Largest International Airport in the U.S. Boasts Largest Of Carpet
Reclamation Projects For Starnet
Local flooring contractor reclaims 70,000 square yards
of old carpet from Denver
International Airport
The
statistics and project logistics alone are mind-boggling. Not to mention the
added considerations of airport clearance for installers, security tool
checks in and out on a daily basis, delivery of materials down airport
runways and up escalators, and limited work periods in between flights and
during overnight hours. All taking place in the largest international airport
in the United States
(by land size) - third largest in the world! These considerations are just a
glimpse of the challenges that ReSource Colorado,
Inc. is encountering as they replace the carpeting in concourses A & C
and parts of the main terminal building at Denver International
Airport.
"This has definitely been our most challenging installation to
date," says John Stanfield, President of ReSource
Colorado, Inc. "From an installer's perspective, things like
fingerprinting for security clearance and the logistics of working in a facility
that's always very busy aren't normal concerns. None of my guys were
certified to drive on an airport runway, but they are now! We've really had
to rethink our project management approach." According to Starnet Worldwide Commercial Flooring Partnership, this
is one of the largest carpet recovery projects performed by a member to date.
Installation and tear out, which is simultaneous due to the nature of the job
and airport passenger safety concerns, began in early April on Concourse C
and early May on Concourse A and is expected to run through late October or
early November. The month of August is a planned installation hiatus with the
expected dramatic increase in passenger traffic due to Denver hosting the Democratic National
Convention later in the month.
A total crew of 30, including supply truck drivers, measuring specialists,
project managers and 24 full time installers are working two shifts around
the clock to complete the job in the specified timeframe. Each of the crew
had to be formally fingerprinted and cleared by the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) and was issued a photo ID badge in order to work in the
facility. A daily check is conducted when bringing installation tools like
carpet knives and razors into the actual airport building. The number of
sharp objects is checked in by TSA, recorded onto a log and then checked back
out at the end of each shift. The two numbers are required to match.
70,000 square yards of Bentley broadloom carpet will be installed from 12
foot rolls. Parts of the facility don't contain freight elevators, so the ReSource Colorado crew had to get creative in
transporting the 650-900 pound rolls of carpet up and down airport
escalators. (And you thought navigating your suitcase up an escalator was
tricky?) "It's certainly been a challenge," says Tanner DeJonge, Project Manager for ReSource
Colorado.
"Our guys are good and created their own system for transporting the
rolls up the escalators."
The old carpet consists of two types and all will be reclaimed in some
manner. The material from Concourse C was manufactured by C & A, who has
engineered a reclamation program specifically for their product. The carpet
is collected in semi-trailers and shipped to C & A's facility in Georgia. The
material is processed and lives a second life as backing for new carpet. The
carpet from Concourse A and the terminal is a rubber-backed product. ReSource Colorado has
contracted with a cement plant in Sugar
Creek, Missouri
where the materials will be shipped to and burned for fuel. Built in 2007,
the $7 million facility was constructed specifically for this purpose and
operates under very specific guidelines. "I was required to send samples
of the carpet to the plant so that it could be cleared for acceptance,"
explains Stanfield. "The material was thoroughly tested according to
their specification to be certain it would burn clean and not emit any
potentially harmful pollutants."
"I think the biggest thing we've learned during this process is the
value of coordination, patience and sound project management skills,"
says DeJonge. "Coordination with airport
management, government security, the mill and reclamation facility are key to
this project's timely success. If we can do this, while saving 70,000 square
feet of carpet from the landfill, we can do anything."
Denver International Airport - Environmental Impact of Reclamation vs. Landfill
·
Quantity diverted from landfills: 630,000 sq. feet
·
Equivalent number of pounds
reclaimed: 315,000 lbs.
·
Overall cubic yards of landfill
saved: 1,556 cu. yd.
·
Average equivalent BTU's saved: 3,150,000,000
BTU's
·
Number of US homes that would supply
for 1 year: 18
·
Global warming potential averted (CO2
equivalent lbs.): 2,202,480 lbs.
·
Water saved: 960,750 gal.
About ReSource
Colorado, Inc.
Founded in 1988, ReSource Colorado
has been a leader in providing one stop flooring solutions in Denver for twenty years.
As a proud Starnet member and full service flooring
contractor, they offer a broad variety of carpet choices, as well as
resilient flooring, tile, stone, wood, bamboo and cork floor covering
options. ReSource Colorado can meet customer flooring needs
from installation to maintenance and cleaning services, no matter how great
or small. For more information call 303-756-7100 or visit www.resourcecolorado.com.
About Starnet Worldwide Commercial Flooring Partnership
Since 1992, Starnet Worldwide Commercial
Flooring Partnership has been a dedicated alliance of commercial flooring
contractors throughout North America. Their
mission is to provide collective strength, integrity, shared best practices
and advocacy of training across the industry. Through strong partnerships
with leading flooring manufacturers and related service providers, Starnet members ensure complete customer satisfaction
through excellence in project management, installation and service. The
membership's combined efforts create an annual volume of nearly two billion
dollars. For more information, call 1-800-787-6381 or visit www.starnetflooring.com.
|
