Traps Turn Facilities Into Disasters

Interact Business Groups 7 Traps Booklet highlights the seven most common traps that can turn a training facility into a disaster. Those traps include:

1. Not knowing the preliminary site and equipment requirements

   Picking the site might be the most important decision a fire department makes, so take your time with it. Look at your operation from a long-range perspective. What's a good deal today may not be adequate in 10 or 20 years.

   Equipment is constantly changing, and information is overwhelming. Ask for help. Do the footwork now to benefit your training center in the future.

2. Not knowing how the training facility will be used

   Develop a broad perspective when it comes to planning for current and future use. How will you meet the directives of your training regulations? What about specialized needs in your community?

3. Losing focus on the training assets and priorities at the facility

   Determine the highest priority facility asset based on your needs assessment. If you are faced with a tight budget, you may have to make some concessions in your initial plan.

4. Underestimating the cost to build the training facility

   Don't get caught in this stage of planning or your project may be delayed or cancelled. Estimate your budget too low, and it may be suspect; estimate too high, and it may not make it past its first review.

5. Failing to establish ongoing annual operation costs

   It's easy to get caught up in all the costs necessary to build the facility. Building the facility is only half of the financial challenge; the other half is maintaining the annual operation costs. Failure to cover this budget item from the beginning will affect future use.

6. Failing to establish a clear benefit analysis

   Throughout the project planning process, continually ask yourself what makes your project stand out. Why will budget managers want to choose your project over others? Failure to establish project cost benefits may kill your project before the funding analysis begins.

7. Failing to establish a clear road map for the project

   Fully assess the needs of the facility, and leaving no major questions unanswered. Your well-thoughtout strategic business plan will show those that you have thoroughly researched the project.
   — Bill Booth, President & CEO Interact Business Group