Attachment 2 Pressure Fitting Survey.pdf

Andy Wesolowski

M&O General Foreman – Engineering

Lexington VA Health Care System

Troy Bowling Campus

1101 Veterans Dr

Lexington, KY 40502

Date: December 14, 2022

RE: VHA Operational Alert and Guidance Document FY2022 – 01

Cast Iron Fittings / Valve Housing Use in High and Medium Pressure

Steam Distribution Systems

Mr. Wesolowski, In conjunction with Finney Mechanical Inc., we/CMTA reviewed the existing steam and condensate piping systems that are presently installed and operating at or above 15 psi, at the Veterans Dr location.

In total between the piping entrance at the chiller plant, the tunnel routing and at the building, this system is approximately 300’-350’ in overall length, with a considerable amount of direction changes.

The majority of the system is concealed in insulation and required temporary removal of sections of insulation through-out. With the size and number of fittings involved in a system of this type it is possible that some fittings/valves, devices may have been missed. It would be our opinion that the only way to confidently locate 100% of all possible fittings/valves/devices that fall under the restraints of this investigation would be to remove all the insulation from the system. Based on the on-site investigation it appears that all the fittings/valves/devices are of cast iron/ductile material in lieu of cast/forged steel material.

An extensive list of fittings/valves/devices are listed on the following pages:

VA Chiller Plant

• 90-degree elbows o ¾” - 6 o 1 ¼” – 7 o 1 ½” – 3 o 2” – 1

• 45-degree elbows o 1 ¼” – 7 o 1 ½” – 3

• T-fittings o ¾” – 3 o 1” – 5 o 1 ¼” – 9 o 1 ½” – 5

• Unions o ½” – 2 o ¾” – 4 o 1 ¼” – 5

• Reducers o 1”x1/2” – 1 o 1 ½”x1” – 1

• Strainers o ¾” – 5 o 1” – 1

• Traps o ½” – 2 o ¾” – 3

Tunnel from VA Chiller Plant to VA Building

• 90-degree elbows o 1 ¼” – 3 o 1 ½” – 3

• 45-degree elbows o 1 ¼” – 2 o 1 ½” – 2

VA Building

• 90-degree elbows o ¾” – 50+ o 1” – 27 o 1 ¼” – 20 o 1 ½” – 16 o 2” – 1

• 45-degree elbow o 1 ½” – 6

• T-fittings o ¾” – 18 o 1” – 10 o 1 ¼” – 3 o 2” - 3

• Unions o ¾” – 33 o 1” – 12 o 1 ¼” – 12 o 1 ½” – 5 o 2” – 2

• Reducers o 1”x3/4” – 3 o 1 ¼”x1 ½” – 1 o 1 ½”x1/2” – 4 o ½”x1/4” – 3

• Traps o ½” – 3 o ¾” – 13

• Strainers o ¾” – 9 o 1” – 1 o 1 ¼” – 3

The list of fittings/valves /devices was determined based on what system insulation that could be removed. There are portion of the existing system that will require possible asbestos abatement as part of portions of the system insulation to confirm that all components are replaced.

Based on the considerable amount of labor that will be required to remove the system insulation and remove all the components listed above, in addition to any possible asbestos abatement for a system of this age and condition. It would be our recommendation to replace the system in sections through-out.

There is a high possibility that the existing piping will not be stable enough to allow removal of the existing fittings/valves/devices and the installation of new components onto the remaining piping.

The next step would be to evaluate the system as a whole and determine how it can be replaced in sections with the shortest amount of down time for each section and the facility.

Respectfully, Rick Caswell, LEED AP, CxA

Construction Administration - CA