Item Number: 10
Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: February 6, 2024
Submitted By:
C. Eric Ray, Airport Director
Subject:
Award of Consultant/Professional Services Provider Standard Agreement for Fire Sprinkler Analysis & Design, Project #ESC24-062
Recommendation:
That the Southern California Logistics Airport Authority (Authority) Board of Directors approve the Award of a Consultant/Professional Services Provider Standard Agreement (“Agreement”) to Jensen Hughes, Inc. in the amount not to exceed $192,700 for Hangar Fire Sprinkler Analysis and Design, Project #ESC24-062.
Fiscal Impact:
Funds of $220,000 have been budgeted in Airport Operations Fund 450 for PFAS Remediation Study. The award of this Agreement will result in the expenditure of funds from the Airport Operations Fund 450 in the amount not to exceed $192,700. The budget is outlined below:
Current Budget
Revenue Expense
450 Airport Operations Fund $0 $220,000
Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal A. Financial Sustainability: This project will produce future cost-savings on fire- suppression system maintenance and repairs for the Southern California Logistics Airport (“SCLA”).
Goal E. Invest in Infrastructure: This project provides a long-term fire-suppression solution to revenue-generating assets at the airport.
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3 Background:
The Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) owns and leases seven aircraft hangars where aviation-related services are provided by airport tenants, including Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations, and aircraft painting. Due to the various operations that occur within these facilities, including the housing of fueled aircraft, foam/water fire-suppression systems are required to be installed and operated in compliance with California Fire Code (“CFC”) Section 914.8.3, which complies with fire- suppression system requirements contained within National Fire Protection Agency (“NFPA”) 409 Standard on Aircraft Hangars. Since NFPA 409 Standard identifies aviation fuel as a hazard, aircraft hangar fire suppression systems have required the use Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (“AFFF”), which contains Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (“PFAS”).
When used in fire suppression systems, PFAS based foams spread out and cool the fire to aid in suppression.
PFAS is a family of more than 3,000 manmade and mostly unregulated chemicals that have been produced since the mid-1900’s and have been used throughout multiple industries including food packaging, consumer goods, and industrial products. Having recently discovered the serious impacts that PFAS chemicals have on public health and the environment, state and federal regulations are emerging to limit the use of these chemicals. Consequently, state and federal legislation has been adopted to restrict the use of products containing PFAS. On January 1, 2022, the manufacture, sale, and use of AFFF was banned within California by the adoption of California State Senate Bill 1044 (“SB-1044”), which initiated associated deadlines to meet these requirements dependent on the facility and its operations. For aircraft hangars that are required to have a foam fire-suppression system and ability to provide 110% containment of AFFF discharge, these facilities had until January 1, 2024, to meet the requirements set forth in SB-1044.
On December 21, 2021, SCLA submitted a formal letter to the California State Fire Marshal’s Office requesting an extension of this deadline until January 1, 2025, as the development of new PFAS-free foam technology was still in its infancy. The State Fire Marshal granted the SCLA an extension deadline of January 01, 2025 to have a new PFAS-free system installed in its hangars.
Currently, there are several PFAS-free foams commercially available, but these products present their own associated issues and challenges. As there is no 100% compatible replacement product for the existing AFFF, the SCLA’s current fire-suppression systems would require a complete overhaul to ensure functionality with a vendor’s specific foam product. Concerningly, the new PFAS-free foam has shown in recent testing that it is not as effective in firefighting operations and potentially compromises the life safety for personnel within these hangars. Lastly, PFAS-free foam raises several environmental concerns relating to biodegradability, aquatic toxicity, and traces of PFAS that are still present within these new products. Due to the fluidity in PFAS environmental legislation, replacing AFFF foam with PFAS-free foam has the potential to bring-forth additional environmental risks in the future.
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3 Moreover, comprehensive research regarding this matter has been independently conducted by the United States Department of Defense (“DOD”), the University of Maryland, and Global Aerospace Insurance, with all concluding that foam sprinkler systems are of little firefighting value while presenting significant life safety, environmental, and financial risk to hangar owners and occupants. In fact, the entire DOD, the largest owner and operator of aircraft hangars in the world, has transitioned away from foam systems in favor of water only fire suppression. Taking these concerns into account, the SCLA management believes the use of PFAS-free foam is not an appropriate solution to best promote life safety and environmental stewardship.
Due to the approaching deadline set forth by SB-1044, SCLA staff has performed in depth research and concluded that the concept of an automatic wet-pipe sprinkler and water cannon system in lieu of PFAS-free foam could provide an acceptable level of fire protection and life safety, while eliminating future environmental risks related to PFAS- free alternatives.
Discussion:
SCLA staff have been actively engaged in researching alternative fire-suppression system methods to meet the requirements set-forth in SB-1044 and NFPA 409. As SB- 1044 brought forth new regulations on the use of AFFF in hangar fire-suppression systems, NFPA 409 was subsequently amended to provide greater flexibility in meeting code compliance and fire-suppression system requirements. Within the 2022 Edition of NFPA 409, Fire Risk Assessments can now be performed to justify alternative fire protection methods in aircraft hangars, permitting the approval from the Authority Having Jurisdiction (“AHJ”). After further collaboration with various fire-suppression industry experts, the SCLA staff has moved forward in drafting a Fire Risk Assessment which provided justification to transition from AFFF systems to an automatic wet-pipe sprinkler and water cannon system. This draft assessment was presented and discussed with the AHJ outlining a potential course-of-action, where it was met with support and additional guidance.
As requested by the AHJ, SCLA management is requesting assistance from a licensed Fire Protection Engineer (“FPE”) who will assist SCLA staff in refining its Fire Risk Assessment by conducting a comprehensive Fire Hazard Analysis (“FHA”) for each hangar and assist in the process of converting the current aircraft hangar fire-suppression systems. The FPE will also assist in the preparation of an Alternative Means and Methods Request (“AMMR”) for each hangar, as CFC regulation has yet to be amended to adopt the 2022 Edition of NFPA 409 standards. An AMMR allows engineers to propose alternative solutions to satisfying code requirements. Since the current CFC and NFPA codes are not completely aligned with regards to PFAS-free alternatives, an AMMR is necessary to demonstrate the functionality of the wet-pipe system.
To move forward with the wet-pipe transition, staff sought the assistance of a FPE firm.
Staff contacted all known industry consultants in search of a firm that has the expertise, knowledge, and willingness to support the wet-pipe transitions. Staff contacted three 5 9
3 engineering firms that have fire suppression system experience. Two firms’ visions for the project were not aligned with that of staff, and they lacked specific experience with wet-pipe engineering. A consultant that worked on implementing the current AFFF system over 15 years ago recommended the firm Jensen Hughes.
In consultation with the Purchasing Manager and in compliance with City Municipal Code
2.28.280, which sets forth guidelines for the award of consultant/professional services contracts based upon competence, staff contacted Jensen Hughes and obtained information and references concerning their expertise with wet-pipe system transitions.
Staff contacted multiple references from Jensen Hughes and were impressed with the expertise and abilities that the references described regarding Jensen Hughes services with their transition to wet-pipe fire suppression systems in aircraft hangars.
After vetting their references, staff requested a proposal from Jensen Hughes regarding the fire hazard assessments, AMMR’s, and transition design plans. The Jensen Hughes proposal was carefully reviewed and found to be aligned with the vision of the SCLA with regards to the transition plan and timeline.
In consideration of the specialized nature of transitioning a PFAS based AFFF system to a wet-pipe system, the impending transition deadline of January 01, 2025, the importance of the safety of the personnel that utilize the seven hangars at the SCLA, Jensen Hughes demonstrated competence of comparable projects, and their understanding of the SCLA’s fire suppression system transition, staff desires to work with Jensen Hughes on this critical project.
Due to the approaching deadline set forth by SB-1044, SCLA has researched and concluded that the concept of an automatic wet-pipe sprinkler and water cannon system in lieu of PFAS-free foam would provide an acceptable level of fire protection and life safety, while eliminating future environmental risks related to PFAS-free alternatives. The concept of transitioning to a water only system is currently being performed by the DOD for their hangar facilities.
Staff remains available for any questions or comments that you may have.
CER/jsm
Attachments: Attachment A – Consultant/Professional Services Provider Agreement, Scope of Services, Jensen Hughes LLC Proposal.