Fire Station Planning and Architectural Design
The Apparatus Bay. It’s typically the largest single component of any Fire Station. It’s typically the focal point of any Fire Station. Despite these facts, the Apparatus Bay often times doesn’t get its fair share of planning and discussion prior to being constructed. Why? Maybe the basic concept of a high bay, drive-thru garage is pretty simple. Or maybe the focus is more on the equipment and less on the people. Whatever the reasons, a carefully planned Apparatus Bay is the key to any successful Fire Station design. It’s ability to accommodate equipment and people and it’s tie-in with the other components of a Station will make or break the design solution. The following outline can be used as a basic guide to the architectural design considerations for an Apparatus Bay.
Fire Apparatus
Make a list of the number and size of vehicles the Apparatus Bay is being designed for, including future plans. Differences in community needs, standards and even terminology make it necessary to really understand the different vehicles (engines, ambulances, ladder trucks, heavy rescue) being planned for. Include staffing levels, crew assignments and use descriptions as part of the vehicle list. The most frequently used vehicles should generally be placed closest to the living quarters.
The actual planning for an Apparatus Bay should include many other items that are not listed but this outline can be used as a starting point in the planning of an Apparatus Bay and a Fire Station. Careful planning is the key to any successful Fire Station design and although an Apparatus Bay can be better than the rest of a Fire Station, a Fire Station can never be better than its Apparatus Bay.