Platinum House - fire service training centre and fire station

Platinum House has set a new standard in firefighter training. This state-of-the-art facility is equipped with cutting edge features that prepare firefighters to handle real life emergencies. The four story cold smoke training tower is designed with a variety of windows, crawl spaces, and concealed areas to simulate real-world scenarios.

The live fire training building is also set up to mimic actual fire incidents, allowing firefighters to gain the experience necessary to tackle real life emergencies. In addition, the centre includes a residential element for recruit training, an incident command training facility, a road traffic collision training area, and digital simulation rooms, making it a comprehensive solution for all firefighter training needs. The centre also has commercial viability if the facilities are used by other boroughs.

The fire station is equipped with the latest technology, amenities and it has been designed with inclusion in mind. This is to provide a comfortable and safe environment for the firefighters who will be ensuring the safety of West Sussex residents.

First of its kind

The scheme was procured using the SCF framework and the live fire training building is the first of its kind in the UK. Owing to the unique design, there was no existing test data available to confirm the fire's interaction with the building structure. To ensure the success of this project, Wilmott Dixon conducted extensive performance testing on the thermal tiles used in its construction. Our tests confirmed that these tiles can withstand even the most extreme burn environments.

During the project, West Sussex County Council and West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service decided to name the new building ‘Platinum House’ in honour of the late Queen’s 70-year reign.

Training, operational and living hub

Key features include a combined training tower and breathing apparatus facility, and a realistic live fire training area.  The high-tech premises includes a residential element for new recruit training, an incident command training facility, realistic road traffic collision training area and rooms for digital simulations.

Sustainability is at the heart of the project, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy sources such as solar panels (above) and air source heat pumps to provide heating, as well as electric vehicle charging points, in-line with the county council’s drive to become carbon neutral by 2030.

West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, Duncan Crow, says:

“This development represents a significant investment in our fire and rescue service that will allow our firefighters the very best in training facilities. This benefits not only our firefighters, but also the safety of West Sussex residents.”