Where there's smoke - there isn’t always fire
Deanmac Emergency Services provide fire response and first aid training courses to corporations Australia wide. Whilst Deanmac provide an extensive range of courses - many of which are theory based - they do provide a number of courses that carry a very practical element which enables the participant to experience an emergency situation both physically and emotionally.
Deanmac's base is a former coal refinery in Morwell, Victoria. The facility includes many structures including the fire simulating "Smoke House" which is an abandoned building partitioned into different rooms that can be reconfigured to suit the needs of the exercise. However, Deanmac were finding that the participants in the Smoke House were not taking the experience as seriously as possible. They were not emotionally involved in the situation. Deanmac identified a need to do more with this training space.
Lightmoves, who has had a long association with the Country Fire Authority for Disaster Simulation and Breathing Apparatus Training, was recommended to Deanmac to provide an appropriate smoke machine suitable for the Smoke House simulation. Lightmoves, after extensive consultation, recommended the to supply of a Jem ZR33 fog machine for the Smoke House; mostly due to its ability to run a continuous output of smoke without any down time for heating, and its proven experience in a harsh environments such as Sovereign Hill and Swan Hill's outdoor Sound and Light shows . However, it wasn't until a few months later during a follow up customer service call that the project really started to take shape. In discussions with the client it was decided to add other visual effects to enhance the re-creation of being in a burning building - so a Martin Mania DC2 fire effect and a Martin Atomic Strobe with remote were supplied. After qualifying the benefits of this new system during a training session for Deanmac at Lightmoves' own training facility, the topic of total sensory experience arose. More specifically, the need to totally immerse participants not only visually but also audibly and emotionally.
Utilising their previous experience in Immersive Sound Control, Lightmoves designed, supplied and installed a sound system capable of reproducing the sounds associated with various emergency events; such as chemical explosions, structural collapse, screaming, coughing, breaking windows, alarms etc. To ensure adequate frequency coverage and volume, a pair of JBL-MP418SP 18 inch 440W self powered sub woofers and JBL EON 900W 2-way speakers were placed at each end of the Smoke House.
In the rear corner of the Smoke House a control room was established, from were the operator can create a desired scenario depending on the participants needs. A laptop can replay the hundred's of recallable sound effects via a USB sound card. The strobe and fog machine are controlled by an easy to use remote which enhances the flexibility of the whole setup and finally, the operator can communicate directly with the participants via a hand held microphone.
Jim Irvine, Training and Technical Manager at Deanmac, had this to say when asked his opinion on the new setup. "The equipment provides as realistic a simulation of a fire situation as possible. The equipment challenges all of the participants senses, without causing the injuries that real life fires can."
The success of this project however, can be summed up by comments made by an employee from the Weipa Mines, who was heard to have said that the experience was "Very F*&^%$g average; it was definitely time to get out." Whilst his quote suggests that he wasn't necessarily scared, his red eyes gave away that he was emotionally involved.
Deanmac are now able to promote their Breathing Apparatus and Search & Rescue training courses more effectively by emphasising the realistic and thought-provoking nature of the simulated activity. In addition to "The Smoke House", the equipment has been designed to be relocatable allowing Deanmac to take this course on the road.
Lightmoves has once again shown its ability to interpret customer requirements, by applying what is normally considered entertainment equipment to a commercial setting.
Lightmoves Home page
contact
Lightmoves