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Challenges of Refurbishing an Existing Fire Station

Extension & Refurbishment Project at Antrim Fire Station, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service

Antrim Fire Station has been in continual use for firefighting since it opened in 1953. The original building was constructed in a subtle Art Deco style, but it was apparent at the beginning of the current project that a series of piecemeal alterations and extensions had taken their toll. In addition, increased demand on the facility had led to the addition of temporary mobile cabins on the site as welfare and gym facilities. It was clear that a major update was required.

The aim of the redevelopment was to maintain the main parts of the original historical building, but update and extend the structure with both additional accommodation and fabric improvements, to bring the whole facility up to current standards and operational needs. Furthermore, operational requirements during construction presented a further challenge – how to complete an extensive construction programme, while maintaining an active Fire Station on a small site.

A decant approach allowed the Station to remain operational but it introduced complexities that needed navigating between NIFRS, the Integrated Consultant Team (ICT) and Main Contractor. To facilitate the decant of the Fire Station, a mobile 2 storey block was provided on the forecourt, supplementing the existing cabin building which were moved to accommodate the contractor’s welfare and site office cabins. This provided welfare and offices for NIFRS, with NIFRS telecoms being relocated too. A phased drawing was produced to communicate NIFRS operations alongside construction sequencing it provided phases of when and where the Fire Appliances could remain in the appliance hall; particularly important in the colder months. It also indicated when demolition of the accommodation around the appliance hall itself. Producing this tied with the Construction Phased Plan as a statutory requirement under CDM (NI) 2016. The drawing communicated demolition phasing around the appliance hall.

Following completion of the demolition works, a new ‘wrap-around’ accommodation block was constructed, retaining the existing front walls where possible. The new wing provided significantly enhanced changing and welfare facilities, together with a gym, kitchen/recreation room, and small lecture room.

A subsequent phase involved the refurbishment of the appliance bay, which was completed within a compressed 3-week programme. During this period, the Fire Appliances were temporarily relocated externally to facilitate the completion of floor finishes.

The final phase of the project included the completion of internal and external finishes, including the Drill Tower refurbishment. Following occupation of the building by NIFRS, the temporary accommodation was removed, and the external works were undertaken, resulting in a successful redevelopment project delivered with no interruption of operational services. Effective communication and collaboration were essential in navigating pre-construction, during and handover periods.

Construction progress and a live fire station; highlighting the constrained site conditions and the location of the decant facilities and contractor compound. (Credit: KFA, November 2023)

Upgrading an Existing Building to Align with New and Evolving Control of Contaminants / Zoning

The redevelopment sought to retain the key features of the existing Fire Station while upgrading the building to meet modern operational requirements, including evolving standards for contaminant control, personnel welfare, and functional zoning.

The existing Appliance Bay was retained as the principal element of the building due to its operational importance and strong architectural presence. The single-storey accommodation surrounding the Appliance Bay was carefully assessed to determine which areas could be retained and adapted to support the revised layout. While several existing rooms were retained and refurbished, smaller rear extensions were demolished to facilitate the introduction of a more effective zoning strategy.

A key objective of the redevelopment was the creation of a clear separation between potentially contaminated operational areas and clean welfare and administration spaces. The revised layout established a dedicated hygiene zone adjacent to the Appliance Bay, allowing personnel returning from operational incidents to follow an appropriate decontamination route before accessing welfare and support facilities. This approach reflects modern fire station design principles and supports the control of contaminants within the workplace.

The new wrap-around accommodation was designed to reinforce this zoning strategy by providing improved locker, shower, welfare, and training facilities arranged in accordance with operational workflows. Clean circulation routes were established throughout the building, reducing the potential for cross-contamination and improving movement between operational, training and welfare areas.

The introduction of a dedicated public entrance further enhanced the zoning arrangement by allowing visitors to access meeting and welfare spaces without entering operational areas or crossing appliance movements. Training facilities were also incorporated within the clean zone, while maintaining visual connectivity with the retained training yard and drill tower.

By retaining and adapting significant elements of the existing structure while introducing purpose-designed hygiene and welfare facilities, the redevelopment successfully aligned the building with contemporary contaminant control requirements and modern operational zoning principles.

Existing and Proposed Plans produced for Health & Safety and Contaminants Meeting during Design Process (Credit: KFA, note drawings NTS)

BUILDING ENVELOPE IMPROVEMENTS AND SUSTAINABILITY

Existing and Proposed Plans produced during the Design Process (Credit: KFA, note drawings NTS)

Sustainability was a key consideration throughout the redevelopment, with the design approach focused on maximising the retention and adaptation of the existing building wherever possible. Rather than pursuing wholesale demolition and replacement, the project sought to preserve significant elements of the existing structure, reducing construction waste and minimising the embodied carbon associated with new-build development.

Of the original building footprint of approximately 295m², only 40m² was demolished, representing just 13.6% of the existing structure. Approximately 255m² of the existing accommodation was retained and refurbished, forming 56.7% of the completed 450m² facility. This substantial retention of existing building fabric delivered environmental benefits through the reuse of structural elements and materials while extending the service life of the facility.

The redevelopment also provided an opportunity to improve the performance of the building envelope in line with statutory requirements. As part of the works, the retained building elements were upgraded where practicable, and the new extension was designed to comply with the energy efficiency requirements of the Building Regulations (NI) ensuring that the thermal performance of the building envelope, including walls, roofs, glazing and doors, was enhanced to achieve improved energy efficiency and reduced operational energy demand.

Post-handover of the completed NIFRS Antrim Fire Station (Photo credit: Rory Moore Photography)

The new extension replaced temporary accommodation previously provided within site cabins, delivering permanent welfare, changing, and fitness facilities within a thermally efficient building envelope. The removal of the temporary cabins also enabled more effective use of the site while consolidating accommodation within a single integrated facility.

By combining the retention and refurbishment of existing building fabric with targeted new construction designed to meet statutory standards, the project achieved a sustainable and future-proofed solution. The completed development reduced waste, minimised embodied carbon, improved energy performance and provided a durable operational facility capable of meeting the long-term requirements of NIFRS.

COLLABORATION AND GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE ICT / DESIGN TEAM AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ANTRIM BASED CREW

The success of the Antrim Fire Station Refurbishment and Extension project can be attributed to the strong collaborative relationships established between our team, the design team, operational firefighters, and specialist stakeholder groups throughout all stages of stakeholder engagement and design development. Early and continuous engagement  ensured that all key stakeholders had the opportunity to contribute their knowledge, experience, and operational requirements, resulting in a design that is both practical and fit for purpose.

Regular meetings, workshops, and design review sessions created an open and transparent environment where ideas, concerns, and feedback could be discussed constructively. This strong collaboration enabled the design team to gain a thorough understanding of operational firefighting requirements, while allowing firefighters and other stakeholders to appreciate the technical, financial, and regulatory constraints associated with the design process. As a result, potential issues were identified and addressed at an early stage, reducing the risk of costly redesigns or delays later in the project.

Engagement with frontline Firefighters was particularly important given the specific site constraints and the requirement for station operations to continue throughout the duration of the project. As the watch (day-crew & on-call) remained on site during the works, their feedback was essential in identifying practical solutions that maintained operational effectiveness, while minimising disruption to emergency response capabilities. Their day-to-day operational experience provided valuable insight into appliance movements, access and egress arrangements, temporary accommodation requirements, welfare provision, and safe working practices within a constrained and busy site environment. This ongoing dialogue ensured that construction activities and design development remained aligned with operational requirements.

In addition, consultation with the Health & Safety Forum ensured that wider workforce safety considerations were fully embedded within the design process. The Contaminants Working Group also played an important role in shaping the development of the design.

Through their specialist knowledge and experience, the group provided valuable guidance on new and evolving contamination control measures, clean and dirty flow principles, welfare arrangements, and emerging best practice relating to Firefighter exposure to contaminants. Their involvement ensured that Firefighter health and wellbeing remained a central consideration throughout design development.

The positive working relationships developed throughout the project fostered mutual trust, respect, and a shared commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes, resulting in a well-informed, operationally focused design that supports both organisational objectives and the long-term needs of our firefighters.