Europe’ s first flood water training facility completed by Meldrum and EPD
FEATURE
Water wonder- the first-of-a-kind Rapid Water Course will provide specialist training across the UK and Northern
Ireland.
Innovating rescue, engineering safety
Europe’ s first flood water training facility completed by Meldrum and EPD
Emergency responders across the UK and Northern Ireland will benefit from real-life flood rescue training, thanks to a pioneering facility created by North- East-based Meldrum Civil Engineering and specialist partners.
Rapid Water Courses, a collaborative initiative between Meldrum Civil Engineering and Engineering Paddler Designs( EPD), has successfully completed an innovative flood water training facility for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service( NIFRS).
The facility marks a significant milestone as Europe’ s first flood water training facility to utilise the cutting-edge Rapid Water Course 3-Dimensional Obstacle System.
Located at the new NIFRS Learning & Development College near Cookstown, this advanced rapid water course is a testament to engineering. The facility is built using protected and proprietary designs combining mock buildings, pre-cast concrete technology and roto-moulded RapidBlocs; born from a unique partnership between Meldrum and EPD. This combination offers a costeffective, dynamic and adaptable training environment for emergency responders.
Featuring a 100-metre flood channel, 6300m 3 clean water reservoir, mock buildings, vehicles in water and a weir simulator; all designed to provide realistic training scenarios for emergency services across the UK and Ireland. These features ensure that responders can practice in conditions that closely mimic real-life flood situations.
Priding itself as a progressive and innovative construction group, Meldrum operates from offices in Teesside, Gateshead and Cambridge. Recently, the company transitioned to an employeeowned trust while it also received prestigious recognition in the shape of a Gold Investors in People accolade.
The company has been involved in several other groundbreaking initiatives of late, including the delivery of the first healthcare building in the UK to achieve WELL Gold certification from the international WELL Building Institute.
Michael Robertson, of Meldrum Civil Engineering, said:“ Our collaboration with EPD through Rapid Water Courses ensures that every component meets top safety and functionality standards. This bespoke facility elevates emergency services preparedness and sets a new benchmark for training innovation in Europe.”
EPD founder Andy Laird added:“ The adaptable RapidBloc system allows trainers to simulate various flood and rescue scenarios, helping firefighters refine their skills in a controlled yet challenging environment.”
The facility provides a specialised environment for flood and river rescue exercises. It features a 10-metre wide artificial water channel constructed with a hybrid of pre-cast concrete units and an integrated Unistrut system, showcasing advanced engineering and design.
In addition to the channel, the facility includes a cast-in-situ pump chamber with three vertical lift pumps capable of a maximum combined flow of eight tonnes a second. These pumps supply a powerful flood water flow to the artificial channel, ensuring realistic training conditions.
The site also incorporates external hard-standing areas and artificial grass for enhanced functionality and aesthetics. A 6,300 cubic metre artificial reservoir with a boat ramp and designated areas for wading and ice training further enhance the training capabilities.
An advanced water treatment plant, using state-of-the-art ceramic filter membranes and a neutralisation system, ensures that water loss during filtration is minimal. The system ensures that all discharged water meets the stringent standards of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, allowing safe return to local watercourses.
Safety and efficiency are prioritised with automated floodlights and emergency stop systems for constant illumination and quick response.
The collaboration between Meldrum Civil Engineering and Engineering Paddler Designs has resulted in a facility that is not only state-of-the-art but also tailored to the specific needs of emergency rescue service training. This facility enhances the training capabilities of the NIFRS but also positions Meldrum and EPD as leaders in the design and delivery of such projects.
As Europe’ s first of its kind, the facility reflects a commitment to advancing training methodologies and setting benchmarks for future developments in the field.
For more information, please visit meldrumcs. com / civils
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