Pine Bluff Agent
Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pine Bluff, AR
This project demonstrates:
- Quality – Similar to NQA-1
- Fabrication – HVAC Ductwork
- Fab Shop – Local to the Project
- Design – Ductwork & Supports
- Construction – HVAC Systems
- Relevant Personnel Experience
- Project Controls & Scheduling
The Challenge
The United States Army's Pine Bluff Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (PBCDF) is a highly technical, state-of-the-art facility for the purpose of destroying chemical agents contained in various obsolete weapons in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Washington Group International, Inc. (WGI) was hired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct the PBCDF. The facility is designed to thermally destroy these obsolete weapons by incineration.
Because of the toxic and hazardous nature of the substances being processed at the PBCDF, the quality of the work performed was similar to nuclear quality standards and was under extensive quality review by various government agencies.
Intermech's Response
Intermech, Inc. was selected by WGI to provide fabrication and installation of galvanized and welded stainless steel ductwork systems for supply, exhaust and recirculation air distribution systems as well as fabrication and installation of seismic duct supports and hangers for all safety critical systems on the project.
Intermech worked with PBCDF's design and engineering staff on the design and fabrication of the HVAC duct and supports (Intermech performed the detailed design work). After Washington Group International approval, Intermech fabricated, installed and performed critical leak testing of the HVAC systems.
The Results
Intermech fabricated and installed safety critical and commercial grade HVAC infrastructure throughout the PBCDF under a quality program that closely mirrored NQA-1 standards while meeting all schedule and project budget requirements. The sheet metal ductwork and supports fabrication was performed at a local fabrication facility that Intermech designed, mobilized and operated in Pine Bluff, AR. This localized fabrication facility solution was operational within ninety days of contract award and provided unique advantages to the project in terms of scheduling flexibility, rapid delivery responses, reduced transportation costs of fabricated ductwork and an improved interface with project engineering and construction management versus using a remote manufacturing facility. Intermech's superior performance in the fabrication and installation of safety critical HVAC systems has resulted in the successful award and completion of three additional major U.S. Army Chemical Demilitarization Facilities to date with a fourth major facility currently under construction.