At WHP TrainingtowersTM we build the longest lasting fire training towers on the market. It all started back in 1980 when Bernie Padgett founded Werner-Herbison-Padgett, a large Chicago construction company. Mr. Padgett had a reputation for quality, integrity, and customer service. He soon saw a need for a fire training building that could withstand repetitive uses in a harsh environment and an array of climates. He introduced the FIRST ever metal fire training tower to the market.
In 1997, when retired fire chief William Jahnke purchased the company. He brought nearly three decades of firefighting knowledge and over 45 years of construction management experience with him. This specific combination of skills made him uniquely qualified to not just build fire training towers but to build fire training towers that met the specific needs of the fire service industry.
Over the years at WHP Trainingtowers™ we have made many improvements to the fire training towers revolutionizing the industry and dominating the market worldwide. Forty five years later, WHP TrainingtowersTM is known for designing and building training towers that excel in durability, flexibility, and longevity. These towers set the standard for the entire industry.
The Most Durable Fire Training Towers
WHP Trainingtowers™ stands apart in the industry due to our commitment to quality and durability. From the materials used to the engineering techniques employed, every aspect of our towers is designed to withstand the test of time. Some standout features include:
Secondary Framing System: We start with a dual frame. Our dual-frame towers are built on a fully galvanized structural steel frame reinforced with a secondary framing system of 12-gauge steel columns. Our towers are capable of meeting the most stringent wind load and seismic requirements in the country. We are the only company in the world able to offer customized structures of this quality to the industry.
Corrugated Cladding: The structural panels that cover our towers feature deep corrugations embedded with smaller ones, resulting in an 18-gauge panel that is much stronger than standard commercial metal buildings. This added strength enhances laddering and rappelling operations and creates open spaces for diverse training scenarios.
Hot-Dipped Galvanized Steel: Unlike panels sprayed with galvanizing material, WHP Trainingtowers’™ panels are hot-dipped into a galvanizing bath, ensuring complete bonding and superior resistance to rust and corrosion. These structures adhere to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) A123 standards, guaranteeing over 50 years of durability before requiring maintenance.
Protection from Fire
An essential component of any fire training facility is the burn room, where firefighters can practice real-life scenarios and hone their skills. A burn room is only as effective as the insulating material selected to protect the structure.
Padgenite
Werner-Herbison-Padgett (the company our founder, Bill Jahnke bought in 1997 and renamed WHP Trainingtowers™) introduced the first high-temperature, thermal insulating burn room panels specifically made for fire training. These burn panels are one inch thick and made from calcium silicate which provides the optimum blend of durability and heat resistance. Because these panels produce a controlled fire, they enable firefighters to experience the heat, smoke, and challenges of an actual fire without the associated risks.
Over the years we have made improvements to the original Padgenite panels. The latest was in 2020 when we introduced our Padgenite Interlock™ System. Now our Padgenite™ burn panels fit in a grid system. With its built-in air space, this newest system offers even better insulation, protecting the tower from the intense heat of repetitive fires. It insulates so effectively that you can touch the outside metal of a WHP Trainingtowers™ building while burning with no discomfort.
Protection from Water
Our training towers must withstand the normal abuse any building takes from the elements, but besides what Mother Nature throws at it, it is also constantly exposed to water during training sessions. A long-lasting fire training tower requires superior protection from water. We combat this in two different ways.
Corrosion Resistance
Our panels, steel railings, stairs, and ladders undergo a hot-dipped galvanization process, providing a protective coating of zinc that prevents premature rust and corrosion. WHP Trainingtowers™ galvanized steel structures exceed the strict standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), boasting an impressive 50-year mark on the “time to first maintenance” (TFM) chart. Even our rappelling anchors are upgraded to forged, hot-dipped galvanized swivel-style anchors for enhanced durability and safety.
Internal Sealing
Our fire training tower building process begins with the erection of the internal framework of structural cees and floor joists. Structural panels are attached to the structural cees and joined together with 3/8″ diameter bolts (each able to support 1,400 pounds) at 6″ intervals. Seams are sealed with top quality elastomeric strip caulking, making the building weathertight, and virtually light-tight. No other training tower provider routinely seals each and every seam.
Design Innovation
Obviously, our fire towers are superior when it comes to strength and durability. But that’s not how you revolutionize an industry. Innovation is where WHP TrainingtowersTM really shines. Over the last four and a half decades, our engineers have constantly looked for ways to improve strength, durability, flexibility, and safety. They talk to firefighters in the field to find out what they need, where problems or challenges lie, and how we can fill those needs. That’s how we created our MODx modular fire training tower.
Flexible Design for Future Growth
Our MODxTM modular tower was designed with an eye for the future. Unlike other fire training structures or containers, MODxTM is a pre-engineered modular system. The fully galvanized structural steel frame allows for open floor plans without any interior structural walls. 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, this flexibility means that the MODx™ can be easily expanded in the future to keep up with growing communities, changing technology, and evolving firefighter challenges.
2025 Celebrating 45 Years of Innovation in Fire Training Towers
Innovation is the secret to our success. Instead of sticking with the industry norms like concrete training towers, static designs, and existing challenges, we strive to predict what will be needed next and meet and exceed that need. Here is a highlight reel of the innovations that have kept us at the forefront of our industry for over four decades:
1980 Werner-Herbison-Padgett Founded
Bernie Padgett founded Werner-Herbison-Padgett, and introduced the FIRST ever metal fire training tower to the market.
1980 Introduced First High-Temperature Burn Room Panels
Werner-Herbison-Padgett introduced the FIRST high-temperature, thermal insulating burn room panels, specifically for fire training.
1997 Fire Chief William Jahnke (Ret.) purchased Werner-Herbison-Padgett
He relocated the company to Overland Park, KS, and renamed it WHP Trainingtowers™ in honor of the founding fathers.
1998 WHP Trainingtowers™ Sets Industry Standards in Quality
Our exclusive two-part framing system, 18-gauge steel, fully galvanized stairs and railings, and custom-designed buildings made our towers the best in the industry.
2002 Padgenite Super HD™
Our unique proprietary Padgenite Super HD™ thermal lining system is the highest density board offered on the market, making it the most durable and quality consistent burn room panel offered in a thermal lining system to date.
2002 Introduced Concrete Floors
Introduced concrete floors throughout the entire structure for increased durability and longevity.
2004 Upgraded Shutters
Redesigned shutters doubling the thickness of the steel and adding a hardware package operable from both inside and out.
2004 Hot-Dipped Galvanized Steel Standard
We made hot-dipped galvanized standards on all stairs, railings, ladders, and other fabricated components lowering maintenance and increasing longevity.
2006 Upgraded Rappelling Anchors
Upgraded rappelling anchors to forged hot-dipped galvanized swivel-style anchors for increased safety and capacity.
2007 Made Maze System Trackless
Upgraded maze system to function without ceiling tracks increasing the usable maze area to the entire structure allowing for flexible training scenarios.
2009 Designed Hazmat Training Facility
WHP Trainingtowers™ designed the first fully integrated hazmat (hazardous materials) training facility for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. WHP Trainingtowers™ manufactures over a dozen hazmat props for realistic training.
2016 Introduced MODx™ Towers
WHP Trainingtowers™ introduced the MODx™ training tower to the public at FDIC. Unlike fire training containers, the fully galvanized structural steel frame allows for open floor plans without any interior columns or beams. The walls are independent of the unit, allowing all walls, doors, and windows to be easily moved, removed, or reconfigured.
2016 Upgraded to Steel Plate Doors
Upgraded hollow metal doors to plate steel doors and continuous hinges increasing the durability and reducing maintenance.
2017 Waterproof Concrete Floors
Introduced permanent waterproofing components to concrete floor decks reducing maintenance and increasing the structure’s lifespan.
2020 Celebrated 40 Years in Business
At WHP Trainingtowers™, we are proud of four decades of enhancing firefighter training and safety. From quote to completion, we make it as easy as possible for fire departments around the world to provide realistic training for their firefighters.
2020 Introduced Padgenite Interlock™ System
Padgenite Interlock™ panels are attached to metal mounting channels which allow for an additional insulating air space between the panels and the walls of the building increasing the longevity of our buildings.
2020 Hazmat Instructor Series™ Trailer
The Hazmat Instructor Series™ Training Trailer comes plumbed and wired for all props (1-ton chlorine cylinder, leaking drum, reacting drum, leaking tank, falling cylinders with rack, sprinkler system, leaking training tree, and smoke machine) and includes our wireless portable control system that controls all of the props in the trailer.
As you can see, ours has been a journey of continuous improvement and innovation. Each tower we construct is a testament to our relentless pursuit of quality. “We simply never rest. We are constantly looking for ways to improve our products either by making them more durable, more practical, more affordable, or safer,” said Joe Kirchner, COO.
The Test of Time
Every new fire training tower starts out looking great, but its true value is revealed over time. WHP Trainingtowers™ are built to last a lifetime—and they do. Our first fire training tower, constructed in 1980 in Kotzebue, Alaska, is still in active use today, 45 years later! WHP Trainingtowers™ is more than a provider of fire training structures; we are a partner in firefighter preparedness. By combining cutting-edge engineering, firefighter expertise, and a commitment to quality, WHP Trainingtowers™ delivers training environments that empower first responders to be prepared for anything.
At WHP TrainingtowersTM we design our towers to last a lifetime. By refusing to cut corners or compromise on quality, we ensure that our towers offer the lowest life cycle cost and the greatest longevity, providing fire departments with the best value in fire training towers. Don’t let your money go up in smoke. When it comes to quality and durability, demand the best. Demand WHP TrainingtowersTM. To learn more, call 1-800-351-2525 or contact us online.
