Results from recently conducted tests on modular buildings provided by Warrior Group, one of the largest minority- and woman-owned construction services companies in the U.S., prove that the company’s product has exceeded some of the most stringent requirements for indoor air infiltration in existence – those of the United States government.
For all new Army construction projects in or after Fiscal Year 2010, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) design criteria and specifications require air tightness performance tests. The building envelopes of office buildings, office areas of mixed office and open space, dining, barracks and instructional/training facilities must be designed and built with a continuous air barrier to control air leakage into or out of the space.
At Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, the USACE developed the project scope for an Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing (UEPH) Complex. Warrior Group served as the primary subcontractor to deliver two-story buildings using a new, “hybrid” construction method: permanent modular construction combined with site-built components.
Through the air infiltration tests, Warrior demonstrated it is meeting newly strengthened air infiltration standards without compromising the benefits of permanent modular construction. These benefits include a shorter construction timeline, a reduction of onsite site labor resources and contribute to a LEED-certifiable building (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
Indoor environmental air quality is recognized as a vitally important factor in making buildings habitable. Poor air quality can affect health, morale and productivity and can also result in higher energy costs. Air flowing in or out of the building through unintentional openings such as cracks around window frames and wall-floor joints provides a path for moisture and outdoor pollutants to enter the building or to become trapped in the exterior wall, creating poor air quality inside the structure.
The Fort Bliss buildings also were designed to meet the strict requirements of the military “Uniform Facilities Code (UFC),” which is the guideline for all military base construction. The UFC demonstrates the joint services’ concern that airborne contaminants will not easily penetrate buildings before they are detected and the building’s occupants can be evacuated.
Both buildings were tested by Professional Investigative Engineers (PIE) using infrared thermograph testing, smoke generation and smoke trackers in accordance with ASTM E 1186. PIE used three, high-capacity fan systems each with three 8300-cfm fans, two DM-2 digital controllers, three variable speed drives, two exterior pressure monitoring stations and five interior pressure monitoring stations. Multiple digital readings were taken of pressure differential and airflow at ten-second intervals from two locations for an air tightness analysis.
No excess air leakage came from the modular units, and PIE test results prove that both buildings had an average air tightness level that is much lower than the new, specified USACE requirements that are all much more stringent than historical construction standards.
In addition to Fort Bliss, Warrior has also built substantial projects including troop residences and U.S. Army headquarters buildings at Fort Belvoir, Fort Carson and Fort Sam Houston as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC). The company is also leading the adoption of hybrid and permanent modular construction for other applications, including school buildings, dormitories, laboratories, hospitals, administrative offices and clinics in more than 30 states.
To view the complete white paper surrounding the project at Fort Bliss and the results of the indoor air quality tests, please visit http://www.warrior-group.net/modular/white-papers/.
Warrior Group, based in DeSoto, Texas, is a multi-million dollar provider of premier construction services focusing on construction management for conventional and permanent modular construction. The 13-year old company is one of the largest minority- and woman-owned construction services companies in the U.S. with more than 1,000 successfully completed projects to its credit an impressive roster of private and public sector clients across the United States. Warrior is dedicated to building long-term customer relationships by continually surpassing expectations and providing superior customer service, effective construction management and turnkey solutions in the modular and general construction industry. Warrior has offices in DeSoto, and San Antonio, Texas. www.warrior-group.net.