Appendix G Handpiling.docx

CORP 2.0 Appendix G Handpiling

HAND PILING

(1) When hand piling for a unit is ordered at the same time as thinning, the hand piling shall be completed within 21 days of when the unit is thinned. This requirement is important to the construction of acceptable handpiles and is critical to achieving the desired result from handpiling of thinning slash and to facilitate a timely inspection. For units where hand piling is ordered at the same time as the thinning, the contractor will need to submit plots cards to the Government on a frequent basis (as discussed at the pre-work meeting) to ensure the Government is able to make timely inspections of both the thinning and hand piling. On the plot card the contractor will need to write the date that the thinning was completed and the date that the hand piling was completed. Slash piled beyond the 21 day timeframe is paid at a reduced rate, see Payment Section. Exceptions to the 21 day timeframe may be permitted at the Contracting Officer’s discretion due to circumstances such as but not limited to, an IFPL shutdown, forest closure due to a wildfire, or obligations of the Contractor to send crews on fire assignments. The Contractor needs to plan the accomplishment of work with consideration of weather, time of year, seasonal timing restrictions, and the capacity of crews to accomplish work.

(2) Fuels to be piled include:

(A.) Material greater than or equal to ½ inch diameter up to 6 inches in diameter, measured at the small end, and greater than or equal to 18 inches in length.

Example: When one end of material is at or below 6 inches in diameter, and 18 inches or greater in length, and the other end is over 6 inches in diameter, material shall be placed in pile.

(B.) Refer to detailed information sheets as some units will require both existing fuels and activity created fuels to be piled.

(3) All piles shall be created so the material will not roll downhill during burning.

(4) Teepee-style piles will not be accepted. Teepee-style piles are defined as piles constructed where material is not in parallel alignment, and/or piles that are wider at the base than at the top of the pile. All piles shall be generally the same width and length from the base of the pile to the top, regardless of size. It is strongly recommended that cut material to be 6’ in length wherever possible to ensure uniformity in pile shape and size.

(5) Piles will be at a minimum between 5 and 7 feet in height (piles can be taller than 7’ as long as there are no negative effects to leave trees), and between 6 and 8 feet in width and length. Pile size will be considered unsatisfactory if the pile, after 7 days of being piled, does not meet these standards for size. Pile height will be measured at the mid-slope portion of the pile, and pile width and length will be measured at the mid-point portion of the pile 3 feet above the ground surface. Example: it is not acceptable to have a width of 8’ with height of 5’ or less, this constitutes a teepee style pile, piles should be as “box-like” in shape as possible.

(6) All piles must be compact. Compact piles can be described as being “box-like” or “suitcased”. Making compact piles are achieved by (but not limited to):

a. Aligning the stems/branches/boles parallel with each other.

b. Placing the stems/boles/branches perpendicular to the slope.

c. Placing some of the heavier material on top of the pile.

d. Cutting at least 2 sides of the material before being placed on the pile.

e. Cutting of piled material may be needed to achieve compactness.

f. Trimming piles on both ends.

Piles will be considered unacceptable if they have material on or in the pile that is not limbed (on at least two sides) or compact, and the material is at risk of rolling off the pile in a wind event or burning operations.

(7) All material placed in the pile shall be contained within the general contour of the pile size as described in Section 5 above. General contour, defined as 12” beyond the furthest most portion of bole or material in pile. Trimming of the piles will be required when any piled slash extends 12 inches or more beyond the general perimeter of the pile, or to achieve compactness as determined by the CO, COR, or GTM. The material that is trimmed will be placed back onto the pile.

(8) Locate hand piles so that burning will not cause damage to leave trees, large snags (16 inch DBH and larger) and large down logs (15 inch diameter and larger). Piles will be located in openings and 10 feet from the dripline of leave trees. Piles shall be a minimum of 6 feet from large snags and large down logs. No piles shall be made within 20 feet of genetic select trees and landline survey trees. No piles shall be made within 10 feet of roads, fences, and trails. On occasion heavy slash loadings may require a variance from this, which will be determined in the field with the COR.

(9) In areas of thinning units where the slash loading is lighter and a hand pile is constructed that is smaller than the size range stated above in Section 5, the pile will be considered acceptable if all of the required material to be piled as per contract (listed above in Section 2) in the surrounding 50 feet of said pile has been cleaned up and placed in the pile. In these situations, there shall not be another hand pile within that surrounding 50 foot zone. For illustration purposes, if there is a second hand pile within the 50 foot zone and both hand piles are smaller than the size stated in Section 5 above, then these two hand piles should have been combined into one hand pile.

(10) If material is mistakenly cut outside the unit, it shall be brought into the unit and placed in piles.

(11) For units that require existing materials to be piled, only sound wood will be required to be placed in piles, this includes material absent of bark, needles etc.

(12) Re-works: In the event a unit fails inspection and needs re-worked, only one re-work will be allowed. If re-work fails inspection, unit may be paid at lesser rate as determined by CO.