Dräger Engineers Smoke Extraction Solution for Vast New Kent Fire Training Facility

Dräger, an international leader in the fields of medical and safety technology, has designed a custom-built smoke extraction system for Kent Fire and Rescue’s (KFRS) new five-storey, live training facility, helping to ensure the service can deliver realistic training while minimising the polluting impact on the environment.

The Ashford-based training facility is replacing the 30-year-old Live Fire Training building which was nearing the end of its operational life. The redevelopment at Ashford includes a live fire training building that accommodates lessons, including scenarios developed from the challenges faced by firefighters during the 2017 Grenfell tragedy, and other ‘tall building’ fire incidents. The facility will open in 2026.

The design features three burn floors, with eight carbonaceous burn rooms, and a further two floors dedicated to training using synthetic smoke. The various internal layouts provide commercial, residential and industrial settings, offering a variety of training scenarios.

Dräger’s unique design comprises a specialist extraction system that collects and filters smoke from the building and then emits cleaned air into the atmosphere via a chimney. In the event of an emergency during training, fire personnel can activate the emergency system which then extracts at a rate which will provide total visibility within 90 seconds, enabling a timely intervention or extrication.

The system provides a vital function in supporting the health of firefighters, other KFRS employees on site and those in the immediate vicinity during training. It will also support KFRS in its commitment to provide a betterment, and helping to meet its target of carbon neutrality by 2030.

Dräger has also collaborated with KFRS in designing bespoke fire cribs that house materials for live burns, and which have been adapted to suit the size and requirements of the new facility.

Jon Quinn, Director of Protection, Prevention and Customer Engagement at KFRS said:

“This new training facility represents a major step forward for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, and the Dräger-designed smoke extraction system is a fundamental part of that. This is about preparing for the most complex emergencies, in a cutting-edge environment that reflects the modern challenges of firefighting. Crucially, this will allow us to create realistic fire scenarios while also significantly reducing the environmental impact, in-turn protecting the health of our crews and our communities.”

Liz Millward, Marketing Manager, Emergency and Rescue Services at Dräger Safety UK, says it is a vast facility that required specific engineering expertise:

“We’re excited to be involved in such an important, ambitious project in the county of Kent. This project will deliver a multi-functional facility offering a vast array of training exercises that will enhance the training of firefighters and support their safety out in the field.

“At Dräger, we pride ourselves on designing technology for life, and are committed to protecting, supporting, and saving lives through our designs.”

FIRE Magazine

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