The Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service has been undertaking hot smoke Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) at the training facility launched by Chiltern International Fire at the start of the year.

The concrete-lined two-storey residential house has three ‘bedrooms’, two accessible entry points and an inclined roof. For hot smoke PPV training, fires are lit in cribs both upstairs and downstairs and can be left burning between training sessions on a given day to create a situation as close to a real fire as possible.

Thermocouples in all of the rooms are linked to a computer system in an adjacent control room. It is possible for gas temperature to be monitored throughout the exercise and, if requested, real time graphical displays can be provided for debriefing sessions, to enable trainees to review temperature patterns and to gain further understanding of fire behaviour.

According to Terry Healy, lead instructor on tactical ventilation, BFRS is one of the leaders in undertaking hot smoke ventilation training for all its firefighters. ‘The most effective training to face a real fire is to use real fire. Not all brigades can use fire and smoke because of the location of their training facility or for other reasons,’ he said.

Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) is achieved by forcing air into a building using a fan, to increase the pressure inside, relative to atmospheric pressure. Following extensive research and recommendations by the Home Office, fire appliances now generally carry a fan as part of their standard equipment.

In a recent report, Home Office Research into Positive Pressure Ventilation, Dr Martin Thomas, Head of the Fire Experimental Unit, Fire Research and Development Group, wrote that the Home Office study team considered that the concept behind the technique of PPV was relatively easy to understand and the equipment simple to operate, but stressed the need for extensive training to apply the tactic safely and effectively.

The study team, he said, thought that PPV could be used effectively in the UK in a number of areas. It was stated:

• The use of PPV would be expected to significantly reduce the time spent by crews on damping down and salvage operations.
• The majority of fire deaths and injuries, both for firefighters and members of the public, occur in single family dwellings. PPV was considered to be particularly suited to these types of buildings.

Developing the fire training facility has been an important step for Chiltern Fire, which has more than 20 years’ experience of research into fire behaviour. ‘Training has always been an integral part of our services and we appreciate the need to create situations which are as close to real life as possible,’ said Facilities Co-ordinator Philip Howard.

In addition the training house, the facilities comprise a 40ft demonstrator unit and 40ft attack compartment for compartment fire behaviour training; and a spacious fire ground for outdoor exercises and drills, with generous appliance parking. Its location close to the M40 is a major plus for fire authorities within a radius of London and the Home Counties.

The facility was originally developed as part of research conducted by Tyne &

Wear Metropolitan Fire Brigade to establish and monitor the changing internal environment during deployment of PPV. Chiltern Fire has since worked closely with Buckinghamshire to further develop the facility for PPV training.

For further information contact Philip Howard on 01494 569800 or email

Issued on behalf of Chiltern International Fire by Jean Kloos. For further information or photographs tel/fax 01993 832045 or email