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 Page 435