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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMitchell Association talking points 05 22 2008_201401281128505731 MITCHELL ASSOCIATES A RCHITECTS • E MERGENCY S ERVICES F ACILITIES• 29 Thacher Park Road Voorheesville, NY 12186 (518) 765-4571 fax 765-2950 E-mail: Bob@Mitchell-Architects.com Web Site: Mitchell-Architects.com May 22, 2008 Some Nantucket Fire Station Talking Points Highlights of Existing Problems  The apparatus bay is too small. It cannot safely house the current apparatus.  The tight space and poor layout of the apparatus bay mean that it is harder to quickly and efficiently get the firefighting apparatus back into service after a fire call.  There are no adequate storage rooms for turnout gear, supplies, hose, equipment or contaminated items. Currently, equipment is stored under the rafters of the attic, in the hose tower, the mechanical room and on the floor of the apparatus bay.  Storing materials in the hose drying tower makes it hazardous to hoist & hang hose.  The overfilled and cluttered apparatus bay results in a trip and slip hazards.  There is no proper decontamination or laundry facility. The station does not meet mandated requirements for handling blood borne pathogens.  The secure records storage rooms are too small and do not meet mandated requirements.  None of the bathrooms comply with codes or ADA.  The building violates current local, state and federal code regulations and does not provide for safe exiting or accessibility for the handicapped.  The current kitchen violates fire and health codes.  Cardiac arrest causes 54% of all firefighter deaths. The firehouse lacks a modern cardiac training room. The exercise equipment is on the apparatus bay floor between the fire trucks.  Environmental/Health problems.  There is no a sprinkler system  There is no proper security system  The plan review officer is located on the 2nd floor, which is not handicapped accessible.  There is no EMS office.  The existing station is energy in-efficient. Highlights of Proposed Solutions  The apparatus bay is sized to meet current and future equipment needs, with adequate room to maintain and train on the apparatus.  The Fire Department makes 4,600 calls per year, 3,200 of which are emergency response. Every feature of the apparatus bay is configured to enhance response time; apparatus turn around time as well as firefighter training and safety.  The building makes a very serious commitment to facilitating ongoing training of the firefighters and EMT’s, including: o A proper classroom. o A training library adjacent the apparatus bay Some Nantucket Fire Station Talking Points, page 2 29 Thacher Park Road Voorheesville, NY 12186 (518) 765-4571 fax 765-2950 E-mail: Bob@Mitchell-Architects.com Web Site: Mitchell-Architects.com o A training/hose tower that allows ladder evolutions, hose evolutions, rappelling, emergency escape practice and confined space extrication practice. These exercises can mean the difference between life and death for residents and firefighters. o Ongoing physical exercise and strength training is essential to allow the responder to undertake the difficult exertion required to extricate a full sized resident trapped in a dangerous and difficult situation.  Issues of accessibility and gender equity are being addressed: o Accessibility will be provided throughout the administrative and bunking portions of the station to comply with current laws and best practices. o The bunking, toileting and administrative facilities allow for any mix of male and female personnel.  The building makes a commitment to personnel safety in the building: o A Decon/Laundry is provided with ANSI recommended direct exterior access, and NFPA 1500 mandated laundry equipment o Correctly functioning breathing air equipment is essential for firefighter safety. The SCBA compressor, fill station and mask maintenance rooms are configured to minimize the risk of harm to the personnel in the event of a rupture of a breathing air bottle or equipment failure. The layout minimizes the risk of hearing loss by isolating the compressor, and venting off and high pressures resulting from a rupture. In addition, a clean work area is provided for breathing mask maintenance. o The apparatus bay is laid out to minimize trip and slip hazards for the firefighters during rapid response. This includes having nothing on the floor except tires and feet, floor drains that collect & dispose of water beneath the apparatus out of foot traffic patterns, controlled floor traction and adequate, glare free lighting.  The Fire Department is responsible to maintain the fire alarm system on the island. Currently these materials are crammed into space in the Sconset fire station. The new facility will provide proper storage for pull stations, pedestals, wire and accessories. A workroom will allow for repair, sandblasting and repainting of the equipment.  The Fire Department is responsible to fill and maintain the Departments fire extinguishers. Additionally, they provide a convenient drop off location for residents for privately owned extinguishers that are to be taken off island for service. There is currently no space designated for this. And the extinguishers are part of the overflow of material that represents a trip hazard. The new facility will have a work room designated for this purpose. Additionally, an extinguisher filling device will be provided to minimize exposure of the workers to air born chemicals that result from the hand filling that is currently done.  The fire station currently has the capability of storing less than ½ of the quantity of firefighting foam that is needed. The new facility will have adequate space that is laid out to allow the 55 gallon drums to be handled with OSHA mandated procedures, rather than the current practice of rolling and wiggling them across the floor and into place for storage in the base of the hose tower.  A plan review office will be provided that is readily accessible where members of the public can meet with the department’s plan review officer.  EMS calls represent 60% of the emergency response of the Department. An EMS office is provided where paperwork can be processed confidentially in private.  An appropriate records storage room will be provided.  The new facility will be fully sprinklered, will have a modern security system and will be energy efficient.