CHAPTER V, SECTION 1
CHAPTER V
MAINTENANCE
SECTION |
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT.
GENERAL.
The
Contractor was responsible for the
maintenance of all buildings, grounds, utilities,
and all AEC-owned equipment, as well as for
certain equipment belonging to the Usingagen-
cies. The maintenance program was continuous
and predicated on preventive maintenance,
normal wear and tear, atmospheric conditions,
and non-scheduled repairs. All except the latter
were cost-coded and were charged against particular job accounts for continuing maintenance
work. Non-scheduled repairs and modifications
were charged against specific Work Orders when
approved by the AEC Branch Chief. Since 1
July 1956 more than 500 specific Maintenance
Work Orders were issued.
Due to the critical requirement for con-
tinuous operation, reefers, generators, and pumps
were checked and serviced daily and any break-
downs were cause for immediate repair, either
day or night. The same policy prevailed for
Preventive maintenance was practiced to
the fullest extent because of operational require-
ments for the equipment, the minimum stock
levels of replacement parts available in the field,
the extensive time for replacement items to
reach Jobsite, and the severe climatic conditions.
Because of the latter and also because of exten-
sive hours of operation, equipment was given
more frequent inspections and lubrication service
than is normally recommended by the manufacturers. Stress was placed on the accuracy of the
Operator’s Daily Maintenance form for all
mobile and stationary equipment, such as
generators,
compressors, pumps, and welding
machines. Stationary equipment was inspected
and maintained each day by assigned personnel.
All equipment wasrigidly scheduled for lubrica-
tion and inspection, and breakdowns were often
forestalled by timely replacement or overhaul
of parts. Equipment used in the field which was
equipment installed in Scientific Stations. A
not readily accessible to the repair shops was
inspected and serviced at the workinglocations.
servicing was done when necessary. The over-
working in salt water were drained and serviced
at the end of each working day.
continuous check of air-conditioning units at
Elmer, Fred, and Nan camps was required, and
haul program for all spare equipment was constant, though drastically reduced during the
peak of the Operation in order to meet the needs
of periodic maintenance requirements and repairs on operational equipment. Maintenance
of buildings and utilities increased proportionately with the increase in population during the
build-up ‘period, when additional facilities were
put into use. The majority of overhaul work
on
operational equipment was accomplished
during the interim period, which resulted in a
high realization of equipment efficiency during
the peak of operational activities.
One trouble spot concerning maintenance
activities during Operation HARDTACK was
the requirement for constantly repairing distillation and power equipmentat off-atoll sites operated by the Air Force. In comparison to the
off-atoll sites operated by H&N, the maintenance
on powerand distillation at off-atoll sites operaated by the Air Force was considered excessive.
Due to the lack of experienced Air Force operating
personnel,
emergency
maintenance
trips
to these sites by H&N personnel were necessary
throughout the operational period.
Crankcases, drive-gear boxes, etc., on equipment
BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES.
Apart from the repair or replacement of
shutters, doors, shutter-arms, etc., routine maintenance was confined to greasing hinges, painting steel structural members, and tightening
bolts on aluminum buildings. Preventive maintenance included precautions taken for the test
events, such as securing all doors and shutters
in an open position to prevent shock wave
damage. Some buildings were given additional
support with guy cables, while others were
braced internally with cantilever-type arches
supportedbyposts.
Prior to the build-up phase of HARD-
TACK, maintenance on Scientific structures
was continuous, with records kept reflecting
the maintenance checks for each of the stations.
Specific Maintenance Work Orders were issued
for the rehabilitation of certain of these stations
during the build-up period. Interiors of such
stations were sandblasted and painted and in
some cases the blast doors required extensive repair work. Subsequent to HARDTACK all
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