Tiburon Fire Protection District (TFPD)

Request for Proposals for a Diesel Exhaust Removal System 2010

Primary Contact: Captain Steven Ardigo  (415) 435-7200 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Alternate Contact:  Chief Richard Pearce  (415)435-7200 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Location: Tiburon Fire Protection District Station #11  1679 Tiburon Blvd.  Tiburon, CA  94920
Tiburon Fire Protection District Station #10  4301 Paradise Dr.  Tiburon, CA  94920


Overview

Our request is to remove 100% of diesel exhaust from at least five (5) vehicles in our apparatus engine rooms at two separate fire stations through the use of a direct-capture system consisting of but not limited to: a nozzle, hose, ductwork and fan.

Our situation – we have at least five (5) diesel vehicles with undercarriage exhaust pipes. There are at least three (3) apparatus/vehicles at Station 11 and two (2) apparatus/vehicles at Station 10.  Each station is unique in design and has different needs.  The station design and apparatus/vehicle location will dictate the hose drop and exhaust fan locations.

The Proposal Period begins on August 2, 2010, ending on September 3, 2010 at 12:00pm. Proposals will be opened at TFPD Station 11 at 12:00pm on September 3, 2010.  The TFPD Diesel Exhaust Committee shall make a final determination and award the bid by September 10, 2010.

General Requirements

The proposal shall include the installation of an NFPA 1500-2002 compliant, 100% direct-source capture exhaust system which allows for a minimum of five (5) apparatus/vehicles at two (2) stations.

The proposal shall be a complete and whole proposal with no alternatives provided. Options may not be included in the proposal. A single, total price will be provided to remove exhaust fumes from our apparatus engine rooms and to meet the requirements of this RFP.

Specific vehicle placement is to be determined by the TFPD.  The Bidder/Installer (Contractor) should inspect and survey the fire station engine rooms and the apparatus/vehicles locations within.  The site visit is not mandatory, but is recommended for the Contractor to be thoroughly familiar with the field conditions and requirements where the complete system is to be installed and made operational.  The site visit dates shall be determined by a TFPD contact and shall be conducted only during the Proposal Period.  All site visits must have prior authorization from a TFPD contact.

It shall be understood and agreed upon by the Contractor the work herein shall be complete in every detail, even though every item involved is not particularly mentioned. The Contractor shall be held to provide all labor, materials, permits and licensing for the completion of the work intended and described, and shall not avail himself/herself of any manifestly unintentional error or omission, should such exist.

The TFPD reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, and to waive technicalities and informalities. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of information in the request for bids, we recognize the information may not be complete in every detail and all the work may not be expressly mentioned in these specifications. It shall be the responsibility of the proposing company to include in their bid all pertinent information in accordance with the objectives of the TFPD.

Should any error or inconsistency appear in drawings, specifications, or verbal instructions by appropriate authorities, the Contractor shall make mention of the same to Captain Steven Ardigo before proceeding with the work in question. Further, the Contractor shall be subject to the prevailing installation guidelines, criterion, precautions, warnings, and operating instructions by the exhaust equipment manufacturer, which shall prevail. The final authority to override any disputed matter regarding equipment type, quality assurance, workmanship, materials, adherence to specifications, or any other issues throughout the duration of this project is Captain Steven Ardigo of the TFPD.

The contractor shall warrant for a minimum period of three (3) years after acceptance of the system by the owner: the exhaust system, its components, and components supplied by the installer shall be free from defects in material and workmanship. The system shall operate in accordance with the manufacturer’s published specifications and a copy of the manufacturer’s warranty shall be submitted upon acceptance of the bid.

Any system offered, which adds new or nonstandard system components not normally a part of the standard design used in all other emergency vehicle response applications to date, shall not be accepted without written notice stating such and our written acceptance of such installation.

The proposed, complete exhaust system including the exhaust fan, control box, ductwork, and extraction unit shall be proven and field tested for a minimum of 5 years in the United States of
America.

All system components shall be labeled with manufacturer identification.

Installation of the exhaust system shall be completed by a factory authorized installation team which specializes in the business of installing emergency vehicle exhaust systems.

After installation of the exhaust system all vehicles in the facility will be operated for a period of 15 minutes to ensure the extraction hose, ducting, and fan have been sufficiently sized for all the vehicles operating in the fire station by providing negative pressure from the connection nozzle to the exhaust fan.

Equipment shall be manufactured by a company headquartered in the United States of America. All standards of quality must be met and adhered to including but not limited to: UL, NFPA, AMCA, IMC, UMC, NEC, ASTM and all State of California and Marin County codes and regulations.

The company providing the exhaust venting system shall have ISO 9001 certification.

The Contractor shall also supply:

1. A list of at least five references, using the equipment type proposed by the Bidder. The referral should be a user of the extraction equipment for a minimum of five (5) years.

2. A clear and current Installation Manual of the system and equipment to be installed. It will be part of the department’s evaluation criteria to examine this particular document, so as to understand the equipment better and it’s “marriage” to our building.

3. The Owner’s Manual of the exhaust equipment intended. This will assist the TFPD in educating themselves to the equipment they will be working with, maintaining, and troubleshooting/repairing if necessary.

Functional Requirements

The system must be designed solely for high temperature vehicle exhaust fire rescue applications. The system shall automatically activate, disconnect, shutdown, and reactivate during an emergency situation without human operation.

Air movement

The exhaust system shall maintain the flow of exhaust which matches or exceeds the flow of the vehicle engine exhaust when it is running.

Fan and Motor Assembly

The exhaust fan shall be sized for a minimum adequate amount to simultaneously extract all apparatus gases given current system layout of the exhaust connections.

Each exhaust fan shall be designed specifically for each fire station with these factors being addressed:
1. The size and total number of vehicles being attached to exhaust system.
2. The location of the apparatus/vehicles.
3. The existing electrical phase.
4. The location of the fan on the exterior.

The fan shall be a direct drive centrifugal type, high pressure, single width, single inlet as required or indicated. Impeller wheels shall be of a radial design for high static pressure performance. Impeller wheels shall be spark resistant and made of Almag material to prevent static electricity build up. The impeller shall be dynamically and static balanced, and of the non-overloading type to provide maximum efficiency while achieving quiet, vibration-free operation.

The fan housing shall be manufactured from a nonferrous material or approved equivalent. The fan motor and assembly shall be mounted on a stainless steel frame for durability in any type of weather conditions. The base shall have four (4) pre punched openings at bottom of fan base for field attachment to either an exterior wall or roof structure.

All 1 to 10 horsepower motors shall be totally enclosed fan cooled (TEFC). The bearings shall be self-aligned; ball bearing type permanently sealed and lubricated.  Fan shafts shall be steel and rotate in a non-sparking TEFLON seal to prevent hot gases coming in contact with the motor bearings. The exhaust discharge outlet shall be in compliance with ACGIH recommendations and EPA requirements (min. of 40 ” above roofline). Air intakes, windows, cascade systems, prevailing currents, communication equipment and building aesthetics shall be considered in
the final location of the fan. Silencers shall be provided when fan sound decibels exceed 64 Dba.

Electrical Controllers

The controller shall be manufactured and delivered as an Operating System with one series controller manufactured by the bidder or an equal to the specifications to follow.

The electrical controller offered shall be approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) as a complete electrical system for enclosed industrial control panels. No exceptions.

Electrical controllers shall be UL listed/approved and manufactured in accordance with Underwriters Laboratories standard UL-508 enclosed industrial control panels. The electrical trolley shall include a limited energy control circuit. Enclosures shall be NEMA 12 rated and UL listed as Type 12. The electrical enclosure shall be provided and mounted in an electrical enclosure to restrict access to internal components of controller by only authorized entry.

Contactors shall be provided with the appropriate adjustable overload relays to meet the proper full load amperage of motor that is outlined in these specifications. The contactor shall conform to the following standards: BS-5424, VDE0660, and be approved by UL Certification as an approved component.

Control transformer shall be UL listed industrial control circuit transformer with primary and secondary fuse blocks. Transformer shall be provided with multitap primary 208V through 480V, AC, and 24V through 120V secondary.

A timer will be provided to keep the exhaust fan operating for a period of time designed to completely remove exhaust from the system. Preference will be given to timers easily adjusted by the end user.

Electrical timer shall be solid state, minimum five (5) minute adjustable timer.  The operating logic shall complete this cycle. Input voltage shall be applied to the timer at all times. Upon closure of a normally open isolated start switch, the load energizes and remains energized as long as the switch is closed. When the start switch opens, the timing cycle shall start. At the end of the reset time delay, the load de-energizes and the timer is ready for a new timing cycle. Timer shall be a UL recognized component under file number E65038.

Engine start switch shall be of an engine pressure sensing type, capable of recognizing the output pressure of any type of motor vehicle exhaust. The electrical contact shall be dry type or not to exceed 24V.

Electrical wiring shall be run in wire channel to allow for easier identification of wiring circuit and appearance.  All wiring circuitry shall meet UL listed for proper bending radiuses and terminations.

Electrical terminal block shall be 600 V, UL rated and recognized. It shall provide individual connection points for remote controls, power and motor connections.

Electrical wiring schematic shall be provided with each electrical control box supplied. Wiring schematic shall show internal circuitry as well as all primary and secondary connections to the controller. This schematic shall be provided as a ”D” size print drawing.


To protect the apparatus and communications, designs that incorporate the use of a controller that utilizes or produces an electrical frequency transmission or any possibility of electrical back-feed which may interfere with a central services communication system and/or onboard vehicle computer logic and/or navigational equipment will not be accepted.


Controller performance shall be designed to sense the output pressure, which is normally generated by any internal combustion engine designed to propel a motor vehicle. The operating logic shall be designed to complete this cycle. At any point in time when a collection device is connected to a motor vehicle’s exhaust tailpipe, at which time the operator manually or automatically starts the vehicle, this controller shall automatically sense the engine’s output pressure and in turn energize the electrical contactors which will provide proper full load amperage to the exhaust removal system fan motor. The controller through the use of an adjustable timer shall keep the contactors energized for up to five minutes in accordance with the station response requirement. If the responding vehicle does not disconnect from the exhaust ventilation system in less than the designated setting, a temperature override switch shall be incorporated to override the timer delay relay to ensure continuous system operation. This automated function will work for as long as the exhaust gas temperature is in excess of setting on heat sensor located in the ductwork. This cycle shall not allow the electrical contactor, which energizes the exhaust fan, to short cycle or stop the fan while the system is connected to an operating vehicle.

Ductwork System

Ductwork type and materials shall be UMC class 2 or SMACNA class 11 product conveying. It must meet or exceed criteria for construction and performance as outlined in Round Industrial
Duct Construction Standards, SMACNA. Materials of construction unless otherwise specified for all ductwork and fittings shall be a minimum G-90 galvanized sheet metal in accordance with ASTM-A525 and A527. Only when specified, type 304 stainless steel in accordance with ASTM A240 shall be provided.

All ductwork subject to positive or negative pressure shall be of round, laser welded, pipe construction, with the range of available sizes not to exceed 10 inches in diameter.  Duct gauge shall depend on diameter and a minimum operating pressure of 8 inches water gauge. Acceptable gauge and reinforcement requirements shall be in accordance to the following. Inner duct diameter-- 4" - 7" diameter shall be 26 gauge standard spiral pipe and 9" - 10" diameter shall be 24-gauge standard spiral pipe.

All exhaust fittings shall be round and have a wall thickness 2 gauges (one even gauge number) heavier than the lightest allowable gauge of the downstream section of duct to which they are connected. Air duct branch entrances shall be factory fabricated fittings or factory fabricated duct/tap assemblies. Fittings shall be constructed so that air streams converge at angles no greater than 45 degree.

All seams shall be continuous stitch welded and if necessary internally sealed to insure airtightness. Turning elbows shall be laser welded and used for all diameters and pressures. They shall be fabricated of 24 gauge galvanized steel and constructed as two pieces with continuous welded seam construction fittings. No exceptions.

Ductwork design velocities shall be a minimum of 3000 feet/minute transport velocity at 275 cubic feet/per minute volume in metal ductwork at riser clamp which is the standard for design.

External ductwork shall be sized for the exact inlet and outlet of the exhaust fan blower.   Stainless steel shall be used for all exterior ductwork components due to stations’ close proximity to sea water. An exhaust rain cap shall be supplied and manufactured in accordance with EPA standard for free draft rain cap requirements. Included as an integral part of the rain cap shall be a back draft damper to provide protection from rain and other inclement weather or air.

To protect the TFPD’s best interest, ductwork shall only penetrate exterior walls rather than the roof. In all cases, when making a wall penetration through masonry or concrete walls, it shall be done by the use of a professional core-drilling machine. The core drilling shall be properly sized to reduce the diameter of the opening to the smallest possible size. Only after all possible avenues for wall penetration are exhausted, shall the roof penetration be accepted. The original roofing contractor shall perform the work if possible to insure any warranties on the existing roof are not voided. If the original roofing contractor cannot be notified a licensed roofing contractor shall be used.

Tracks

The track must be designed for the specific use of fire station exhaust ventilation and be engineered to carry the specific weight of all exhaust system components attached to the track as well as withstand the pull forces placed upon system when vehicle exits the station.

The track shall be mounted to the building in a rigid state which does not allow the track to sway or move.

The exhaust system shall be equipped with a lightweight track support system to convey the exhaust hose from the door threshold to the apparatus/vehicles parked position.

The overall look of the suspension system must match the station quarters in a way which will benefit the appearance of the facility. The contractor must carefully examine the engine rooms and include in the proposal their method of supporting the exhaust system.



Hose

Exhaust system hose drops shall be the same cross sectional diameter as the vehicle tailpipe or greater.

The flexible exhaust hose must be manufactured for the sole purpose of venting high temperature exhaust gases which are produced by internal combustion engines.

This construction of hose must be capable of operating at normal engine exhaust temperatures while starting, warming up and driving out of the engine rooms, as well as returning to their parking spot inside the station.

The hose shall be rated for temperatures reached by apparatus exhaust when daily pump checks are done. During inclement weather we would like to be able to do the daily pump checks in the apparatus bay using this system. Generally this involves running the engine at high RPMs for several minutes.

Any exhaust system relying on static regain from the vehicle engine or uses the engine horsepower to push the hot exhaust gases into the exhaust system will not be accepted.

Nozzle

When vehicle is returning to engine room, the exhaust system shall attach to the vehicle from a minimum of 3 feet of the engine room door threshold.

The system shall be designed so the attachment to the exhaust hose is accomplished by the operator standing erect and with one simple motion connect the system to the vehicle.

The release of the nozzle shall be automatically completed by the extraction system and shall occur by a forward or backward motion of the vehicle. The separation shall be accomplished by a simple engineered release system.

The nozzle, when attached to vehicle/apparatus, shall not allow for the potential escaping of diesel exhaust into the engine room area.

Vehicle Tailpipe Modification

The contractor shall supply a drawing for the precise modification procedure for the vehicles to attach to the exhaust removal system. The modification shall vent the exhaust gases at a 90-degree angle on the passenger side of vehicle. Tailpipe modifications requiring a 45-degree angle of exhaust venting shall not be acceptable, so to prevent exhaust blow back into station after the auto-release system disengages from the tailpipe. A flange shall be provided and installed by the contractor as a precisely located stopping point for the collection nozzle.

Training

The contractor or authorized approved personnel shall provide training to the TFPD personnel in the daily use and maintenance of the vehicle exhaust removal system that has been installed and specified herein. The TFPD shall be notified at least 7 days prior to the date scheduled for the training course. Training shall be for all personnel involved with the operation of the exhaust removal system to include all shifts required to staff the particular facility.
The training session, shall be performed in person by a recognized representative of the manufacturer of the exhaust removal system, in addition, a training video shall be provided to the TFPD.

Special Considerations

The exhaust system must provide approximately 100% complete evacuation of all diesel fumes at the source from start up to exit of the apparatus from the fire station. The system must be able to accommodate back-in and drive-through engine bays to meet all the needs of the TFPD. No exception to this requirement will be allowed.

The exhaust system should be designed so that it may be expanded in the future, should the need arise. No exception to this requirement will be allowed.

The exhaust system must be designed and capable of capturing 100% of the exhaust gas and particulate even in the event of a complete power failure. The system shall not detach itself from the apparatus for any reason during a power failure other than normal exiting of the apparatus bay. No exception to this requirement will be allowed.

The exhaust system bid shall not incorporate any type of electromagnetic device that requires the apparatus to be utilized as an electrical ground for the systems operation in order to protect the apparatus electrical system from any possible damage. No exception to this requirement will be allowed.

The exhaust system shall not require the user to disconnect the hose when the apparatus/vehicle is in motion.  The release of the hose and nozzle must be completely automatic. No exception to this requirement will be allowed.

The exhaust system must not affect personnel boarding the apparatus. Hose loops shall not hang any lower than seven feet from the floor. The hose assembly shall not touch or drag on the floor. No exception to this requirement will be allowed.

The exhaust system shall not block doorways, exits, and aisles in the engine room, which could endanger the welfare of fire personnel and/or visitors. No exception to this requirement will be allowed.

Connection of the system to the vehicle must be made from a standing position. No exception to this requirement will be allowed.

Personnel must be able to perform pump checks on apparatus while connected to the system and capture 100% of the diesel exhaust.

August 25, 2010.  It is with deep sorrow that the Tiburon Fire Protection District announces the death of former Fire Chief Franklin J. Buscher.

Tiburon has lost one of its most influential citizens. We mourn not just in the loss of a leader, but the loss of a colleague, mentor and a great friend. His work has affected the Town and people of Tiburon in more ways than many of us will ever know. Anyone that met him knows that there are not enough words to truly describe him. Among many things, Chief Buscher was a man of principle, kindness, dedication, and loyalty.

“Chief”, as he was commonly referred to even after his retirement, was a native of Tiburon. After high school he worked as a union electrician for the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company. Following that he served for two years in the Army and was stationed in Korea. After his return home he did a brief stint at Golden Gate College.

In 1954 he joined the Volunteer Fire Department, was quickly promoted to the rank of Captain, and a short time later promoted to a paid position as Assistant Chief with a salary of $25 per month. Not long after that he was appointed Chief of the NWPRR Fire Brigade.

In December 1959, after successful written and oral examinations, he was appointed as the full-time paid Fire Chief for the Tiburon Fire District. At the time, the District was an all volunteer department, and Fire Chief was the only paid position. He was 25 years old, the youngest Fire Chief in California.

During his career his accomplishments and the changes he brought to Tiburon were profound. Through the cooperation and encouragement of the Board of Directors, volunteers and paid personnel Chief helped establish the goals, objectives and master plans of the District. He oversaw and managed the transition from an all volunteer to a combination paid/volunteer organization, supervised the construction of two new fire stations, developed plans to purchase new fire apparatus and equipment, installed new fire hydrants and water systems, helped adopt fire codes, ordinances and fire prevention measures, established a paramedic system for the benefit of all Southern Marin residents and established the foundation for everything the District has become. His vision and leadership guided the District’s growth at a time when the Town of Tiburon underwent the dramatic transformation from an industrial train town to an upscale bedroom community.

Chief was a facilitator of success and truly believed in building relationships. He is credited with starting an inter-department softball team and was constantly seeking opportunities to get people together. He was involved with or founded many organizations, both locally and statewide, to bring fire service professionals together. From 1972 to 1983 he served as Marin’s Mutual Aid Fire and Rescue Coordinator, helping to develop mutual aid and disaster plans and coordinate resources during major fires and natural disasters. Chief was a member of the Marin County Fire Chiefs Association and in 1969 and 1986 he served as the President. As a member of that association he served on various committees, and was the liaison to the Fire Prevention Officers Association for over ten years. He sat on the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Fire and Rescue Board of Directors, meeting quarterly to review statewide mutual aid issues and offer advice to Governors and the OES Director.

Chief was instrumental in the development and success of many fire service organizations throughout California including CAL-Chiefs, Rural-Chiefs, FDAC (Fire Districts Association of California), FASIS (Fire Agency Self Insurance Services), FAIRA (Fire Agency Insurance Risk Authority) and FELLA (Fire Executives of Long Long Ago).

Locally he served on the boards of the Belvedere Tiburon Heritage Commission and the Landmarks Society. He also helped establish Christmas toy drives with the San Francisco Fire Department and San Francisco Police Department, and later served as the Bay Area fire service coordinator for the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program, something that the District still participates in every year. In 1993 he was named Citizen of the year. He was a lifelong active member of St Hilary Parish.

Ultimately he served as Chief of the Tiburon Fire Protection District for 34 years. After his retirement in 1993 he continued to participate and contribute to the success of the organization by offering his knowledge, skills and abilities whenever needed.

Chief Buscher is survived by his wife Maureen and their children Jeff, Kathleen and Theresa, as well as his daughter in law Karen and son in law Kevin and grandchildren Yvonne, Kelly, Patrick, Ryan, Andrew, Joseph and Brendan.

Memorial Services

All Services will be held at St Hilary’s Church, 761 Hilary Drive in Tiburon, CA.

A vigil will be held Sunday, August 29 at 7 PM. Greeting will begin at 6:15.

A mass will be held on Monday, August 30 at 10:30 AM. A reception will follow at St Hilary’s Parish Hall.

Interment will be private.

If you are interested in attending the service, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.tiburonfire.org

Funeral Parking

Parking at the Church will be limited. Additional parking and shuttle will be provided off Tiburon Blvd at Blackies Pasture starting at 9 am. Non Fire Department persons are encouraged to use this overflow parking.

Fire Apparatus will be staged on Hilary Dr. off Avenida Miraflores. Staging will open at 0900 hrs at the intersection of Avenida Miraflores and Hilary Dr. Take Hwy 131 (Tiburon Blvd.), left on Avenida Miraflores to staging check-in.

Donations

In lieu of flowers the Buscher family requests that a donation be made to one of Chiefs two favorite charities:

Sisters of the Holy Faith, St Hilary’s Church

c/o Sister Delores

95 Beach Road, Apt A

Belvedere, CA 94920

The Sisters of the Holy Faith is an organization of dedicated women who are committed to the education of young children and ministering to the poor. They provide support to those in need through the Margaret Aylward Center for the Poor and have founded many schools across the world. They worked closely with Chief Franklin and Maureen Buscher during the establishment of St. Hilary Catholic School in 1963. This group of women provided unprecedented support to the Buscher family throughout Chief Buscher's lengthy illness. “A faith that does Justice”

Wildland Firefighters Foundation

2049 Airport Way

Boise, ID 83705

The Wildland Firefighter Foundation’s main focus is to help the families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assist injured firefighters and their families. We honor and acknowledge past, present and future members of the wildland firefighting community, and partner with private interagency organizations to bring recognition to wildland firefighters. “Where compassion spreads like wildfire.”

 

Agencies: Memorial Service Online RSVP Form.

Tiburon Fire District now uses Twitter to update local residents on various information. This will include events affecting the area, upcoming public education, monthly safety information topics, fire department events, traffic updates, public safety notifications, or other Fire Department related information will be posted to notify residents. Because of the limited characters, many postings will just be a notification of where to receive more information.  Contact Jessica Power for more information.

The Tiburon Fire District is now a member of Facebook. The district will be using Facebook to update local residents on various information. This will include events affecting the area, upcoming public education, monthly safety information topics, fire department events, traffic updates, public safety notifications, or other Fire Department related information will be posted to notify residents. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.