Kent Urban Search and Rescue

  • RBA Client:Clague Architects
  • Architect:Clague Architects
  • Project Value:£1.4 million
  • Start Date:July 2007
  • Completion Date:February 2010

Kent Fire and Rescue Service is home to one of 21 urban search and rescue (USAR) teams in England.  USAR teams are trained to deal with major disasters such as collapsed buildings and major traffic collisions. RBA were appointed by the architect to assist with the design of a new highly specialised training centre.

The training of a USAR team includes concrete cutting, shoring of collapsed buildings and searching through rubble. As imagined, these activities generate very high noise levels and the acoustic brief was to provide a facility which allowed the USAR teams to train without restriction, whilst not disturbing nearby residents.

As part of our initial assessment, detailed discussions were held with the USAR's management team in order to understand their requirements.  As such we were able to source noise measurements associated with the training in a practical yet accurate manner. Some were taken from our RBA Noise Level Database however for the more unique training elements it was essential to to undertake specific noise measurement by joining the team on one of their training exercises. Long term noise monitoring was also undertaken at the proposed site in order to determine the existing local noise levels.

After careful analysis of the assessments and data collected was used by the RBA team to advise the architect on all external and building design in order to achieve the project criteria.

The facility was opened in 2010 by the Chairman of the Kent & Medway Fire & Rescue Authority.  We are extremely proud to have been given the opportunity to work with the extraordinary members of the USAR team on this project.

Photos courtesy of Clague Architects