If you have constructed one of the new training structures promoted by HTL, with columns located on the outside of the building, your structure is, in our opinion, based upon the best design available for permanent live fire training.

It is helpful that you understand the design concept.  This design approach includes a structural concrete frame with flat slabs (hopefully excluding beams) supported by columns that are primarily located on the exterior of the structure.  Of course, there will be a few columns on the interior of the structure, and we have protected those with our lining system.  The walls are non-load-bearing concrete block.    Doors and windows are designed to float on the exterior of the structure, and designed for relatively easy replacement.  The advantages of this design are:

• By using a concrete frame, and non-load-bearing walls, we only have to protect the ceilings with our linings, and the floors with fire pavers.
• This allows you burn throughout the structure, except stairways.
• This allows an affordable structure as the linings are the most expensive component of the structure, and if we lined all of the walls the structure would likely be unaffordable. By making the walls non-structural, we do not have to protect them; they are “sacrificial”.
• The  sacrificial  walls help to dissipate heat much better than fully lined walls which reflect heat.  Therefore, your rooms do not become overheated so quickly.
• Note that these unprotected  sacrificial  walls will require periodic maintenance and replacement.  Most buildings require about $10,000 of maintenance every three years.
• The door and windows shutters are ¼” mild plate steel.  The hinges and latches are stainless steel.  The shutters are surface mounted on the outside of the structure so they can expand and contract without binding and trapping personnel in the burn building.
• The shutters might warp over time.  When they need to be replaced, you can reuse the hinges and latches, replacing only the door shutter and the mild steel angles that are welded to the shutter.
• The floors  slope for positive drainage from the center of the structure to the  exterior walls and through scuppers.  The scuppers are designed to be left open during live fire training, and closed for cold training.
• The lining system is designed to last about 15 to 20 years with very little maintenance.  See the attached document regarding the minimum level of maintenance that is required for the lining system