Thomas R. Napier

Removing Hazardous Materials from Buildings: A Training Curriculum

Abstract : There has been little or no formalized training available within the Army for installation personnel to appropriately identify, handle, and dispose of hazardous materials generated during the renovation and/or demolition of Army buildings. As the Armys new construction programs wind down, attention must be paid to operation, repair, and renovation of existing facilitieswhere hazardous materials are more likely to be encountered. An ad hoc, reactive approach to dealing with hazardous materials will adversely impact repair, renovation, and operation budgets and schedules while increasing the likelihood of regulatory noncompliance. Development of a training regimen was previously deferred but is now being addressed. Per direction from the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management Facility Policy Division (DAIM-ODF), a Public Works Technical Bulletin, Toxics Management, was com-pleted in 2014 and published through Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. That publication provides guidance to address specific toxic and hazardous materials associated with buildings that are owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by the Department of the Army. For additional training documentation, this report captures a workshop-style training curriculum developed to enable installation operations and management personnel to identify, handle, and dispose of hazardous building materials in a safe, thorough, efficient, compliant, and economical manner.

Sustainable Building Materials for the Prevention of Corrosion

Billions of dollars are spent each year in the construction, operation, and maintenance of military facilities. Directives have come from the highest Commands to make our military installations more “sustainable.” Sustainable facilities can equate to reduced wastes (use of products with a recycled content), extended service life (more durable, reduced degradation), operational cost savings (more efficient energy usage), reduced costs for initial installation, reduced lifecycle costs, and increased quality of life. Many sustainable building products and systems are now available that can be used in place of the more traditional material systems but which are more resistant to corrosion and materials degradation than the traditional materials for the same applications. Yet the use of these sustainable alternative materials is limited typically because to the lack of awareness of their availability and/or knowledge of the potential benefits that they might offer. This paper describes some of these available sustainable materials and material systems and the potential cost savings and increased operational reliability they can offer in applications ranging from barracks and office space for the soldier in garrison to bridges and lines of communication in theater.