AREC enhances UK Fire Service training procedures

This case study demonstrates how AREC is supporting real-life heroes like the West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS). AREC products form part of a system developed by Hadleigh Technical Support in partnership Tukans (The CUK Group). This solution has greatly improved WMFS’s training processes, helping both new recruits and experienced officers to be better equipped for a variety of emergency situations.

The West Midlands Fire Service is the second largest fire and rescue service in England. It covers an area of approximately 1,000 square kilometres and serves a population of around three million across seven local authorities: Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.

However, it is not merely the size of the area that underscores the importance of this service, it also encompasses some of the most deprived communities in the country. With associated socio-economic and health-related challenges, the risk of fires and other emergencies is significantly heightened. As such, the service must remain fully prepared for any scenario at all times.

To support this mission, the West Midlands Fire Service sought a professional AV system for its headquarters, one capable of facilitating comprehensive training sessions and enhancing overall emergency preparedness.

In partnership with Hadleigh Technical Support, Tukans (The CUK Group) supplied a solution centred on the AREC LS-860 Media Station, complemented by products from other manufacturers. This particular Media Station model is capable of processing up to four video sources simultaneously, integrating them with custom graphics and combining them into user-defined video layouts.

The LS-860 records these video sources in two formats, as a composite layout and as individual video files. Recordings are stored internally on the station’s 2TB hard drive but can also be saved to a NAS, USB drives, or other external storage devices.

Furthermore, the LS-860 can output the connected video sources in various modes, whether as custom video layouts or as looping feeds on local displays, a feature that proved especially valuable in meeting the fire service’s training objectives.

At the West Midlands Fire Service headquarters, the AREC LS-860 Media Station was used to record video from multiple CI-22H cameras and computers running scenario simulation software. Cameras were strategically positioned throughout the facility, some focused on the trainees, while others captured the actions of the examiners. The simulation software generated a variety of emergency scenarios that responders might encounter in real-world conditions.

Combined views from these video sources were displayed in both control and training rooms, made possible by the LS-860’s loop-through functionality and the signal distribution capabilities of Netvio’s IP‑JP4‑60 AVoIP devices. These Netvio systems delivered multiple video sources and LS-860 outputs to various rooms with visually lossless latency.

A further feature that made the LS-860 particularly well suited to this environment was its ability to record individual audio sources alongside individual video files. This enabled assessors to review each participant’s performance in isolation from simulator audio or other microphone inputs. It also allowed the fire service to run multiple training sessions concurrently using a single Media Station, significantly enhancing the value and efficiency of the installation.

For audio, a Symetrix DSP was deployed to seamlessly integrate clear inputs from ClockAudio C-303-D array hanging microphones and Televic Unite wireless microphones. The Symetrix device distributed these audio signals to various endpoints, including the LS-860 Media Station and Vaddio Dante ceiling speakers.

Although the system was only installed a few days ago, it is already enabling the fire service to deliver enhanced training to its personnel.

Watch the video below to see the system in action!

Interested in developing a similar solution for your client? Get in touch with us to discuss your project requirements at your convenience.