Fire Facilities Clerk of the Works Report #4 - town-of-midd

Clerk of the Works Site Visit Report No. 4 (narrative only version)
Town of Middlebury . Fire Stations 1 and 2
Date:
May 18, 2012: 12:30 – 2:30 pm
Location: Fire Station 1
Present:
Weather:
Contractors:
Activities:
Judith Harris reporting. (Stephen Harris also in attendance)
Sunny, 75 degrees. Site soils dry and workable.
J. Hutchins, Inc. (NE Sand and Gravel) of Richmond Vermont on site with:
• 2 Excavators
• Vibratory Roller
• Dump trucks delivering and removing materials.
Harrison Concrete Construction, Inc.
J. Hutchins complete with pouring of footings at addition, excepting the east
end of new grade beam at Gridline (GL) E.0, and interior footings. Foundation
walls / brick shelves are progressing. Starting point was GL 5.0 - complete.
Turning southwest corner, wall poured nearly to GL 3.0. Forms and re-bar in
place for GL 3.0 wall. Rebar held in position appropriately by form tie wires.
Revised detail for grade beam at GL E.0 was issued by EV. Work proceeding
according to revised directives.
Harrison Concrete removing some formwork for walls poured – e.g. GL A.0 west
of GL 3.0.
Seymour Street closed from 7 am until approx. 1 pm to excavate and run new
12” storm drain from existing catch basin on east side of street to new catch
basin on west side of street at FD apron, connecting to new 8” storm drain for
new apparatus bays’ floor drains. Also, precast concrete oil/water separator in
place at apron.
Meeting held in trailer with Dave Kirby, Dan Heath, Judith Harris and Stephen
Harris to discuss testing protocols. See separate minutes herein attached.
harris & harris consulting, inc.
phone: 802.453.6384
i-fax: 802.329.2269
cell: 802.922.1321
email: judith@harrisandharrisvt.com
514 west river road lincoln, vermont 05443

Clerk of the Works Supplemental Report No. 4
Subject: Field Testing Protocols
Town of Middlebury . Fire Stations 1 and 2
Date:
May 18, 2012: 12:30 – 2:00 pm
Location: Fire Station 1
Present:
Purpose:
Findings:
Dave Kirby and Dan Heath, Bread Loaf Corporation
Judith Harris and Stephen Harris, Harris and Harris Consulting, Inc.
This meeting was conducted for the purpose of reviewing and refining
procedures for on-site testing and reporting (soils compaction and
concrete). Of primary concern are: proper handling of concrete cylinders
/ samples taken, and conformance of concrete pour materials to
drawings, specifications, and shop drawing submittals for mix designs.
The firm of Knight Consulting Engineers, Inc. has been retained by the
Town of Middlebury to secure, test, and report on the above. Dan
reports that upon their first collection visit to the site, Dan introduced
them to the drawings and specifications which establish the criteria for
testing to be conducted – frequency and characteristics. The group felt it
would be prudent to reinforce this visual presentation with an electronic
transmittal of the above directly from the engineering teams(s) to Knight.
JBH to follow up with Engineers to ensure the testing agency has a
comprehensive guideline to follow.
Next, we reviewed drawings, specification, and concrete mix design
submittals for clarity and consistency. Specs called for a sub-grade check
by a geotechnical engineer (Warren Stevens) prior to footings and
foundations being poured. Warren’s report dated May 18 is attached for
reference. Dave noted that Engineering Ventures has eliminated
application no. 4 from their concrete mix table (sheet S-1.0), as it does
not apply to this project. First tests from Knight are in for footings placed
5/17. Show compressive strength at 2790 psi after 7 days. 3000 psi is
spec for 28 days. This is well within expected strength readings for a
seven day break.
Dan noted that JP Carrara also takes cylinder samples for their own
purposes. Steve subsequently verified that this is true in a phone
conversation with PJ Carrara. They typically check the first three batches

for footing and foundations, and then again for slabs to verify their own
internal quality control standards are met. Carrara’s test results to date
support results of Knight Engineering testing.
Dan maintains an on-site concrete log, and has a locked crate / cure box
for samples taken. We all agreed that securing these samples inside the
fire station until pick-up by Knight for testing would be an improvement
in control measures. Dan Heath also keeps batch tickets from each
delivery in his files, and coordinates their placement location with his asbuilt
drawings. (The batch tickets from Carrara’s ready-mix plant in East
Middlebury detail the mix and quantity on each truckload. There is a
ticket for each truck in a pour requiring multiple trucks.)
Greg Sellers, the EOR from Engineering Ventures has checked re-bar and
form work to date, and is content with his observations of quality of
workmanship. He will again be on site as steel erection begins. Steve H
to call EV Bob Neeld to see if Greg could look in on the job site more
frequently than the EV contract currently allows, as he lives close to the
site and could stop in on his way to work in Burlington.
Greg Sellers issued an email to Dave Kirby outlining his review of the
concrete mix design submittals. Of concern was the amount of fly ash in
the mix designs, and whether or not these percentages are within a range
of acceptability to the Engineer of Record. According to Greg, “Carrara is
providing mixes meeting the strength requirements. And for exterior
applications where FA is … helpful with long term durability, the 15%
matches the dwgs. / specs.” (Note: fly ash is a desired component in
“green” LEEDS certified projects, as it is a waste by-product of coal
burning that is being used in lieu of cement and therefore has a netpositive
effect on the environment. This is not a LEEDS project, but the
EOR typically encourages fly ash use for this environmental reason.)
All attending also agreed to include a review of current testing and
submittals in each job meeting report. Also agreed to retain item
regarding neighbor relations to ensure construction work is impacting
adjacent properties and citizens’ mobility and safety as little as possible.
Finally, a weekly review of Change Orders or Potential Change Orders
would be added to our agenda to ensure Owner awareness of the
project’s financial position.
Other QC activities include a “Daily Work Description” prepared by the
on-site Superintendent, Dan Heath, and an on-going set of as-built
documentation of each day’s activities.

Conclusion:
Harris & Harris Consulting Inc. believes that Bread Loaf Corporation
and their professional consultants are maintaining a system of
measurements and verification to prove that all product in place meets
or exceeds the standards set forth in the contract documents (contract,
drawings, and specifications). With the implementation of the
aforementioned small corrections or improvements, continued vigilance
of the Clerk of the Works firm, and the presence of Knight Consulting
Engineers (as retained by the Town of Middlebury) performing on site
sampling and testing, the interests of the Town are being well protected.
Note: As of this meeting, Harris and Harris Consulting, Inc. shall be added to the
list of persons allowed access to Bread Loaf’s Sharepoint site with a user name
and password. This access will further enhance the Clerk of the Works’ ability to
review on line: RFIs, Meeting Minutes, Permits, Inspections, Bulletins, Bulletin
Status Log, Schedules, Specifications, Drawings, Issued Sketches, and Submittals.
harris & harris consulting, inc.
phone: 802.453.6384
i-fax: 802.329.2269
cell: 802.922.1321
email: judith@harrisandharrisvt.com
514 west river road lincoln, vermont 05443