Technical platform for relief workers

Fire brigade training facility

Flooding in urban areas has become an increasingly frequent phenomenon. It is characterised by :

  • High flow-velocity rates,
  • A cluttered urban environment,
  • Pitfalls to be avoided.

However, training on artificial rivers does not reproduce the specific characteristics of an urban environment and is therefore unsuitable. In response to this situation, we have created a modular technical platform that is specially designed for this type of intervention.

Modular technical platform

This technical platform is used to train firemen and other relief workers to move about safely and assist people in difficulty.

To fulfil its role, the platform has to reproduce the type of risks inherent to a water course, such as: sharp river bends, rappelling, logjams, siphons and/or the absence of a riverbank.

Like training held in a burning house, the technical platform can reproduce the most delicate situations while ensuring the training course remains safe, including :

  • Several road crossings (with street furniture, pavements, etc.),
  • Realistic flow velocity rates (gradients of 1% to 4%),
  • A modular course,
  • Use of water in a closed system.

The technical platform is easy to adjust to increase the number of scenarios and simulations. It is therefore important to ensure the modules are easy to handle and can be lifted and carried by one or two people.

Composition

The technical platform comprises :

  • Pumping station: 8 m3/sec
  • River structure with a 30 x 30 m pool
  • Head drop of up to 2,50 m
  • Urban obstacles
  • Drainage hatch and other safety devices

There is a ‘Fire and Ambulance Services Academy’ technical platform in Hong Kong. It is equipped with our mobile obstacles, Omniflots®. Millau stadium is also used by the fire brigade for torrent rescue exercises.

Technical sheet
A modular training platform

A modular training platform

This training platform enables firefighters and other rescue workers to learn how to move safely and assist people in difficulty. 

For this purpose, the training platform must reproduce the types of risks inherent in a watercourse, such as: deflection currents, recirculation zones, strainers, siphons and/or the absence of a bank.

Like the burning house, the training platform makes it possible to recreate the most delicate situations for safe training, with:

  • Several street intersections (with street furniture, pavements, etc.)
  • Realistic flow velocities (slopes of 1 to 4%)
  • A modular course
  • Use of water in a closed loop.

This training platform can easily be reconfigured to multiply scenarios and practical exercises. To achieve this, particular attention should be paid to ensuring that the modules are easy to handle, with a weight allowing them to be moved by one or two people.

An flood training platform can be found at the Epinal whitewater stadium, as well as at the “Fire and Ambulance Services Academy” in Hong Kong. It is equipped with our Omniflots® mobile obstacles. The Millau basin is also used by firefighters for torrent rescue exercises.

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