The Province of East Flanders, PAULO Fire Academy and Warringtonfire Ghent officially opened a unique new training facility today. The complex is designed to prepare firefighters for one of today’s most pressing challenges: fires in underground parking garages. For this project, Winlock, specialist in fire-resistant sectional doors, donated a fire-resistant sectional door with an EI1 60 fire rating, equipped with Smoke Lock (smoke control) and Out Lock (outdoor application). This contribution allows the training center to replicate real-life fire conditions and operational challenges even more accurately.
Apartment buildings with underground parking facilities are now commonplace. At the same time, the use of new construction materials, plastics, and alternative fuels, such as those in electric vehicles, continues to grow. These developments introduce new risks for emergency services responding to fires or accidents. Fires in underground parking structures have a completely different dynamic, with faster fire spread and higher fire loads. A quick and effective response using the right tools and procedures is therefore a critical skill for any firefighting team.
To train firefighters for this specific type of fire, PAULO Fire Academy, together with its partners, developed a brand-new training program. The course combines a theoretical component with intensive live-fire training on a 600 m² practice site. The facility includes a staircase, storage and bicycle rooms, parking spaces for eight vehicles, a closed garage box, and an electrically operated fire-resistant sectional door. This setup allows trainees to practice both technical and tactical firefighting skills in accordance with federally approved procedures.
“As society becomes more complex, our training must evolve as well,” says Francis Verleyen, Training Director at PAULO Fire Academy. “With this unique facility – the only one of its kind in Belgium – we ensure that our firefighters are optimally prepared to provide the best possible protection to our citizens and communities.”
With over 30 years of experience in fire protection solutions and fire compartmentation, Winlock has become a trusted name in the industry. The company’s fire-rated sectional doors and hinged doors are tested and certified by Warringtonfire Ghent according to the most stringent international standards – consistently going beyond legal requirements.
The fire-resistant sectional door, selected for this project illustrates this commitment perfectly: it is not only fire-rated for 60 minutes (EI1 60), but also smoke-resistant (Smoke Lock) and suitable for outdoor use (Out Lock). This goes beyond standard specifications and underlines the company’s dedication to innovation and practical fire safety.
“As a manufacturer of fire-rated solutions, safety has been at the core of our mission for decades,” says Sylvia Roels, Managing Director of Winlock. “We take pride in the fact that our expertise not only protects buildings in Belgium and abroad, but now also contributes to the training of firefighters who safeguard our communities every day. This facility enables them to train safely and realistically -and we’re honored that our technology plays a key role in it. This ambitious project perfectly reflects what Winlock stands for: innovation, certified quality, and social responsibility.”
The new training complex was developed through close cooperation between the Province of East Flanders, PAULO Fire Academy, and Warringtonfire Ghent. The official press event welcomed Governor Carina Van Cauter, Deputy David Coppens (responsible for PAULO), Winlock CEO Sylvia Roels, Warringtonfire CEO Pieter Cadron, and Francis Verleyen, Training Director at PAULO Fire Academy. Fire zone commanders from across the country were also in attendance, emphasizing the importance and broad support for this project.
Project partners
More info: www.brandweeropleiding.paulo.be
The Province of East Flanders, PAULO Fire Academy and Warringtonfire Ghent officially opened a unique new training facility today. The complex is designed to prepare firefighters for one of today’s most pressing challenges: fires in underground parking garages. For this project, Winlock, specialist in fire-resistant sectional doors, donated a fire-resistant sectional door with an EI1 60 fire rating, equipped with Smoke Lock (smoke control) and Out Lock (outdoor application). This contribution allows the training center to replicate real-life fire conditions and operational challenges even more accurately.
Apartment buildings with underground parking facilities are now commonplace. At the same time, the use of new construction materials, plastics, and alternative fuels, such as those in electric vehicles, continues to grow. These developments introduce new risks for emergency services responding to fires or accidents. Fires in underground parking structures have a completely different dynamic, with faster fire spread and higher fire loads. A quick and effective response using the right tools and procedures is therefore a critical skill for any firefighting team.
To train firefighters for this specific type of fire, PAULO Fire Academy, together with its partners, developed a brand-new training program. The course combines a theoretical component with intensive live-fire training on a 600 m² practice site. The facility includes a staircase, storage and bicycle rooms, parking spaces for eight vehicles, a closed garage box, and an electrically operated fire-resistant sectional door. This setup allows trainees to practice both technical and tactical firefighting skills in accordance with federally approved procedures.
“As society becomes more complex, our training must evolve as well,” says Francis Verleyen, Training Director at PAULO Fire Academy. “With this unique facility – the only one of its kind in Belgium – we ensure that our firefighters are optimally prepared to provide the best possible protection to our citizens and communities.”
With over 30 years of experience in fire protection solutions and fire compartmentation, Winlock has become a trusted name in the industry. The company’s fire-rated sectional doors and hinged doors are tested and certified by Warringtonfire Ghent according to the most stringent international standards – consistently going beyond legal requirements.
The fire-resistant sectional door, selected for this project illustrates this commitment perfectly: it is not only fire-rated for 60 minutes (EI1 60), but also smoke-resistant (Smoke Lock) and suitable for outdoor use (Out Lock). This goes beyond standard specifications and underlines the company’s dedication to innovation and practical fire safety.
“As a manufacturer of fire-rated solutions, safety has been at the core of our mission for decades,” says Sylvia Roels, Managing Director of Winlock. “We take pride in the fact that our expertise not only protects buildings in Belgium and abroad, but now also contributes to the training of firefighters who safeguard our communities every day. This facility enables them to train safely and realistically -and we’re honored that our technology plays a key role in it. This ambitious project perfectly reflects what Winlock stands for: innovation, certified quality, and social responsibility.”
The new training complex was developed through close cooperation between the Province of East Flanders, PAULO Fire Academy, and Warringtonfire Ghent. The official press event welcomed Governor Carina Van Cauter, Deputy David Coppens (responsible for PAULO), Winlock CEO Sylvia Roels, Warringtonfire CEO Pieter Cadron, and Francis Verleyen, Training Director at PAULO Fire Academy. Fire zone commanders from across the country were also in attendance, emphasizing the importance and broad support for this project.
Project partners
More info: www.brandweeropleiding.paulo.be
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