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 VFP
Fire Systems installed fire sprinklers and two diesel fire
pumps to protect the building that houses
the
only
power
generating
engines on Shemya Island, Alaska. Shemya Island is the home
of Eareckson Air Force Base. VFP along with American
Fire Technology were subcontractors to Fluor, the general
contractor to the
Dept.
of Defense.
Shemya
is a two by four mile island located 1500 miles outside
of Anchorage. It is near the western end of the Aleutian Island
chain.
Shemya Island
is a
strategic refueling stop for military aircraft, as well as
a link in the
United State's long-range early warning
radar system.
It is closer to Russia than it is to the USA/Alaska
mainland.
 The
Japanese occupied Attu Island, northwest of Shemya, and several
others in the Aleutian chain during WWII.
More men and equipment were lost due to the harsh climate on
Shemya Island than to the physical fighting between warring
sides.
The
only way to or from Shemya Island is via military plane/C-130
military airlift. Travel is hampered by weather most of the
time but on a good day it is a 5 hour flight from Anchorage
to the Island. |
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Paul
Whanger - Superintendent |
This
project
took 6 months with an average crew of 10; including project
managers, pipe fitters and welders. It was a challenge
for the VFP crew because the weather on Shemya Island is unpredictable.
It can go from sunny
to snowing to rain, then back to sunny in the space of
a few hours. At times it can be so windy you have to grab
onto others so you don't blow away.
At
one point there was an earthquake in Japan that caused
a tsunami
(tidal wave) predicted to be 30 feet high and engulf
Shemya Island. Luckily it dissipated before reaching the
island.
VFP has
an outstanding reputation for performing challenging projects
like the installation of fire sprinkler systems
on Shemya Island. Because there is no margin for error when
it comes to fire protection systems, VFP consistently
delivers quality, customer satisfaction, professionalism,
integrity and value.
Mike
Gifford, Executive Vice President, wants to thank Paul
Whanger (shown in the picture) and the complete professional
team. They have consistently traveled, with no limits,
serving this nation with professionalism. |
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| VFP
installed two types of fire sprinkler systems
on Shemya Island; wet pipe and preaction. |
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| Wet
Pipe Fire Sprinkler System |
Control
Valve on Wet Pipe Fire Sprinkler System |
The
wet pipe fire sprinkler system protects the high-bay of the
generating facility which houses the 13,600 V-generators. Wet pipe
fire sprinkler systems are the most common fire sprinkler
system. A wet pipe system is one in which water is constantly
maintained within the sprinkler piping. When a sprinkler
activates this water is immediately discharged onto the fire. |
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Wet
Pipe Fire Sprinkler System Main Feed Going into the
Warehouse |
In
the picture to the right, VFP personnel are installing the
main feed going into the warehouse from the fire pumps. |
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2-4"
+ 8" Pipe
Supplying the Wet Pipe Fire Sprinklers in
the Generating Building |
Here
VFP personnel are welding 8” pipe feeding from the diesel
pump to the high-bay area of the generating building. |
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| Preaction Fire
Sprinkler System |
Control
Valve on Preaction Fire Sprinkler System |
The preaction
fire sprinkler system protects the administrative offices,
break area and storage room. The system also protects
the control room panels and power generators in the switch
gear area. The control room panels run the power generators. Preaction
systems are similar to dry pipe systems in that water is
not normally contained within the pipes. The difference,
however, is that water is held from piping by an electrically
operated solenoid valve, that in turn trips the preaction valve. |
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Fire
Alarm Control Panel |
To
initiate sprinkler discharge, the detection system must
identify a developing fire by independent flame, heat,
or smoke detection.
The
fire alarm control panel is located inside the main control
panel
which controls the building's alarm systems. The fire alarm
control panel sends a signal to the solenoid valve
to
open the preaction valve in the case of a fire. This
allows water to flow into system piping, which effectively
creates
a wet pipe sprinkler
system.
Individual sprinkler heads must release to permit water flow
onto the fire. This dual action
provides an added level of protection against inadvertent discharge.
For this reason, preaction systems are frequently employed
in water sensitive environments.
VFP
Personnel Installing Galvanized Fire Protection Piping
from the 100,000 Gallon Fire Water
Storage Tank |
Galvanized
piping was used in the preaction fire sprinkler system to prevent
rusting. Pipes in preaction systems tend to rust faster because
they are exposed to the atmosphere unlike pipes in wet systems
that are constantly filled with water. |
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| General
System Information |
Diesel
Fire Pump |
Because
the fire sprinkler systems protect electric power
generators, it made sense to use an alternative power source
(diesel)
to
run
the fire
pumps. The fire
pumps ensure adequate pressure to the fire sprinkler
system. The
picture to the right is one of two diesel fire pumps. It
protects
the generating facility, administrative office and radar facility.
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The relief
valve is used in case the fire pumps start by mistake and pressure
builds up in the system. The valve relieves pressure by directing
some of the water back into the tank.
The blue area
in the picture below is the recirculating pump for heating the
water tank.
|
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View
of Relief Valve off the Diesel Fire Pump #2 |
|
Recirculating
Pump |
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Fire
Pump Flow Test |
In
the picture to the right, VFP personnel are performing a fire
pump flow test. This test ensures there is enough water
volume according to the Army Corps of Engineer's specifications.
To test the water flow, a pito tube is hand held in the center
of a 1 3/4 inch smooth bore nozzle at the end of the hose. |
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Seismic
Earthquake Braces |
Seismic earthquake
braces are used on 6“and 8“ piping to prevent the
pipes from falling in the event of an earthquake.
Back
Flow Preventer |
In the background
is the stainless steel back flow preventer in the picture to
the right. The back flow preventer is a double check valve assembly.
If pressure
is reduced
the
valves will close, preventing the back flow of polluted water
into the water supply. |
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For
additional information visit our
web site at: www.vfpfire.com
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