At WHP Trainingtowers™ we build the best fire training towers in the world. But what exactly makes our training structures better than our competitors’ structures? It’s all in the design and construction. We’ve been building fire training structures for 45 years and in that time, we’ve combined our expertise in firefighting and construction to create fire towers specifically designed to last for decades. How do we do it? Through constant innovation and improvement. One of the best examples to showcase this dedication to fire training tower design is our MODx™ training towers. They exhibit so many design features that exemplify the best in the industry that Construction Tech Review Magazine called them “the Swiss Army Knife of Firefighting.”
What Sets Our MODx™ Training Towers Apart?
When it comes to fire training tower design, WHP stands out as a leader in strength, adaptability, and safety. Our cutting-edge designs prioritize firefighter preparedness and protection. Here’s what makes our MODx™ towers truly exceptional:
1. Durability
WHP Trainingtowers™ are engineered for longevity, designed to withstand the harshest conditions for decades. What makes them so resilient?
Dual-Frame Construction
Our fire training towers feature a fully galvanized structural steel frame, reinforced with a secondary 12-gauge steel column framework. This advanced design meets the most rigorous wind and seismic regulations in the country. WHP is the only company worldwide offering this level of structural integrity, with our fire training buildings proving their strength through hurricanes in Florida, typhoons in Guam, and tornadoes in North Dakota—standing firm through it all.
Reinforced Corrugated Cladding
Our burn buildings are built with more than just durability in mind—they’re designed for maximum strength. The structural frame is clad with 4.5-inch deep corrugated steel panels that feature additional smaller corrugations for reinforcement. This thick steel cladding surpasses standard materials in durability, delivering the same load-bearing capacity as a steel girder of equivalent length and weight. The innovative structure allows for large open spaces without interior supports, making it ideal for a wide range of training exercises, including confined space drills, rappelling, and ship’s ladder training.
Superior Corrosion Protection
For a fire training tower to stand the test of time, it must resist corrosion. WHP ensures this by hot-dip galvanizing our panels, railings, stairs, and ladders, forming a protective bond against rust. This process is crucial in fire training environments where exposure to water is frequent. Our galvanized steel components surpass ASTM’s stringent standards, offering an impressive 50-year rating on the “time to first maintenance” (TFM) scale. Even our rappelling anchors are built for longevity, featuring forged, hot-dip galvanized swivel-style anchors for enhanced safety and durability.
Our MODx™ training towers have a life expectancy that outlasts any other comparable product on the market today.
2. Flexibility
The uniqueness of our MODx™ modular tower is its flexibility. Unlike other fire training structures or containers, the fully galvanized structural steel frame allows for open floor plans without any interior structural walls. Walls are independent from the structural system and are not required for support of the floors. MODx™ is a pre-engineered modular system. Because the walls are independent of the unit, all walls, doors, and windows can be easily moved, removed, or reconfigured. This allows for a wider variety of training exercises within the system. Plus reconfiguring is easy because walls, doors, and window shutters all have the same modular footprint and are interchangeable utilizing a simple 4-bolt pattern.
3. Innovation
Patented Padgenite™ Panels
We have been at the forefront of burn panel technology since we started in 1980 when Werner-Herbison-Padgett introduced the first high temperature, thermal insulating burn room panels specifically made for fire training. The Padgenite I™ panels – a calcium-silicate based thermal lining system, provided superior durability and thermal protection. Then we improved upon that with Padgenite Super HD™ in 2002. Today, we use our newest, patented Padgenite Interlock™ system which combines more durable tiles that are less dense (lower thermal transfer) with a grid system that offers a flexible air gap of 1.5 to 3 inches which protects the walls and ceiling behind the grid by dissipating the intense heat of a fire.
The Padgenite™Interlocking System
Padgenite™ insulating panels are attached to metal mounting channels which allow for an additional insulating air space between the panels and the walls of the building. The insulation properties of the panels work so well that if the temperature on the face of the Padgenite Super HD™ panel is 1000° F, the temperature on the opposite side is only 269° F. When burning in one of our metal buildings, the Padgenite Super HD™, coupled with the air space, insulates so effectively that you can touch the outside of the building.
4. Speed
Immersing ourselves in every aspect of the industry has allowed WHP to develop a turnkey operation. We sell the product, design it, fabricate it, deliver it, and install it. Not only can we custom design a fire training tower quickly and efficiently, we have relationships with material suppliers that keep the whole process running smoothly to ensure a fast turnaround time.
5. Adaptability
Our training structures are designed for multiple training uses (firefighters, police officers, SWAT, etc.) making it an ideal grant-eligible solution for municipalities. The design flexibility makes the MODx™ training towers ideal for a variety of tactical training scenarios including:
1. Situational Awareness
2. Cover and Concealment
3. Firearms Proficiency
4. Close Quarters Combat (CQC)
5. Tactical Movement
6. Team Coordination
7. Defensive Tactics
8. Weapon Retention
9. Hostage Rescue
10. Room Clearing
11. Communication Protocols
12. Survival Skills
13. First Aid/Trauma Care
14. Scenario-Based Training
15. Stress Inoculation
16. Decision Making Under Pressure
17. Evacuation Procedures
18. Counter-Surveillance
19. Force-on-Force Training
20. Operational Planning
Additionally, MODx™ training towers can serve as joint-use facilities for police, military, and federal agencies, further broadening the scope and effectiveness of training programs. The more use a city can get out of a training structure, the more value they get from it.
Remarkably Architected Fire Training Towers
It’s no wonder Construction Tech Review Magazine said our MODx™ training towers were “remarkably architected.” Our goal is to offer departments and municipalities the most durable, adaptable, and affordable training solution on the market.
At WHP Trainingtowers™, we design our towers to last a lifetime. When it comes to quality, durability, and flexibility, you can’t beat the MODx™ training tower. To learn more about WHP Trainingtowers™, call 1-800-351-2525 or contact us online.
