Fire Station Space requirements and Design Standards

A modern fire station typically includes apparatus bays for vehicles, sleeping quarters,
residential areas, recreational facilities, and training areas, along with spaces for
communication, storage, and public access.
Essential Spaces:
• Apparatus Bays: These are the garages where fire trucks and other
emergency vehicles are housed.
• Sleeping Quarters: Firefighters need private and comfortable sleeping areas,
often with individual rooms.
• Residential Areas: These include kitchens, dining areas, and living spaces for
firefighters to relax and eat.
• Recreational Facilities: Gyms, game rooms, and other recreational spaces
help firefighters stay active and maintain their well-being.
• Training Facilities: Fire stations often have training areas for practicing
firefighting skills and using equipment.
• Alarm Communication Center: This is the control room where dispatchers
receive calls and coordinate emergency responses.
• Locker Rooms: These are spaces for firefighters to change into and out of
their gear.
• Administration: This includes offices for station command and administrative
staff.
• Storage Areas: Fire stations need ample storage for equipment, including fire
extinguishers, hoses, and PPE.
• Decontamination Areas: These are designated areas for firefighters to clean
and decontaminate their gear after responding to incidents.
• Engine House: The main area where fire engines and other vehicles are
housed.
• Reception Area: The fire station's entrance area that is open to the public.
• Meeting Room: A space for meetings and training sessions.
• Fire Prevention Education Officer's Office: A space for fire prevention
education and outreach.
• Fire Extinguisher Inspection Room: This room is for inspecting and
maintaining fire extinguishers.
• Clean-Up Room: A space for cleaning and storing equipment.
• PPE Gear Storage Room: A dedicated area for storing personal protective
equipment.
Fire Station Circulation
In fire station design, circulation refers to the efficient movement of personnel and
apparatus, prioritizing rapid response and safety. This includes site layout, apparatus
bay design, and internal pathways, all crucial for quick deployment and safe
operations.
1. Site Circulation and Access:
• Rapid Response: The site layout should facilitate quick access to the
roadways, ensuring that fire apparatus can respond efficiently to emergencies.
• Drive-Through Capability: Consider a full drive-through station layout,
allowing apparatus to enter and exit without needing to back up or maneuver in
tight spaces.
• Safe Egress: Ensure that the route from the front apron (where apparatus are
parked) to the road is safe and controlled, with good visibility and minimal
obstructions.
• Utility Access: Ensure utilities are within a reasonable distance and that the
site is large enough to accommodate all necessary infrastructure.
• Environmental Considerations: Address potential environmental impacts
early on, such as avoiding waterways and sensitive habitats.
2. Apparatus Bay Circulation:
• Apparatus Layout: The layout of the apparatus within the bay should facilitate
efficient deployment, including first-out vehicle placement, drive-through
capabilities, and stacking of vehicles in support bays.
• Decontamination and Turnout: Place the decontamination room, turnout
cleaning, and turnout storage in a linear pattern on the way to the apparatus
bay to support the process of decontamination and turnout cleaning before
entering the bay.
• Exhaust Extraction: Vehicle exhaust extraction methods should be a primary
consideration and decided early on.
• Positive-Pressure Vestibule: Consider a positive-pressure vestibule airlock
with two doors to prevent airflow from the apparatus bay to the fire station
house.
3. Internal Circulation:
• Direct Connections: Ensure direct connections between the office, waiting
room, and the central parking space to facilitate rapid response.
• Fireman's Pole: While traditional, consider the safety implications of fireman's
poles and explore alternatives like staircases or chutes.
• Clear Pathways: Design clear and unobstructed pathways for personnel
movement, including corridors, stairwells, and access to various areas.
• Hose Storage and Drying: Layout should permit free air circulation around the
hoses.
• Maintenance and Storage: Design efficient circulation for vehicle maintenance
and storage of equipment and supplies.
• Gender-Inclusive Design: Consider gender-inclusive design for sleeping
quarters, bathrooms, and other areas to create a more welcoming and inclusive
environment for all firefighters.
Police Station Space requirements and Design Standards
A typical police station in San Dionisio, Metro Manila, like most, would include spaces
for public interaction, officer work areas, holding cells, evidence storage, and
potentially a control room or community rooms.
Public Interaction & Administration:
• Lobby/Reception: A space for the public to enter, report crimes, and inquire
about services.
• Public Counter: A designated area where officers can interact with the public,
handle inquiries, and process reports.
• Waiting Area: A space for people to wait while they are being processed or
have an appointment.
• Community Room: A space for police officers and community members to
interact, share concerns, and collaborate on solutions.
• Office Space: Dedicated areas for officers, detectives, and administrative staff
to work.
• Interview Rooms: Rooms for interviewing detainees and non-detained visitors.
Operational & Security Spaces:
• Control Room: A central hub for monitoring police activities, receiving calls,
and dispatching officers.
• Holding Cells: Secure cells for detainees.
• Evidence Room: A secure space for storing evidence and seized property.
• Lockers and Storerooms: Spaces for storing equipment, uniforms, and other
supplies.
• Training Room: A space for police officers to receive training and professional
development.
• Emergency Operations Center (EOC): A space for coordinating responses to
emergencies.
Other Potential Spaces:
• Fitness Center: A space for police officers to maintain their physical fitness.
• Juvenile Processing Area: A separate area for processing juvenile offenders.
• Fusion Center: A 24/7 space where officers and NGO staff collaborate on
community issues.
Police Station Circulation
In the context of a police station, "circulation" refers to the movement of people and
evidence within the facility, with specific areas and pathways designed for security and
efficiency.
• Public and Restricted Areas: Police stations have distinct areas for public
access (e.g., reception, reporting desk) and restricted areas for police
operations (e.g., evidence storage, investigation rooms).
• Evidence Handling: Secure circulation pathways are crucial for the handling
of evidence, ensuring a chain of custody from collection to storage.
• Patrol Officer Access: Officers returning from patrol should have access to
the evidence deposit room via restricted circulation, while access to the
evidence storage room should be from the criminal investigative areas only.
• Pass-through Lockers: A best practice for evidence transfer is a series of
pass-through lockers between the evidence deposit room and the evidence
storage room, allowing secure transfer of evidence.
• Security Measures: Security measures such as restricted access, security
personnel, and surveillance systems are essential for maintaining the integrity
of the circulation within the police station.
• Base Radio: A base radio, usually installed in police stations, is a radio
transceiver with an antenna installed outside the building to enable long-
distance transmissions and reception of radio signals.
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