United States Navy : NAVFAC Southeast Awards Fire Suppression System Contract

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a nearly $7.8 million contract Jan. 23 to W.W. Gay Fire Protection, Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida, under a design-build multiple award construction contract for replacement of the fire suppression system in Hangars 1853 and 1854, located at Forrest Sherman Field on Naval Air Station (NAS), Pensacola, Florida.

'The new system is a significant improvement in the fire-fighting system currently being used in our hangars occupied by Training Air Wing SIX and the Blue Angels,' said Capt. Christopher Martin, NAS Pensacola commanding officer. 'This state-of-the-art upgrade will provide an improved water deluge system, fire detection and new environmentally friendly low expansion foam extinguishing system for aircraft undergoing maintenance.'

Hangar 1853 supports Training Squadron Ten, Training Squadron Four and the 2nd German Air Force Training Squadron. Aircraft maintained in Hangar 1853 include T-6 and T-45. Hangar 1854 supports the maintenance function of T-45 and F/A-18 aircraft and is home to the Blue Angels, Training Air Wing SIX, and Training Squadron EIGHTY-SIX .

Renovations to Hangar 1853 will include converting the hangar bay overhead sprinkler system from a deluge system to a wet pipe sprinkler system. The risers will be reworked, including replacement of all heads and control valves, and painting of all sprinkler pipes.
Hangar 1854 upgrades will include painting all of the sprinkler piping and rework of all risers.

The installation of a new supplement low level aqueous film forming foam monitor system in the hangar bay areas are planned for both Hangar 1853 and 1854. The new system includes automatic and manual releasing controls components and a containment system for complete containment of a 10 minute foam discharge, with underground storage tanks and door trench drains and a pre-package fire pump system for support of both hangars.

'The fire protection work at NAS Pensacola will provide a reliable water supply, fire detection, low expansion foam fire extinguishing system, and containment system to detect and extinguish a fuel spill originating from an aircraft undergoing maintenance operations,' said NAVFAC Southeast Supervisory Fire Protection Engineer Taylor Hudson.

Without such systems, a fuel spill could spread across the hangar floor under other aircraft until an ignition source occurs, at which time the pool fire would envelop all or most aircraft in the facility, typically resulting in total loss of all involved aircraft.

'Conventional water based fire sprinklers are ineffective at extinguishing such pool fires,' continued Hudson. 'The new system also has a passive containment system to capture and contain all spilt fuel and foam extinguishing agent in underground tanks for proper disposal after the fire incident.'

Site work will include underground piping from fire pumps to each hangar system, piping from aqueous film forming foam door trenches to containment tanks, diverter valves, manholes, oil water separators, pavement repairs, and associated work to support aqueous film forming foam systems to include coatings of the wet fire sprinkler piping.

Work is expected to be complete by January 2019.

NAS Pensacola, situated in Escambia County, employs more than 16,000 military and 7,400 civilian personnel. This includes major tenant commands: Naval Aviation Schools Command, Naval Air Technical Training Center, Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21 and 23, the Blue Angels, and the headquarters for Naval Education Training Command, a command which combines direction and control of all Navy education and training.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navfachq/.