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Beaufort Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Squadron Goes Green

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070801-17
Release Date: 8/1/2007 3:15:00 PM

From NAVFAC Southeast Public Affairs

BEAUFORT, S.C. (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast Resident Officer In Charge of Construction (ROICC) Beaufort held a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 26 to formally turn over the newly completed Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) facility at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

The newly certified “green building” was finished on time and on budget.

“The ARFF squadron expressed their gratitude to the design-construction team and to the ROICC Beaufort for a facility so fitly aimed at their needs,” said Beaufort ROICC Cmdr. Ron Kramps.

The new facility meets all of the requirements of a “green building.” It provides reduced energy consumption, increased productivity, lower operating costs, environmental benefits and health benefits to the crew working in the facility.

“The facility needed to be repaired. It was built back in the 1950’s,” said ARFF staff non-commissioned officer in charge Marine Corps Master Sgt. Philip Wiltse. “We are now ahead of the program, and our team will work in a healthier environment.”

The new facility has many improvements over the old building. For example, the exhaust from the rescue vehicles is pulled directly from the vehicle to the outside air without leaving exhaust in the bay area.

“Completion of this project has moved us out of the 20th and into the 21st century,” said Wiltse. “We are now setting the standard for ARFF facilities and are happy that our commanding officer approved this project with all of the leading edge technology.”

This design-build $5.5 million contract was awarded to Sauer, Inc., in 2005. The project provides 13,300 square feet of office space, live-in bunk rooms, dispatch room with bunk, stainless steel appliances in a full kitchen, lounge area with a plasma screen television, training room with laser projection, cable TV and modem access. The facility has eight 16-foot drive-through bays equipped with compressed air outlets, exhaust removal system and radiant heaters.

Construction for this project began in November 2005, with the ARFF squadron moving in the second week of July 2007.