Case Study
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Training Academy
Delivering safe, realistic fire training in a complex, high-performance facility.
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Training Academy – a £15 million national training hub – required a smoke ventilation solution capable of replicating real fire conditions safely, sustainably, and in full compliance with UK Building Regulations.
Sertus was appointed to design, manufacture, and supply a suite of smoke ventilation products for integration into both natural and mechanical ventilation systems, supporting live-fire training across multiple building types.
The challenge lay in achieving realism and reliability. The system had to generate true smoke movement and extraction behaviour while protecting trainees and instructors, all within the academy’s high environmental and safety standards.
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Sertus’ products and service have been consistently reliable on all our projects, giving us confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the systems we install.
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Pod™ Mini
A pre-fabricated, pre-wired mechanical extract unit installed via single crane lift. Provided guaranteed extract rates and reduced installation time by over 80%.
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Single Leaf Vent | Poly
Supplied for roof-level stairwells and corridors, offering rapid smoke clearance and controlled air movement during evacuation drills.
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Smoke Control Damper
Integrated into mechanical shafts to regulate air pressure and smoke flow for complex fire simulation exercises.
Together, these products gave Maclec’s installation team a compliant, configurable system – one that combined mechanical power with natural airflow for authentic, safe, and repeatable training scenarios.
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Efficient installation
Pre-fabricated and pre-tested units minimised crane lifts, on-site risk, and commissioning time.
Improved training safety
The system’s dual natural and mechanical design allowed trainees to experience true-to-life smoke dynamics within safe parameters.
Sustainability and carbon savings
Off-site manufacture reduced waste, transport emissions, and embodied carbon across the build – supporting the project’s net-zero goals.
Community investment
£15 million spent locally, 31 local people employed, £25,000 donated to community causes, and 150 trees planted as part of the project’s sustainability commitments.
Industry leadership
Sertus Live event series – launched at the Academy in 2025 - brings together industry leaders to champion compliance, collaboration, and cultural change in fire safety.
National impact
Now recognised as a benchmark for firefighter training, the Academy strengthens national preparedness and showcases how Sertus products support public sector infrastructure at scale.
Compliance and assurance
All products supplied were fully certified to BS EN 12101 standards and tested for performance – supporting the Academy’s safety-first mission.
Working on a similar project?
Our technical team can help with product selection and system design.
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