Firefighters must be prepared for many life-threatening scenarios. That’s why training is critical. At WHP Trainingtowers™, we are leading the industry in hazmat training for firefighters. We understand that when it comes to firefighting, saving lives applies to victims of fire as well as the firefighters who risk their own lives to do their jobs. We build the best fire training towers in the business, but we don’t stop there. We also build hazmat props and facilities that prepare firefighters for every kind of fire emergency they may encounter.
Hazardous Materials Training Saves Lives
As the role of first responders evolved, the need for specialized training became increasingly important. Hazmat incidents present unique challenges that require a combination of knowledge, skill, and hands-on experience. We realized that there was a need for this specialized training, so our engineers got to work creating hazmat props designed to recreate specific situations that firefighters might face.
Hazmat Props Provide Realistic Training Scenarios
Our Hazmat Instructor Series is a collection of props designed to create realistic situations by utilizing air compressors to simulate smoke, liquid spills, gas leaks, falling cylinders, exploding drums, and more. Firefighters can choose from almost a dozen different hazmat props:
- Bulk Drum Storage: These static props provide realism in the working environment. Drums can be labeled to represent the full range of hazardous substances.
- Bulk Processing Tank: These industrial processing tanks for caustic or acid materials simulate an uncontrolled reaction causing fume clouds, spillage, and violent boil-overs. The instructor can initiate single or multiple leaks in the tank through a remote control.
- Bulk Storage Tank: These tanks simulate control system failure resulting in tank overfill and leak situations. Situations can be mitigated by valving, leak containment, and/or control system operation.
- Chlorine Cylinder: Full-size chlorine cylinders give the trainee the challenge of dealing with a “real” cylinder, allowing them to practice on valving, piping, and manifolds, which are all capable of leaking.
- Compressed Gas Cylinder Explosion: Exposure to fire and over-pressurization creates “explosions” that present challenges to first responders.
- Compressed Gas Manifold: This six-bottle manifold has a leaking bottle connection, manifold valve, or regulator simulated in vapor cloud or colorless gas (selected by instructor).
- Drum and Bottle Storage: This combination of compressed gas cylinders and chemical drum storage area presents various scenarios for responders to mitigate.
- Exploding Drum: Reaction within a drum causes vibration, leaking, and a rupture which causes the drum to fail and explode.
- Falling Cylinder: Rack failure creates a realistic scenario where falling cylinders result in an uncontrolled release of product from the failed cylinder and manifold.
- Flammable Spill Fire: This prop simulates a liquid spill from drums which finds an ignition source and results in a running spill fire.
- Leaking Pipes: These pipes leak from flanges, valves, and seam failures. Damaged pipes are in actual pipe racks for realistic exercises.
Custom Training Scenarios Keep Firefighter Training Fresh & Effective
A computerized control system allows instructors to change the exercises each time so the trainees don’t know what to expect. A central control room features two 42” touchscreen control panels, remote camera monitors to observe exercises, and a full sound system specific to props to create the most realistic scenarios. A computerized simulator located in a mechanical control area is capable of integrating sound, smell, visual, and tactile effects, to immerse the trainees in the most realistic experience possible.
Hazmat Instructor Series Package™
These hazmat props are packaged to provide customized training allowing firefighters and departments to choose the most appropriate scenarios to train on. Our grant-eligible Hazmat Instructor Series Package™ includes five portable hazmat training props and a hand-held control panel. Additional training props are available as well. We can provide a single prop or an entire hazmat city, depending on the needs of the department or district.
