J-C8_Petagon_Memorial_Lighting_History.pdf

Pentagon Memorial Lighting History

Page 1 of 3 August 30, 2013

Memorial Unit Lighting History:

The Memorial Unit (MU) lighting system has been problematic throughout the life of the Memorial;

• The circuits for the MUs use custom made Light Housing Utility Boxes (LHUB) as a junction point for their designated runs from light to light. Each junction point contains multiple circuits that have water resistant wire nut connections at each

LHUB.

• Water in the LHUBs has been observed. Condensation on the inside lid of the LHUB along with water penetrating in through the conduit has been found. This moisture within this junction point has been excessive at times creating a failure point in the circuit causing the GFCIs to trip.

• The original installers introduced an (encapsulate) by pouring a substance into the LHUB, which covered the wiring connections in an effort to waterproof the circuit at each LHUB. This process did not sufficiently keep the electrical components dry and made troubleshooting any faulty circuit or just doing maintenance more difficult.

• The MUs have had faulty wiring and conduit replaced in multiple locations throughout the Memorial in an effort to solve the lighting problems.

GFCIs:

• The boxes that house the GFCI's are located within the flower bed of the age wall and have been found to be insufficient for ground application. Water infiltration is evident in 50% of the boxes. Overall the GFCI boxes are worn out because of the multiple times the boxes have been accessed to trouble shoot failed lighting.

• The lights do have a high failure rate due to the GFCIs in the field tripping daily at times.

The last Maintenance contractor for the Memorial working on maintaining the lights for the past 5 years has engaged the services of two electrical contractors in the past, both have failed to permanently repair the problems.

At this time there is a Lighting Study in place to evaluate and provide a solution to the lighting problems. 4 Mock Ups of the proposed lighting solutions are in place in the Memorial for testing and review by the Government. When the Study is

Page 2 of 3 August 30, 2013 complete the 4 units will be placed back to their original configuration and condition and will then be maintained by the new Memorial Maintenance contractor. The current contractor is maintain the MU lighting on a weekly and sometimes a daily bases. Mainly resetting GFCI’s, drying out MU junctions boxes and/or replacing components when needed.

Average yearly list of failed MU lighting components

CERCUITS From Power Panel #3

Water Removed from MU Box in an effort to reset

GFCI.

GFCI

Failure

MU

Generator Failure

Lighting Ballast Failure

QL

Bulb replaced

Circuit 1

An Average of 82 times a year

Circuit 2 (NIS)

Circuit 3

Circuit 4 Circuit 5

Circuit 7 3

Circuit 9 Circuit 11 Circuit 12 Circuit 13 Circuit 20 Circuit 22

The main Circuits to the MU lighting can have more than one GFCI at the end of each circuit before powering the MU; which will split the circuits into multiple individual circuits within the Memorial.

Special Events: In 2012 it was estimated that 25 ceremonies, which the bulk of the specials events occurred during the months of October – December. This amount will vary each year.

Page 3 of 3 August 30, 2013