Repair Fire Protection and Modify Multiple Hangars, Misawa Air Base, Japan

As part of this project, RS&H offered solutions for Misawa Air Base hangars 909, 911 and 3280.

Hangars 909 & 911
Hangar 909, originally constructed in 1948, is currently utilized by the 35th Maintenance Squadron (35 MXS) for phased transient alert aircraft and wheel/tire maintenance. Hangar 911 supports the mission of the 35th Fighter Wing (35 FW) F-16 Weapons Standardization for weapons handling and loading training.  Both hangars had extensive corrosion and were not compliant with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 101, Life Safety Code 2012 edition, NFPA 1, and NFPA 409, and were operating under a Fire Safety Deficiency (FSD) Level I rating.

For these hangars, RS&H provided fire protection design services to replace the existing non-functioning AFFF-fire suppression systems with high-expansion foam (HEX) in the hangar work bays; replaced the existing pre-action systems with freeze-protected wet-pipe systems throughout the facilities; and provided new service connections. Additionally, in each hangar, the design team incorporated a single electric fire pump, pump room, electrical transformer and feeder upgrades and corrosion control; they also included all associated civil work to tap and connect the existing water main to the new location of the fire pump room. The RS&H team’s design addressed the Life Safety Code NFPA 101 and UFC 4-211-01 deficiencies.

Hangar 3280
The 35 FW at Misawa is responsible for all F-16 engine maintenance with the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).  Hangar 3280 is utilized by the 35 MXS for aircraft fuel cell maintenance, and a second maintenance bay was needed to double the fuel cell maintenance output capacity.

The RS&H team’s design modified the hydrazine maintenance facility in hangar 3280 to add the second F-16 maintenance bay and increase the F-16 fuel cell maintenance capacity. RS&H’s design included the installation of a HEX fire suppression system; upgrade of the existing ventilation and exhaust system; replacement of fire sprinklers and piping; installation of new fire alarm and mass notification systems throughout the hangar; and installation of emergency sinks and showers. Design also included exterior structural renovation in order to install a new hangar door for the new aircraft bay entrance; a new fire pump and pump room; upgrade of the underground water storage/refill capacity, electrical transformer and feeder; and all associated civil work to connect the water supply to the new fire risers in the hangar.

Designs were also provided to remove the underground fuel recovery tank outside bay 2 and pave the remaining 10 meters of aircraft parking apron to tie the facility to a concrete parking apron, which was constructed under a separate project.