Pressure brought to bear at fire station 

<Photo> Walls of the building are finished with attractive facing brick.
<Photo> The new Polmadie Fire Station.
<Photo> Picture shows the station and training tower.
Polmadie on the south side of Glasgow is the location of Strathclyde Fire Brigade’s newest station.
Built on the site of a former school annexe, the building replaces the old Queens Park and South fire stations.
Because of the very soft compressible natural soil on the site, the addition of compacted granular material was required to increase the bearing pressure.
Also, old foundations on the site called for excavation and stabilising work to be carried out before work on the building could begin.
Walls of the development, which rest on traditional pad and strip foundations and foundations for the training tower, comprise an inner leaf of 215mm load bearing blockwork, 30mm cavity insulation and an external leaf of 100mm facing brick.
Internal walls are of medium density blockwork to a height of 270mm from finished floor level, with roof cavities separated by insulated gyproc stud partitioning.
Floors in the building are formed by sand and cement screed, of varying depths depending on load requirements, on an in-situ reinforced concrete slab.
Pitched roof over the building is constructed of galvanised steel purlins on steel trusses, bearing on 215mm inner leaf of external wall.
Externally, the roof is finished with Plasticol coated profiled cladding, bonded to 38mm insulation.
Walls in the building are plastered and finished with either a decorative paint or fabric wallcovering.
Floors in the operational area are fully tiled, while offices and dormitories are fully carpeted. Ancillary accommodation and corridor floors have a vinyl sheet or tile finish.
Windows are circular in shape and have polyester coated aluminium frames, glazed with factory double glazed sealed units.
Accommodation includes reception area and fire prevention suite; sleeping accommodation for 16 firemen, five junior officers and one station officer; storage accommodation and toilets, a four bay appliance room with electrically operated up and over doors, storage and workshop area and ancillary/recreational facilities.
Leisure functions are met by a multi-gym in the recreation area, activity room, dining area and lecture room.
Ancillary facilities consist of a locker room, uniform storage area, drying and washroom area together with shower and toilet facilities.
Heating is provided by a gas fired low pressure hot water system which supplies hot water to radiators fitted throughout the building.
To maintain a high level of security, the number of external doors has been kept to a minimum and contained, as far as possible, within the lockable yard area.
In addition, the doors are fitted with electric security locks operated either locally or from a central indicator board, located adjacent to the radio controlled call-out system.
The new station is the first in Strathclyde to be equipped with two Scania type chassis design appliances and a road rescue unit.
This unit comprises of the rescue vehicle and trailer, with either breathing appliances, foam equipment or inflatable boat.
External works involved include fuel stances and a 3000mm high facing brick wall, with vehicle access from Calder Street.
External yard, which is floodlight for training purposes, contains a five-storey training tower used for climbing practice.
Public entrance and car park is separate and located adjacent to the reception area and fire prevention suite.
Contract period for the project was 75 weeks and the cost was approximately £970,000.
Client, Strathclyde Fire Brigade; all architectural, quantity surveying, structural and civil engineering and electrical services, provided by department of architectural and related services, Group A, Strathclyde Regional Council; heating and ventilating consultants, Blyth and Blyth (M&E); main contractors, Tarmac Construction.
Newspaper article, no title or date. Possibly Evening Times.)

In 1975 Queens Park was station B5 in the Glasgow Fire Service.

Polmadie replaced Queen's Park (B5) and South (B1).

The Chairman of Strathclyde Regional Council Police and Fire Committee decided that because of the length of time that Polmadie Fire Station had been operational and the severe cut backs in the Regional budget, to have a simple dedication service, rather than the traditional opening service.
The service will be attended by the Chairman of the Police and Fire Committee, the Vice Chairman, together with the Firemaster, Deputy Firemaster and Brigade Chaplin and the  Local Regional Councillor. The Chairman wants to meet the station personnel and I suggest there is a parade after which a small dedication service. Station personnel are invited to bring their wives or partners if they so desire.
Would you please arrange to have light refreshments at Polmadie Fire station.
On the 6th of November 1987 the following stations were dedicated :-
Govan                            11-00
Polmadie                        12-30
Cheapside House         14-30
Springburn                    15-30
Time was allowed for lunch at Cheapside House
(from SFB memos in the archives)

When the new call signs were being implemented in the WEST SDA over a 7 week period beginning 31/8/2020  doing 1 LSO Area per week, Polmadie was changed from V04 to B03.

Establishment 2000

The Staff are split over four watches (Red, Blue, Green and White) 1 Station Officer, 2 Sub Officers, 3 Leading Firefighters and 14 Firefighters working 2 days, 2 nights and 4 days off. Water Tenders are normally manned 5 and 4.

Establishment 2016 July

The Staff are split over five groups (1 to 5) consisting of 1 Watch Manager, 3 Crew Managers and 9 Firefighters. Crewing is ARP 5, RPL 5, SEV 3. The SEV is used to convey the crew for St Mungo 1 to Glasgow Nautical College where St Mungo 1 is berthed. The WRU is dual crewed and tows a rigid inflatable boat for Swift Water Rescue.

If you know of any mistakes in this or have any additional information please let me know.