This is the third in a series of columns about apparatus bays. Previously topics included floors and bay doors.
This month’s column will focus on other issues and considerations related to bays - especially the items stored, or kept, in bays that probably should not be there.
Because bays are the largest inside space of a station, they become home for lots of things. Rarely does a station have enough storage space, and the bay area becomes the accumulator of all things that that won’t go elsewhere. Granted, many stations were built decades ago when the station inventory contained considerably less than today. Many older metro fire department stations were built during the horse-drawn apparatus days or when apparatus were about half as wide and half as tall as they are today. In those situations, departments are limited in how they handle storage.
Ice Machines, Turnout Gear, and Breathing Air Compressors
There are items often stored on apparatus bays that should be stored elsewhere. Critical to firefighter health are ice machines, turnout gear, and breathing air.
Even with diesel exhaust capture systems coupled with other ventilation systems, there are carcinogens and other gases emitted into the bay from equipment. For this reason, ice makers should never be stored in the bay. There have been cases where an ice machine fails because of power outages or mechanical reasons, and all the ice melts. Because of the contaminated bay area, oil slicks have been found on the water from the melted ice. That’s not good. Space has to be made available elsewhere in the station for ice machines. If your station has an ice machine in the bay, look for accumulated soot on the machine, especially where it might not get regular cleaning.
Turnout gear has historically been stored along the walls of apparatus bays. It was a natural place, convenient to the apparatus, and out of the living and sleeping areas. However, we now know of three very valid reasons to store turnout gear off the bay floor:
- UV degradation.
- Exposure to contaminants in the bay from contaminated equipment off gassing and residual diesel exhaust not collected from removal systems.
- Proper ventilation.
Turnout gear should be stored in a separate dedicated room located just off the bay. The room should remain dark except when occupied by a firefighter to prevent UV degradation from sunlight and artificial light. Motion-sensor lights are an ideal application for this environment. And, the room should have its own dedicated ventilation system to remove off gases and aid in keeping PPE dry.
Breathing air compressors should not be on apparatus bay floors for the same reasons listed above. Their filtration systems should not have to filter contaminants that can be avoided altogether.
New Stations and Station Expansion
Many readers might wonder what they can do about this unless they are building a new station. By all means, these factors should be considered in the design of a new station. However, as service demands grow and firefighter health and safety concerns are better understood, all departments should have a plan to expand their stations if enough land is available. When talking expansion to older stations, consider adding fitness rooms and decontamination rooms.
Other Safety and Health Tidbits
There are other small and affordable items to consider that relate to apparatus bays. Think about the doors leading to and from the bay. Is there at least a small window so people walking in opposite direct