Needs planning & consulting | Needs planning

Operational Requirements and Development Planning

Corporate success
is also a matter

of operational
safety.

Industrial fire brigades always operate in the tension between cost-effectiveness and safety. Accordingly, it is important to derive the fundamental necessity and the correct dimensioning of an industrial fire brigade in a robust, balanced, and transparent manner. The basis for this is needs and development planning for industrial emergency response.

The aim of this planning is to align emergency response in such a way that sites, facilities, and people are optimally protected, while effectively limiting the consequences of potential damaging events.

Components of Requirements Planning for Industrial Fire Departments

1. Requirements for Industrial Fire Brigade Requirements Planning

Industrial fire brigade requirements planning must be understandable, comprehensible, and transparent for all parties involved – supervisory authorities, emergency response management, department heads, executive management, and the supervisory board.

Requirements planning always incorporates the individual needs of the company and fulfills all legal and regulatory requirements.

2. Analysis of Operational Requirements

As part of the analysis of specific operational requirements, all hazards are first identified, risks are assessed, and potential deployment scenarios are considered. Operational conditions – e.g., the type of products manufactured and used, production processes, storage, and the type and quantity of hazardous substances – are examined closely. Factors such as the size and location of the operation as well as the operational infrastructure are also taken into account.

In accordance with the requirements resulting from the hazard potential, the dimensioning of emergency response technology and personnel is carried out in a targeted manner.

3. Cooperation with Public Emergency Services

To ensure rapid and smooth cooperation with external forces such as the public fire department during an operation, interfaces and command structures are derived.

Taking into account the legal framework and site-specific structures, a clear definition of all competencies and responsibilities is established.

4. Training and Education for Personnel

Regular training and education for industrial fire brigade personnel ensure that employees can act quickly and safely in an emergency and minimize damage. Both theoretical training and practical exercises, as well as regular knowledge refreshers, are recommended – ideally directly within the plants and facilities to make optimal use of the significant advantage of detailed local knowledge.

5. Review and Adjustment of Industrial Fire Brigade Requirements Planning

Requirements and development plans must usually be reviewed and updated every 5 years, as well as in the event of relevant changes.

Our Approach

1. Analysis of Hazard Potential with Risk Assessment

The heart and core element of the hazard potential analysis is a sound risk assessment specifically designed for the respective operation. In addition to the probability of occurrence and the potential extent of damage of expected events, we also evaluate the special requirements for a potential fire brigade deployment. For many years, this Lülf+ method has been a guarantee for transparently comprehensible, robust results across all industries.

2. Dimensioning Scenarios

The risk assessment creates a sound basis for deriving the relevant dimensioning scenarios. Based on this, the requirements for personnel and equipment are dimensioned, always taking into account all site-specific conditions.

The planning principles define the operational effort that the industrial fire brigade must be able to handle independently. Equally essential for successful and smooth emergency response is the consideration of cooperation with other forces such as the public fire department, but also with internal departments (occupational medicine, plant security, etc.). The results of the individual scenarios are finally consolidated.

3. Conception of Emergency Response Potentials

Based on the analysis results, the emergency response potentials are designed. These include:

the definition of protection goals, taking into account the (building) legal permit situation and in connection with the determinants of the fire brigade

the dimensioning of personnel requirements, taking into account the qualifications and readiness of the employees

the dimensioning of the requirements for technology and equipment (e.g., fire engines, special equipment, etc.)

the resulting basic operational tactical concept as an ideal interface to practice

4. Need for Action and Implementation

Ultimately, every good and appropriate requirements planning includes

a comprehensible and robust risk assessment

a concept that does not only work on paper

the target-performance comparison

the concrete derivation of needs for action

the prioritization of all measures according to their importance and urgency

All our experts have extensive operational experience of their own. This practical knowledge is a guarantee that we always work realistically and in an implementation-oriented manner.

We also see our task primarily in moderation and cultural translation between all parties involved. Our aim is to create mutual understanding, align different perspectives, and ultimately bring all interests together constructively.

We bring experience from hundreds of projects – across all industries, throughout the entire German-speaking region.

We work with proven methods that combine a practical focus with academic/scientific robustness. This results in outcomes that are both tangible and directly usable as well as theoretically sound.

As a reliable partner, we stand for clear, always appropriate communication and robust project management.