11

GOVERNMENTAL BUILDING
(TOWN HALLS, FIRE AND POLICE STATION)
GOVERNMENTAL BUILDING
Town halls have a variety of functions to fulfill, and many of their
parts are covered in other chapters of this handbook. The principal
constituents of a town hall are:

• A council chamber, with associated lobbies

• A civic suite, or mayor’s office
• A number of councilor rooms
• An assembly hall
• Town offices
• A public reception and information desk
• A cash reception and disbursal facility
Elected members’ accommodation

The core of any town hall, county hall or city hall is the accommodation
for those elected by the public. Apart from the council chamber itself,
space is needed for the Mayor, the party leaders and for informal
gatherings of the members. In addition, delegations of the public and
visiting dignitaries of all kinds have to be received in
suitable surroundings,
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Spatial arrangements

Relationship diagram for the elected members’

accommodation in town halls
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Spatial arrangements

Sample layout of small town or municipal hall

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Spatial arrangements

Council chamber, various layout types: (1¼mayor, 2¼ordinary

members, 3¼officers, 4¼committee clerks, 5¼press and public)
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Spatial arrangements

Sample plan of courtroom

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Spatial arrangements

Functional relationship diagram for

a courthouse
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Spatial arrangements

FIRE STATIONS
Fire stations are required to fulfill efficiently the functions laid down by the
national, regional and metropolitan bodies that supervise their work. Each fire
brigade has a detailed brief for the design of new fire stations with the aim of
dealing with each incident as soon as possible after the emergency call is
received in the control room, and this must be within the government’s laid-down
maximum response time.

Diagram of
communications
centre control
operations
GOVERNMENTAL BUILDING
FIRE STATIONS
Firefighters’ operational activities are grouped into:

Wet/Dirty: mobilization, call out training and drill cleaning and maintenance.
Clean/dry: administration public interface stand-down/recreation arrival for duty.
A fire station may be built as part of a commercial development,
but its long-term use must be assured, particularly in regard to ease
of access and egress, radio communications reception and Fire
Standards. Conversely, there must also be no interference with
TV reception in adjacent properties.

Appliance areas

Most stations have two or three appliance bays. The usual

appliances are pump ladder appliances and turntable ladders
mounted on the basic chassis, and there are other appliances
such as bulk foam pods or mobile training pods mounted onto
the standard heavy-duty chassis. New stations must also be
designed to accommodate aerial ladder platforms. The appliance area has a
minimum headroom of 5m. Appliances always face outwards and have
a direct rear access to avoid reversing.
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Fire station
Hydraulic platform (cherry-picker), turntable
ladder and aerial ladder platform: appliance
footprint (path): Roadway width 6 m, turning
circle 22.5 m, sweep circle 25.2 m. Max. length
11.3 m, max. height 3.77 m, max. width 2.5 m,
max. width with jacks out 6.05m
When a call is received the appliances need to
get onto the road as quickly as possible. A
separate route and maximum visibility are
required for each appliance leaving the station.
Appliances must be able to turn without crossing
the crown of
the road,

Hydraulic platform (long chassis

model) turning circle:

Bay width with no forecourt 6.5m

Bay width with forecourt 5.5m
Minimum door width 4.2m
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Fire station

Relationship diagram for a two-appliance fire station on one level

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Spatial arrangements

Diagram of circulation routes on return to

fire station:
Diagram of circulation routes for mobilization: 1 External rear access
1 Firefighters to appliances, rear access 2 Operational equipment store
2 Staircase or pole access when multi-storeyed 3 Operational equipment cleaning
3 Firefighters to appliances, front access 4 Breathing apparatus room
4 Duty firefighters to watch rooms and appliances 5 Lockers and washroom
GOVERNMENTAL BUILDING
Police stations
The police aim to foster public goodwill; their buildings should be as pleasing
and friendly to the visitor as possible compatible with essential security
requirements.
Design of the station
The public area must be designed with an awareness of the dangers posed
by explosives and people with weapons. It should still try to maintain a
pleasing and welcoming atmosphere. It must be easily accessible from the
police area. Access and toilet accommodation for disabled people is
essential.
The reception counter should be located to permit officer-onduty supervision of the
building entrance. A security screen between counter area and waiting is desirable in
some circumstances, so that only a limited number can enter at a time. This provides
both privacy and security. Where there is no screen a privacy booth in or on the
counter is desirable.

Waiting areas are provided with seating and notice boards for posters on road
safety and crime prevention, etc.

The public interview area is entered off the waiting area.

Interview rooms should be large enough to take several people at

a time and are fitted with taping equipment.

The victim examination suite should be adjacent to the public entrance and is for
interviewing and medical examination of assault, child molestation or rape victims. It
must be pleasantly designed in order to reduce stress,
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Spatial arrangements

Relationship and zoning diagram for a

large police station
Plan of a victim examination suite
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Spatial arrangements

Plan of municipal detention cell Plan of a detention suite

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Facade and character

Formal clean lines

Formal traditional
END