Meldrum Civil Engineering were appointed main contractor on this modular training facility (a UK first) based in Barmston, Washington for Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade’s Urban Search and Rescue.

The mock disaster zone incorporates all the aspects of a building wreck to give firefighters the opportunity to train in a realistic environment, practicing for the rescue of casualties from a disaster zone. Based at the fire services headquarters, a network of pods were linked by 54 meters of concrete pipework and then covered in concrete rubble. To acquire the specialist material used for the rubble we visited demolition sites and specifically chose which parts to use.

Civil & Structural Engineering/ Fabrication works carried out include:-

• Design, fabrication and construction of pentagon and hexagon demountable pods
• Concrete pipes at 900 diameters constructed above ground and fitted to all five pods.
• Concrete to the appropriate section of all 5 pods
• Precast concrete slabs inserted into each pod, used as a sacrificial mock barrier for the fire service to break through during training, to be easily replaced.
• Creation of gabion stone baskets

This is a UK first, allowing our excellent Fire Fighters the opportunity to be even more prepared should disaster strike. Training facilities such as these are imperative – not only for the safety of the general public should disaster strike, but to ensure our Fire Fighters all return home safely having been afforded the opportunity to train and prepare for the unexpected.

htps://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/tyne-wear-fire-service-training-23038575

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/washington-firefighter-b2011147.html

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/tyne-and-wear-washington-b981607.html

http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2022-02-09/huge-washington-disaster-zone-is-uk-first-for-training-firefighters

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newslondon/firefighter-training-centre-mocks-up-collapsed-building-disaster-zone/ar-AATElEI