From multi-day intensive courses to on-site training
Our unique training facilities are open to all fire services, which are responsible for fire and rescue operations in underground transport systems (UTS). Thematic emphases and scope of the training are based on the respective needs and possibilities of the fire services.
Practically everything can be trained
The biggest challenge of underground transport systems is the great penetration depth. If the emergency personnel advance further than 80m into the smoke, they are sometimes exposed to extreme strains, and all operations are stretched over time. Nevertheless, in order to be able to quickly rescue people from smoke, a special procedure is required, which is the same for all UTS: “Extinguish, in order to rescue". However, the concrete implementation of this tactical principle varies considerably depending on the nature, structure and size of the UTS. For example, it makes a big difference whether the distances between the emergency exits of a road tunnel are 100, 300 or 500 m. As a result, the training courses are designed to be facility-specific as far as possible. Thus, "exotic" UTS can also be trained for, such as caverns in a dam, research tunnels or complex underground tunnel systems for luggage transport at airports.
System-compatible training
Fire services differ considerably in their personnel and technical equipment, organisational possibilities and legal framework conditions. For example, some regulations (service regulations) require mechanical secured exit route. At large penetration depths, however, safeties out of ropes are not only a hindrance but even dangerous. For this reason, the International Fire Academy recommends using the tunnel wall as a reliable exit route. In many cases, either the regulations have been adapted, or permission has been granted by the relevant fire service authority for this procedure. Our training consultants support the fire services to identify such needs of adaptation and to find suitable solutions. Because: Everything we teach must be able and allowed to be used by firefighters at home.
A wide range of training formats
Thanks to a wide range of training formats, the respective financial, organisational and travel-related possibilities of the fire services can also be taken into account individually.
On-site training
At the location of the fire service(s) we carry out tactical training and practical training with operational drills and support in the planning, implementation and evaluation of training in the respective UTS.
Multipliers training
Many fire services cannot send all their emergency personnel to Balsthal or Lungern, which are being prepared for deployment in UTS, simply because of the long journey. Here, the training of multipliers has proven itself. These are officers who are trained by us in Balsthal and / or Lungern to train their comrades at their own service. This procedure has been practised for years, for example, by the Baden-Württemberg State Fire School.
Special training programmes
If necessary, special training programmes can also be developed together with our training consultants, such as for the fire services along the new Ebensfeld-Erfurt railway line (German Unit Traffic Project VDE 8.1). So far, we have trained more than 100 firefighters in this project alone.
