Cornell Commercial Rolling Doors and Security Grilles Blog
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Designing EMS & Fire Apparatus Bays to Reduce Turnout Times
In towns and cities across the nation, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and fire departments are feeling the pressure to improve response times. Your apparatus bay design will have a direct impact on whether or not first responders meet their emergency response time goals and National Fire Protection Association standards.
Apparatus Bays Are Much More Than a Garage
In fire and police stations, the apparatus storage bay is usually the largest part of the building. It’s where some of the biggest, most expensive vehicles and emergency equipment are stored and maintained. Ambulance bays are the front door for hospital patients and serve as a shared space for emergency department staff, facility operators, and EMS staff.
In every emergency services application, the apparatus bay’s mechanical systems, structural design, and architectural functionality should minimize risk and give first responders the best chance at success.
How High Speed Bay Doors Reduce Response Time
Technology plays a huge role in the safety and efficiency of first responders. Integrating a high-performance sectional door into your bay design can save emergency crews up to 14 seconds of turnout time. In fact, our Extreme™ Series Sectional Door features an average opening speed of 24” per second—three times faster opening than a traditional sectional door.
Extreme™ Series Sectional Doors open at an average speed of 24” per second – which means a 14’ tall door opens in just 7 seconds. Typical apparatus bay doors featuring a standard Logic 5.0™ only open at an average speed of 8’ per second, meaning the same 14’ tall door takes 21 seconds to open.
Beyond speed, if a bay door gets damaged by an apparatus operator or if the door system is inoperable, fire and EMS crews could have a slower turnout time. It’s recommended to replace traditional sectional panel doors with high-performance sectional doors for reliability and longevity.
View Our Extreme Series Sectional Door
Specifying Higher-Speed Steel Doors in Your Apparatus Bay Design
Building codes are evolving as local and state governments look to renovate or rebuild fire, emergency services, and volunteer rescue facilities. The International Building Code (IBC) lists fire and emergency vehicle bays as essential. In a nutshell, this means architectural elements that you specify in the apparatus bay need to withstand the elements and maintain peak performance.
Here are some quick Extreme Series Sectional Door highlights:
- Speed: 3X faster (24 inches per second to open).
- Extended Cycle Life: 5X times longer (50,000 cycles) on all models, with the ability to increase to 100k on certain sizes.
- Durability: A variable-speed operator, smart controller with floor commissioning, and advanced hardware and high-performance components decrease maintenance requirements and cost of ownership while increasing door life.
- Reliability: The LiftMaster® motor with myQ® technology and floor-mounted controllers reduce the risk of damage to property—decreasing maintenance requirements and installation costs.
- Control: With myQ® capabilities, the Extreme™ Series allows for more visibility & control over the opening via wireless monitoring, operation & diagnostics
Looking to spec our Extreme Series Sectional Door for your apparatus bay project? Visit our Architect Portal for easy and quick access to commercial overhead door resources and design support.
