SAV VOR Site Visit Report 11-21-17.pdf

Federal Aviation Administration

Site Survey Report

11/21/2017 SAV VOR, Refurbish Elevated Counterpoise, Savannah GA Unstaffed Infrastructure Sustainment Project, (UIS)

JCN: 1508779 JON: 1217SO0275

Background:

On 11/21/2017 FAA Engineering Services visited Savannah Georgia VOR to perform a site survey in order to develop a general plan to refurbish the elevated counterpoise. Richard Polk AJW-2E15J from the Atlanta Engineering Center was accompanied by Rommel Beck WEX22 from Savannah SSC during inspection.

Report:

SAV VOR is located off the perimeter service road adjacent to the Savannah International Airport. It’s 1000 feet down a gravel driveway. The site is enclosed with a galvanized chain link security fence.

There’s a large five story tall galvanized steel tower structure, five story stairway, fiberglass VOR antenna cover, 50 mushroom antennas, upper & lower VOR equipment shelter, 1000 gal propane tank, 500 kva transformer, TACAN and VOR monitor antenna poles and, gravel entrance road & parking area located on site.

Only the exterior of facility was examined. Equipment shelters were not entered during inspection.

SAV VOR is not a typical FAA VOR facility. The galvanized steel VOR platform is 47 feet above ground. The platform is 100’ in diameter. Fifty monitor antennas are arranged in a 44 foot diameter circle around a 20 foot high fiberglass teepee. The inner 44 foot diameter platform decking is 7 lb/sq ft galvanized steel expanded metal grating. The remaining 56 feet is 3lb/sq ft expanded metal grating. The upper equipment room is a typical FAA 8’x12’ fiberglass shelter. The Ground level equipment room is a 29’x21’ concrete shelter.

Galvanized conduits that serve the fifty antennas are suspended below the platform. See pictures attached to report below.

The structural integrity of the elevated platform appears to be in good condition. Rigid galvanized steel conduits that serve the antennas & lights also look good. But, threaded hardware parts & clamps that fasten conduit to structure are impaired. Light to heavy rust & corrosion appears on the conduit clamps & threaded rod “trapeze” style supports. There is no indication that any of these fasteners will fail soon. However, given enough time the supports could fail causing conduits serving the monitor antennas to become disconnected from tower platform.

Existing SAV VOR conduit fasteners don’t appear to have the corrosion resistant properties required for the local environment. They look like ordinary zinc plated steel items. All these fasteners must be replaced and, upgraded to stainless steel items. There also appears to be surface rust on the metal antenna deck grating.

There is a complete set of drawings in the FAA database that describes SAV VOR. There are no individual drawings contained within this series that describe the conduit hangers. So, trapeze style supports were designed and implemented in the field. FAA Construction drawing series SO-D-103166 are dated 10/31/2000.

There are no as built dates or revision dates. FSEP records indicate an original VOR commission date of 1949 and an equipment swap date of 07/29/2003. The facility is estimated to be between 14 and 17 years old.

Field Notes:

1. Damp overcast day.

2. 12 to 13 runs of 1” RGS conduit from each side of upper equipment building to antennas. 50 runs total.

3. Appx. (20) 3/8”x2’ threaded rods, (10) 1-5/8” galvanized frame, (60) 1” zinc plated clamps X (4) sides of building.

4. Appx. (6) more unistrut trapeze for various other conduits not part of monitor array.

5. Trapeze hang 2’ below top of counterpoise. So, need a lift capable of a working level of 45’ to 47’

6. Work will require heavy duty lift with articulated boom that will extend over ground level equipment shelter.

7. Project will require workers with high degree of climbing safety skills.

8. SOW must include requirement for a comprehensive fall safety protection plan.

9. Need to replace all parts of trapeze with stainless steel. SS unistrut, threaded rod, nuts, bolts, square washers, clamps, etc. See pictures for take off on parts.

10. Beam clamps look OK w/exception of the threaded bolts.

11. VOR antenna deck is corroded and needs some type treatment.

12. Large street light hanging below deck needs to be removed and replaced with smaller easier to service unit.

13. Teepee & monitor antennas are covered in lichen, moss, & algae. Teepee & monitor antenna covers need to be pressure washed & re-coated with epoxy paint.

14. Expanded metal decking has light surface rust. Needs a coating of cold galvanizing paint.

15. Tower & stair foundation bolts show light to heavy rust. Need to be wire brushed, treated with rust remover, & coated with cold galvanizing paint.

16. Climbing safety rail on VOR monitor pole is damaged and needs to be replaced.

17. Contact SSC Mgr. Maria Zingg, WEX22, at 912-964-3160 or Coordinator Curtis Tucker at 912-964-3160 to arrange a visit.

Location:

32.146260 N, 81.1991 W, elev. 22’

FAA SAV SSC

100 Melaver Dr.

Savannah, GA 31408

Measurements: (Unistrut no.’s are for existing zinc plated finish parts – not for new construction).

1. 1-5/8”x1-5/8” metal framing, Unistrut part no. P1000

2. 1” diameter RGS conduit

3. 1” diameter RGS conduit clamps, Unistrut part no. P1113

4. 3” diameter RGS conduit clamps, Unistrut part no. P1119

5. 3/8” threaded rod with 3/8” nuts & washers

6. 1-5/8”x1/4” -3/8” Plate Fitting Unistrut part no. P1063

7. 1” Beam Clamps, Thomas & Betts part no. SC 215

Reference Drawings:

SO-D-103166 series 10/31/2000

Action items:

1. Do research on work lifts. Determine what types of lifts are capable of working up to 60’. Determine what type lift can extend over the lower equipment building.

2. Obtain guidance from FAA climbing safety personnel on the best techniques to use and, how to write a climbing safety narrative into the SOW.

3. Research stainless materials. Determine a manufacturer of stainless threaded rod. Look up prices for stainless steel framing & clamps in the Unistrut catalog.

4. Research rust removal & protective coatings that can be applied to tower & stair anchor bolts.

5. Produce a scope of work design & cost estimate to upgrade SAV VOR with stainless conduit supports. Include a comprehensive climbing safety requirement in SOW.

6. Produce SOW documents that can be advertised for bid offers.

7. Obtain construction project funding authorization.

8. Work with the FAA Procurement system. Locate at least three qualified construction contractors and, ask for bid offers. Hire a qualified Contractor to perform work.

9. Provide SAV SSC with a refurbished VOR.

Pictures:

1. SAV VOR

2. SAV VOR

3. Upper Level Equipment Shelter

4. Trapeze conduit hangers, 1” RGS conduit & rusted clamps.

5. Rusted 1” conduit clamps (probably common zinc plated hardware)

6. Conduit distribution box. (1) on each side of upper equipment shelter.

7. Threaded rod, plate fitting, nuts & washers, (probably common zinc plated hardware)

8. 1” galvanized beam clamp

9. 1” galvanized beam clamp

10. Antenna level expanded metal grating

11. Antenna level deck

12. VOR – TACAN fiberglass antenna shelter

13. Ground level equipment building.

14. Stair from 4th level to ground

15. 1000 gal propane tank

16. XFMR & Meter

17. Monitor antenna pole

18. Tacan monitor pole. Note: defective climbing safety rail.

19. New stainless steel pipe clamp next to old zinc plated clamp serving 1000 gal propane tank

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this report.

Richard Polk

DOT/FAA, AJW-2E15J

Campus Building 1701 Columbia Ave.

College Park, GA 30337 o: 404-305-7445 c: 678-485-6811

*~* END *~*