69A-37.060. Certification as an Approved Firefighter Recruit Training Facility

(1) To be certified as an approved training facility, an installation or facility shall:

(a) Submit a request to the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training;

(b) Submit to an inspection by a Bureau of Fire Standards and Training Field Representative; and,

(c) Have in its custody and readily available for use the required training structures, apparatus, and equipment listed in paragraphs (1)(d)-(u).

(d) Have a fixed structure not less than 2 stories in height with each floor not less than 400 net square feet (exclusive of hallways, stairways, balconies or vestibule areas), of masonry, reinforced concrete construction, or both, or other fire resistive material as approved by the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training, with all floors completely enclosed and suitable for smoke training with breathing equipment.

With respect to the structure described in this paragraph, the following shall apply:

1. All floors shall be provided with window openings with sill height at least 42 inches above the top of the finished floor.

a. Window openings above the first floor shall be suitable for entry, exit, and rescue training from ground ladders.

b. No window openings shall be allowed in the walls containing the interior stairway.

c. Window closures such as shutters shall swing into the building, except for those in a burn room which shall always swing out.

2. The structure shall have an interior enclosed stairway connecting all floors and roof. Double handrails on stairways and guard rails around stair wells should be provided.

3. An exterior stairway of metal or masonry construction shall be provided, extending from first floor level, connecting all floors above the first floor. In lieu of an exterior stairway the structure shall be provided with an enclosed stairway designed to discharge directly to the outside at first floor level, with access from each floor above the first floor provided by means of an open air vestibule or by way of an exterior balcony.

4. All door openings shall be provided with fire doors with door rating consistent with the fire resistance rating of the wall wherein installed. Door locks, if provided, shall not require the use of a key, tool, special knowledge or effort for operating from the inside of the building.

5. At roof level, the entire perimeter of the roof shall be provided with a guard-rail or parapet wall or a combination parapet wall and guard rail and not less than 42 inches high measured vertically to the top of the wall or rail from the finished roof surface.

6. All floors shall be equipped with a standpipe outlet located in stairway enclosure.

a. Outlets shall be designed to supply 2 1/2 inch hose with water flow controlled by a hose valve.

b. A fire department standpipe connection shall be provided on an exterior first floor wall.

(e) Have a classroom with adequate lighting, heating, cooling and ventilation.

(f) Have the current types and classes of portable first aid fire extinguishers.

1. Minimum requirement is at least one of each of the following types of extinguishers for every four students:

a. Dry chemical,

b. Carbon dioxide; and,

c. Pressurized water for use in portable extinguisher evolution.

2. Other representative types of portable first aid extinguishers shall be available for identification.

(g) Have pumper apparatus, owned or leased, or otherwise contracted for rated at not less than 750 G.P.M. and 150 p.s.i., with hose compartments sufficient to practice appropriate hydrant lay evolutions, fully equipped as prescribed in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard NFPA 1901, “Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus,” 2016 Edition, Chapter 4, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference in paragraph (1)(v). The following changes to the equipment specified shall be adhered to:

1. A soft sleeve hose shall be provided;

2. Hand hose lines shall be limited to 2 1/2 inch and 1 3/4 inch in size.

3. The following equipment shall also be provided:

a. DOT Emergency Response Guide Book, Current edition;

b. One Haligan type tool;

c. Four salvage covers;

d. Four hose straps;

e. Two shovels (1 square end and 1 scoop);

f. One 125-foot utility rope (not for lifesafety use);

g. One hose clamp;

h. One 2 1/2 inch siamese (1 male, 2 female connections) with clapper valves;

i. One hose jacket for 2 1/2 inch hose;

j. Two 2 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inch reducers;

k. One hose hoist tool;

l. Two 2 1/2 inch double females and two 2 1/2 inch double male adapters;

m. One 2 1/2 inch to 2 1/2 inch gated wye or 2 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inch gated wye; and,

n. One foam eductor.

4. Pumpers shall be tested annually using the criteria of NFPA 1911, “Standard for the Inspection, Maintenance, Testing, and Retirement of In-Service Emergency Vehicles,” 2017 Edition, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference in paragraph (1)(v).

5. All ladders used for training shall conform to the requirements of NFPA 1931, “Standard for Manufacturer’s Design of Fire Department Ground Ladders,” 2015 Edition, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference in paragraph (1)(v), and NFPA 1932, “Standard on Use, Maintenance, and Service Testing of In-Service Fire Department Ground Ladders,” 2015 Edition, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference in paragraph (1)(v).

(h) Have forcible entry and ventilation drill facilities, which shall include a means of practice on:

1. Doors;

2. Windows;

3. Roofs;

4. Floors;

5. Partitions; and,

6. Restricted passage prop.

(i) These facilities are permitted to be included in the structure which is to be burned as part of the training if it is not a part of the regular training complex.

(j) Have the following forcible entry and ventilation tools:

1. Pick head axe;

2. Flat headed axe;

3. Pike poles;

4. Prying tools;

5. Haligan type tool;

6. Sledge hammer;

7. Bolt cutter;

8. Hand and power saws; and,

9. Two ventilation fans (one positive fan and one negative fan).

(k) Have salvage equipment to include:

1. Upright, pendant, and sidewall sprinkler heads;

2. Scoops;

3. Squeegees;

4. Mops; and,

5. Carryalls.

(l) Have two Class II life safety harnesses which include:

1. Two life safety ropes (2 person rope) each not less than 75 feet in length;

2. Two rescue carabiners for use in rope rescue training and in tying rescue knots; and,

3. Additional rope of assorted length, diameter, and construction suitable for practice in knots and lashings.

(m) Have representative and approved breathing apparatus. Minimum of one SCBA, positive pressure, NIOSH/MSHA approved, 30 minute or longer rated service life, for every four students with sufficient spare cylinders, refill capabilities, or both, to enable at least 20 minutes of protective breathing apparatus training per student.

(n) Have facilities for live fire training in:

1. An enclosed structure for simulated structural firefighting, minimum of 400 square feet, having at least 2 rooms.

2. Flammable liquid fire facility, minimum of 50 square feet, using at least 1 inch of fuel floating on surface of water, per burn.

3. Liquefied petroleum or natural gas firefighting.

a. A liquefied petroleum (L.P.) gas field must be available with a 250-gallon L.P. storage tank complete with shut-off valve and safety valve.

b. There must be a vapor line with cut-off valve, liquid line and cut-off valve.

c. All gas lines will be controlled by a certified instructor at a main control panel.

d. This shall be a permanent installation so it can be set on fire and the students using hand lines can approach the burning L.P. lines and tanks, and shut off the proper valves.

4. Automobile firefighting.

(o) Have one copy of the current versions of Chapter 633, F.S., and rule Chapter 69A-37, F.A.C., per training center.

(p) Have one Resusci-Anne or equivalent;

(q) Have audio-visual aids. The following training aids, with compatible audio-visual equipment, are recommended:

1. Forcible Entry;

2. Fire Streams;

3. Automatic Fire Protection Systems and Devices;

4. Hose Lay Out Practices;

5. Hose Fittings and Appliances;

6. Personal Protective Equipment;

7. Ventilation Practices;

8. Fire Ground Search and Rescue;

9. Overhaul and Salvage Operations;

10. First Aid;

11. Ropes and Knots;

12. Portable Fire Extinguishers;

13. Fire Pumps;

14. Ground Ladders;

15. Water Supply;

16. Firefighter Safety;

17. Firefighting Tools and Equipment;

18. Hazardous Materials;

19. Fire Behavior;

20. Vehicle Extrication;

21. Building Construction;

22. Fire Control;

23. Fire Cause Determination;

24. Fire Alarm and Communication;

25. Fire Prevention and Public Education.

(r) Have a water supply. A minimum of 1 operational hydrant suitably located as to provide safe hose evolution practices.

(s) Have a training dummy of not less than 125 pounds to be used during rescue training.

(t) Have protective hoods that meet the requirements of NFPA 1971, “Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting,” 2018 Edition, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference in paragraph (1)(v), provided by the training center or made available for purchase, and shall be used by each student engaged in live fire training.

(u) Each student, while engaged in live fire training, shall use a Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) device which shall be provided by the training center.

(v) NFPA 1901, NFPA 1911, NFPA 1931, NFPA 1932, and NFPA 1971 are copyrighted materials that cannot be copied but may be: (a) viewed during regular business hours at the Division of State Fire Marshal, 315 John Knox Road, The Atrium, Third Floor, Tallahassee, Florida; (b) accessed in a read-only, non-printable, non-downloadable format on the NFPA’s free access website at http:www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/free-access; (c) purchased by writing to the NFPA at 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachussetts 02169-7471; or (d) viewed during regular business hours at the Florida Department of State, R.A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250.

(2) Apparatus used for training shall not be an active in-service apparatus. A reserve pumper, without duty crew assigned, is acceptable. A pumper permanently assigned for training is ideal.

(3) When it has been determined that a Certified Training Center is not in compliance with the requirements of rules 69A-37.055, 69A-37.056 and 69A-37.060, F.A.C., with reference to its responsibilities, as evidenced by an inspection conducted by a Bureau of Fire Standards and Training Field Representative, certification shall be revoked until the recorded deficiencies procedures, or both, have been corrected.

Rulemaking Authority 633.128(1)(b), (c), (2)(a) FS. Law Implemented 633.128, 633.408, 633.418 FS. History–New 9-7-81, Formerly 4A-37.18, 4A-37.60, Amended 11-26-85, 1-3-90, 6-30-91, 3-20-95, 12-10-01, Formerly 4A-37.060, Amended 8-3-15, 12-23-20.