By Crystal Henry
Recent studies by the NFPA estimate that in 2020, over 21,000 fire stations in the United States were at least 40 years old. Approximately 43% of those stations need renovation or replacement due to age, outdated equipment or lack of modern infrastructure. Additional findings: An estimated 27,500 fire stations lacked exhaust emission control systems, 15,490 were operating without backup power, and 25,800 did not provide accommodations for the growing number of female firefighters in the fire service.
| RESOURCE: How to fund your next station (eBook)
Additionally, in the last decade, the fire service community and architects alike have identified significant health and safety needs that are difficult to address in these aging facilities. As a result, architects are working in collaboration with the scientific community to combat the increased cancer rates in firefighters while supporting mental and behavioral health in the fire service through design. Some examples:
- Adopting a zoned approach to design — Red/Yellow/Green strategies — to control contaminants and reduce the potential for cross-contamination within the station.
- Utilizing individual bunkrooms to improve sleep hygiene and provide gender equality.
- Incorporating daylighting, natural materials and colors, outdoor spaces and resilience rooms to improve mental and behavioral health.
As many departments face the challenge of operating from facilities that no longer meet their needs or those of the community, the question of how to finance a renovation or replacement arises. With a jurisdiction’s priorities competing for available funding, how can departments first determine their needs and then compel decision-makers to support essential funding?
Existing Conditions Assessment
The first step is to document the conditions of your existing facility or facilities. Working with an architect, an Existing Conditions Assessment will provide a comprehensive, independent evaluation of the building’s physical condition, functionality and compliance with applicable codes and standards, including energy, life safety and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
The assessment will evaluate site conditions, including accessibility, circulation, parking, lighting, security, etc. The condition of the major building systems and infrastructure will be assessed, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, IT and security, as well as structural components such as the roof, floors and walls. The assessment process can also include a review of existing documentation, such as architectural drawings and maintenance records.
Findings reported from these assessments often contain common deficiencies found in older facilities, including:
- Apparatus bays that cannot accommodate modern fire apparatus and equipment.
- Inefficient layouts and emergency response paths.
- Structural deficiencies, including deteriorated or cracked foundations, roofs, or walls.
- Roof leaks and drainage problems.
- Mold issues caused by improper ventilation.
- Noisy and inefficient HVAC Systems that fail to meet modern air quality standards and are expensive to maintain.
- Inadequate and outdated electrical systems that do not meet current codes.
- Lack of accessible entrances, restrooms and corridors.
- Lack of decontamination and transition spaces defined by current NFPA standards for Red/Yellow/Green strategies.
- Inadequate facilities to accommodate female firefighters.
These deficiencies can severely impact station operations, timely response to the community, and the overall health, safety and wellness of the building’s occupants.
A table in the final report assigns a numerical value to each building element to reflect its overall condition. This provides a benchmark for the department of the existing facility relative to current architectural design standards and best practices for comparable fire and rescue facilities.
NFPA standards
The Assessment should also include a comparison to applicable NFPA sections related to station design. This comparison can be invaluable to guide conversations with internal stakeholders and provide an independent justification to the larger community, municipalities, politicians and any others who may challenge why funding should be allocated to the project.
The following applicable NFPA standards will provide a measure for Red/Yellow/Green strategies and contaminant control, infection control, as well as other health and wellness topics:
- NFPA 1550: Standard for Emergency Responder Health and Safety
- NFPA 1580: Standard for Emergency Responder Occupational Health and Wellness
- NFPA 1585: Standard for Exposure and Contamination Control
While not directly defining the layout of a station, these standards can help determine if the existing emergency response path achieves the goals set forth for both career and volunteer fire stations:
- NFPA 1710: Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments
- NFPA 1720: Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Volunteer Fire Departments
The report resulting from the assessment will help the department and decision-makers identify areas for improvement, prioritize maintenance and repairs, and make informed decisions about future renovations or replacements. It can also assign approximate costs required for needed improvements and assist in identifying grants or funding that may be available based on specific areas of need, such as additional vehicle exhaust systems or decontamination equipment, among other products or design elements.
Additional planning efforts may include a Space Needs Assessment or tabular program to determine the current and future functional and operational needs of the department and whether they can be accommodated through a renovation, replacement or additional station(s).
Typically compiled in a table format, this document identifies the specific space types required in the building, their size and adjacencies. The table will show the existing and proposed spaces and calculate the total building area.
When used in conjunction, the assessments give a clear picture of the current condition of your existing facility, the costs to update, and whether modifications can provide a properly sized, functional and efficient facility to meet the department’s and community’s current and future needs.
Community engagement
Another important step in financing your project is getting the community involved. Fire station projects are often taxpayer funded, and their support for the project can determine whether the project moves forward.
Inviting the neighbors into your firehouse can be the first step in helping them understand the department’s immediate needs. Offering station tours can garner quick support for your project.
While your community depends on you in times of need, they do not fully understand how the fire station supports this effort. Walking them through an aging facility provides an opportunity for education on how the fire station can affect the health, safety and wellness of its members, plus response time to the community. Key points may include:
- Many aging facilities were not built to support the 24/7/365 nature of today’s fire service or the health concerns that plague first responders.
- Cramped bunkrooms housing multiple staff do not allow gender neutrality or improve sleep hygiene to combat the effects of sleep deprivation — a serious health consequence suffered by firefighters as a result of shift work and continual interrupted sleep, which can lead to increased risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
- A lack of, or undersized, communal living spaces such as a dining room, dayroom, or patio can impact firefighters’ mental and behavioral health and wellness. These spaces provide opportunities for camaraderie, decompression and relaxation to reduce stress and anxiety.
- Inefficient station layouts and emergency response paths in conjunction with undersized apparatus bays that do not support modern fire apparatus and equipment can impact response times to the community.
- The lack of Red/Yellow/Green strategies associated with proper zoning allows carcinogens to cross over into the living quarters and increases the risk of firefighter cancer. Storing PPE gear in the apparatus bays degrades the material and allows carcinogens brought back from a call to linger on your gear.
- A lack of adequate storage can result in materials and supplies being stacked in corridors and overflowing into spaces, preventing those areas from being used for their intended purpose.
Education is a key to garnering community support. While there may be opposition, it is often simply because the community does not fully understand your needs or the functions of a fire station.
An architect can also assist in gaining public support for the project by providing graphics, attending community meetings and, in some instances, assisting with social media and/or mailing campaigns that help inform the neighbors about the project and its importance to the department and the community it serves.
A guide through the process
By utilizing the tools at hand, you can effectively advocate for a new or renovated facility. Decision-makers need to understand the current state of your existing facility (or facilities) and the benefits of a new facility. An assessment can help demonstrate need through unbiased observation and comparison to current industry standards. Clearly articulating the cost-benefit analysis and comparing renovation costs with the long-term operational advantages of a new building can provide the data necessary to gain essential funding.
Working with your internal and external stakeholders, an architect can guide you through the process from the initial identification of deficiencies in your existing facility through the successful completion of your new, renovated or replacement facility.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Crystal Henry is a senior associate with FGM Architects based in Reston, Virginia. She has worked in the public safety design practice area for nearly 20 years. Henry has spent countless hours researching studies and other scientific data related to how architectural design of fire stations can support cancer reduction and improved mental and behavioral health. Additionally, she has worked with departments across the country to provide justification for the department’s needs as well as spearheading community relations campaigns to educate jurisdictions on current industry standards and how to bring facilities into compliance.
