ten burn rooms while costing only $500,000 to $1,000,000. Maintenance is reasonable, and rooms can be reconfigured without structural concern. Every structure is configured to meet your specific training objectives. These training props, protected with System 203, offer decades of service.

WHY USE NON-LOAD-BEARING / NON-STRUCTURAL CONCRETE MASONRY PARTITIONS?

1. Non load-bearing, sacrificial concrete block walls are much less expensive to build than load-bearing structural walls which are protected with expensive linings.
2. Unlined sacrificial concrete block walls absorb and dissipate heat.  They do not become overheated as quickly as fully lined rooms.
3. Sacrificial walls can be demolished, replaced or relocated with relative ease without concern for structural integrity.
4. Sacrificial walls are relatively cheap and easy to maintain. Typically, only those walls that are closest to the burn pads require periodic maintenance.  Maintenance of a block wall is much cheaper than the initial and/or replacement cost of the lighter duty liners which fail more quickly than block walls, and which are multiple times more expensive to purchase.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

The cost for any structure will vary relative to your locality. Further, dependent upon jurisdictional procurement rules, government mandated “prevailing wages” (typically union scales) can add as much as 20%-25% to the cost of the structure.  A typical Class A live fire training structure will range $500,000 – $1,000,000. There are cheaper ways to go, but we believe the approach described herein offers the best return as measured by dollars and/or training objectives.

TIME: Structures are typically designed and constructed in about nine months, Of course, time is dependent upon site work, complexity and weather.

OPTIONS: Options are unlimited.  We have twenty years of experience, and have worked on hundreds of live fire training structures. Let our experience open your eyes to all the possibilities available to you. Stair towers, balconies, rappelling systems, attics, ventilation props, gas fired simulators and dozens of other great ideas – many of which we steal from you, the firefighter, who is always innovating new ways to train.

PERMANENTLY SITED LIVE FIRE TRAINING STRUCTURES: Having resolved many issues associated with permanently sited live fire training structures, our references will attest we have made major contributions to live fire training structure design and technology over the years, finally resulting in live fire training structures supporting firefighter training objectives to provide the best, safest training possible.

“The staff have done their homework, and it shows in their approach and product” – Chief Reckner, Jeffersontown Fire Dept.