UK company Morgan Sindall Construction has broken ground on the construction of the £10.7m ($13.6m) Real Fire Training Facility (RFTF) in Ashford, Kent, England.
The upcoming training complex will equip firefighters in Kent with a sophisticated, multilevel setting to hone their abilities in navigating high-rise emergencies.
Concurrently, the site’s existing structure will undergo renovations while maintaining its operational status.
Planned for development at the current fire station premises in Henwood, the facility is designed to replicate authentic fire and smoke conditions. This environment will serve as a practical platform for fire crews to gain critical hands-on experience.
The new training centre, spanning four floors, will be erected with a sturdy concrete skeleton complemented by a mix of blockwork and brick exterior.
The interior will house three carbonaceous burn rooms designated for live fire drills, offering a diverse array of training opportunities.
One level of the facility will be equipped for exercises involving synthetic smoke. Additionally, a dedicated section of the facility will focus on preparing personnel for rescues in tight spaces.
As sustainability is a priority for Kent Fire & Rescue Service (KFRS) and Morgan Sindall, measures such as an above-ground attenuation tank for water reuse and the installation of electric vehicle charging points will be put in place.
Morgan Sindall’s Intelligent Solutions approach and digital carbon reduction tool Carbonica have also been used to enhance the project’s sustainability metrics.
The construction will be carried out with minimal disruption to KFRS’s operations, with planning of construction activity and deliveries.
KFRS chief executive Ann Millington said: “We are looking forward to working with Morgan Sindall to develop a cutting-edge training facility at our fire station in Ashford, which will enhance the skill of our firefighters when they need to respond to complex fires.
“The new station will provide our crews with hyperrealistic exercises to ensure our crews are prepared and able to excel in an emergency.”
Last month, Morgan Sindall said it achieved the structural completion of the £30m Horizons Academy in Nottinghamshire, England.
