Bandiana Fire Training Facility

Department of Defence | Vic

This unique facility is purpose design and built for the training of personnel in extinguishing fires resultant from the rupture of fuel tankers and gas tanks. The facility, design and constructed by APGC, consists of a large deck and smaller installations that can be ignited to simulate a large fuel fire. Supporting aspects for the training facility include extensive hardstands, a control tower for managing the training exercise, and a large water treatment facility for the management and re-use of water and liquids used in the extinguishing of the flames.

This facility was very unique in that they exist solely for the training of personnel in the extinguishing of fuel tanker fires. Essentially the system will create a large fire that appears to be rising from liquid on the ground. Few recent or modern examples exist of these facilities, and APGC worked with our specialised contractors to devise a vapour method of flame creation that offered much greater reliability and simplicity of use than traditional simulators. Ancillary to the simulator itself, a water treatment plant was designed and constructed to manage the water use of the facility for recycling and re-use of water used during training simulations.

Environmental site constraints included the management of contaminated soils and groundwater and the removal of nominated vegetation with offset planting totalling 2000 native trees. All works strictly adhered to the requirements of the Environmental Management Plan and Department of Defence Environment Clearance Certificate developed in collaboration with the Defence's Regional Environmental Officer and in accordance will all regulatory and statutory requirements.