A fire station serves as both a workplace and a home to its on-duty crews. It's the place where they eat, sleep, plan and prepare. Choices for furnishing stations are many, and the decisions made in their selection will determine if crew members find the station warm and comfortable or cold and utilitarian. Colors, finishes, fabrics and appearance all will have an effect on the attitude and outlook of the men and women who work within the station's walls.

Whether contemplating replacing a single chair or decking out a newly constructed station, two considerations should be kept in mind. First, although a fire station is a firefighter's home away from home, the products selected should be crafted to demanding commercial-quality standards and not built for a residential application. Second, allow plenty of time for a decision to become a reality. Furniture orders typically must be placed eight to 12 weeks ahead of the desired delivery date. While there are exceptions and some manufacturers do have quick-ship programs, waiting until the end of a project to order furniture usually means it won't be delivered until considerably after you're ready to move in.

Allowing for delivery, though, isn't the only reason to plan ahead. Time devoted to considering all the functions a station's furnishings must fulfill can translate to greater comfort and better health for staff, increased productivity, and long-term cost savings.

Storage areas

Mention “station furnishings” and many tend to first think of day rooms and seating. But just as important is what to do with the mountains of supplies and gear that need to be stored — apparatus equipment, EMS supplies, paper products, bunker gear, light bulbs, a lawn mower … you get the idea.

Movable shelving units can be one of the most important categories of station furnishings. Giving some thought to efficient movable storage systems (that is, those able to provide the right depth of shelving and spacing between shelves) can pay off in storage capacity. Think California Closets in a fire station.

Movable shelving units are advisable over permanent fixed shelves because they can be adapted to changing needs. And your station's storage needs will change over time. Steel units generally are a preferred choice for durability, ease of cleaning, overall strength and long life. They can be disassembled quickly and easily with simple tools and may be relocated within a station.

For storing bunker gear, several manufacturers make excellent individual storage units with features ranging from power strips to lockable compartments for personal valuables. Made out of tube steel and wire mesh, these units are extremely durable and allow wet gear to dry with natural ventilation.

Room by room

Out of all the spaces in the firehouse, training and community rooms must be the most flexible, able to serve equally well as classrooms, meeting rooms, emergency operation centers or a place for community events. Tables that are lightweight and movable make reconfiguring rooms much easier. Tables that can fold are recommended so they are easy to store when not needed. If tables will be moved in and out frequently, make sure your storage room is both large enough and proportioned to accommodate tables and chair storage efficiently. Having an extra-wide door to this storage room is a smart idea, as well.

Training room tables with tops measuring 24 inches by 72 inches work well. Two individuals can comfortably share one table this size in a classroom configuration. Multiple tables of this dimension can be pushed together in a variety of configurations to accommodate differing types of meeting formats and varying group sizes.

Training and community room chairs need to be flexible and comfortable. Stackable chairs are highly recommended so they can be stored efficiently when not needed. If you're likely to set up chairs in an audience configuration on a regular basis, selecting those that hook together side by side will speed set-up and help maintain orderly rows.

Think commercial, not residential when selecting day room furniture. Specify or purchase seating that is comfortable, durable and has been upholstered with a commercial-grade fabric over a heavy-duty steel frame. Recliners should be specified to have “kick” close footrest releases for quick exiting. It's also advisable to look for recliners featuring a “wall saver” design — a mechanism that allows the recliner to be positioned closely against a wall when in the upright position, yet be able to shift to the reclined position without moving the base of the chair or rubbing the back of the chair against the wall.

Sleeping quarters

When it comes to mattresses and bed frames, remember that some firefighters are taller than others. Specifying extra-long mattresses is well worth the extra cost in terms of comfort and requires a negligibly larger sleeping room.

A Murphy bed is an option to consider when space is at a premium. Folding beds up into wall cabinetry allows sleeping rooms to function in other roles and maximizes a building's square footage. While such arrangements can be inconvenient if the beds are to be slept in every night, using folding beds to accommodate staff who sleep in the station only occasionally may be a more viable consideration.

For clothes storage, one has a choice between fixed, built-in wardrobe cabinets and freestanding, movable units. The permanent cabinets generally are better made, will stand up to more abuse and last longer, but if you're on a tight budget, the freestanding units are tough to argue against. With either solution, having wardrobe storage that is configured for its purpose is important. Twenty-four inches deep is a must to allow for a rod for hanging clothes. A width of 30 inches is ideal for most stations. Wardrobes that allow for shoes to be placed on the bottom and have a couple adjustable shelves and a drawer to accommodate clothing storage are the most convenient and efficient.

Station offices

When it comes to office space, ergonomics should be the number-one priority. If hours must be spent at a desk in front of a computer, simple comfort can have an effect on productivity. How well a workstation facilitates proper posture and repetitive motion activities can have a significant long-term effect on health.

Today's modern office furnishings and designs take computer technology into account. Flat-screen monitors have smaller desktop “footprints” and thus occupy less work surface area, allowing for more compact designs while maintaining comfortable workspace environments. Be sure, though, that the workstation allows the computer screen to be positioned at eye level for easy reading and with minimal strain on the neck and back. Look for a keyboard tray that is fully adjustable to minimize the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. A comfortable chair with adjustable height, back tilt and lumbar support can help reduce back strain. Desk height also is important. An adjustable chair's seat can be set to match a desk's height, but if the desktop is so high that a person's feet don't rest on the floor when seated, leg strain can result.

Another decision to be made is whether your station's offices will have movable furniture or built-in workstations. Anything built-in obviously will be less flexible in the event your office needs change in the future, but fixed furnishings are usually a more cost-effective solution. Should you be inclined to specify movable furniture, you have an additional decision to make. You can opt for traditional desks, bookcases and credenzas, or choose what is referred to as “system furniture.”

System furniture is designed to be modular in dimension and can be reconfigured and reassembled in a number of different arrangements. A workstation can be switched from being right-handed to left-handed, for example. Additionally, these systems often have adjustable keyboard trays incorporated into their design, as well as work surface height adjustability. High-quality system furniture is not inexpensive, but in the long run out-performs less expensive options. If flexibility is important and system furniture is the preferred choice, set the furniture budget early and at a dollar amount that will support it.

Buy quality

Let's face it, fire station furnishings face a rough environment. Gear gets tossed around, getting to the apparatus bay quickly takes priority over the chair that happens to be in the way, and the station is occupied 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It only makes sense to buy quality furniture that is built tough and made to last.

“It is important for a fire department to evaluate the impact that purchasing the appropriate grade of furniture can have on the life-cycle cost of a project,” says Andrew Forrester, executive director of FireRescue GPO, a group purchasing organization composed of fire service members. “Over time, most fire departments that purchase residential-grade furniture run the risk of significant repair and replacement costs. Fire departments that invest in commercial-grade furniture built for demanding use will find it lasts much longer and saves the department money in the long run.”

Commercial-grade furniture generally is constructed around a stronger frame and uses higher-density foams, features tougher finishes and better upholstery, and is built on a more appropriate scale. When inspecting furniture construction — a good idea before you specify it — know that metal-to-metal connections usually are much better that metal-to-wood, and that metal ball bearings in drawer glides will last much longer than plastic glides. Avoid furniture constructed with butt joints.

Upholstery also is important. Choose fabrics that have a Class A fire rating and a high resistance to abrasion and fading. Stain and moisture protection such as Gore or Crypton can add life to the fabric. A natural upholstery product like leather can be a durable choice. Avoid any products that require dry cleaning. Give thought to color and patterns as well, since some hide soil better than others.

“While buying commercial grade products should reduce any long-term quality issues,” says Doug Sackville, president of Commercial Office Interiors and Fire Station Furniture Co., “it is also important that all products you choose come with a ‘parts & labor’ warranty of at least 10 years. This will reduce your life-cycle cost. Studies show 65% of the life-cycle costs are incurred after the initial investment.”

The adage that you get what you pay for holds true. Look at the life-cycle costs rather than the initial purchase and installation price. It may save you significant money in the long run.

Out with the old?

When it comes to reusing and refurbishing furniture that's been around the firehouse for a while, don't be afraid to recycle the old pieces. Reupholstering sagging seats and replacing worn-out springs is a false economy if it ignores comfort and simple ergonomics, but reupholstering furniture can be a viable option if the furniture was of high quality to begin with. Pick the right fabric as noted earlier, with the added advice to pick colors and patterns that fit with the rest of the station.

One word of caution: New furniture tends to accentuate any wear or discoloration of older surroundings. If you are undertaking an extensive refurnishing effort, think seriously about new carpeting and fresh paint, as well.

On the subject of carpeting, keep in mind that seven to 10 years is about as much life as you should expect out of a good-quality carpet. If you're specifying new carpet, be aware that one made from a Type 6.6 nylon fiber should last longer, be more stain-resistant and clean up more easily that one made of Type 6 nylon fiber. Type 6.6 nylon has an inherently tighter molecular structure that repels soil and stains much better than the more open Type 6 nylon fiber.

Spend wisely

The best way to save money is to spend it wisely. Wood desktops may be beautiful, but they can be expensive and may not hold up to high levels of use if they don't have the right finish. Some manufacturers producing high-quality, commercial-grade wood products offer them with polyurethane finish coats that withstand spills and are very durable. But if budgets are tighter, wood laminates can be a good alternative. They are durable, long-lasting and have the same look of solid wood.

Another way to save money is to check with local dealers to see what they have in their warehouses. Many furniture dealers have items sitting in storage that they will sell at a reduced rate. These items usually were delivered for a job but had the wrong fabric or finish applied. If you are expanding or remodeling and only need a few specific pieces of furniture, this might be a good choice.

Buy local or join a group purchasing organization. Purchasing from local suppliers and manufacturers can reduce the overall cost by eliminating, or greatly reducing, shipping and freight costs. A group purchasing organization can offer members prices that have been pre-negotiated with large numbers of manufacturers and suppliers across the county. Those members can purchase small quantities at high-volume discounts.

Finally, don't try to do it all on your own. Ask other fire districts what furniture they've found to stand the test of time. Enlist a commercial furniture dealer experienced in recommending and providing fire station furniture. Tap the valuable resources of those architects and designers versed in fire station furnishings and interior design. Explore the resources available through group purchasing organizations; they can be a wealth of information.

Such resources can provide guidance and education to keep you from getting burned while furnishing the fire station.

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David Fergus is a partner with Rice Fergus Miller Architecture & Planning, LLP, Bremerton, Wash., a firm specializing in interior design and planning services for fire and emergency service agency as well as fire station architecture.

Mark Johnson is creative experience director of Commercial Office Interiors and Fire Station Furniture Co., Seattle.