City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date: May 17, 2005

Item No.:         19

Recommendation:  That the Common Council approve the quote for repairing the apparatus flooring at all three fire stations from Compass Enterprises Inc. at a cost of $55,039.

Background:  In the 2004 CIP the fire department has $60,000 budgeted for all three fire stations to have the apparatus floors resurfaced.  This is a long overdue project and should be accomplished as soon as possible.  The present condition of the floors without a slip resistant surface is very hazardous.  This is a safety issue since wet floors are very slippery and can cause serious injuries to fire fighters.  The resurfacing will not only correct this hazard but will also repair cracks, chipping, and peeling on the apparatus floors.

The Fire Department has been researching this project for over 2 years and there are several types of surfaces that can be applied.  The difference between them is how long they will last and what type of product is applied.  It is the department’s recommendation that the City of Oak Creek invest in a long life slip resistant floor surface. 

An alternative type of floor coating from Northland Coatings Inc. of Savage, MN can be applied at a cost of $24,750.  But this would need to be repaired or replaced in 1 to 2 years.  In addition the manufacturer warns that these types of coatings may experience delamination of the coating from hydrostatic pressure.  Because of this, the floors may deteriorate when subjected to fire service operations.  They consider that problem to be the customer’s responsibility.

A long life floor has a warranty for 5 years against delamination and should last 10 to 15 years under fire service operations.  In talking to contractors and getting pricing for applying a long life floor we discovered significant differences in service, quality, and installation methods.

Spectrum Contracting Corporation of Grafton, WI gave a cost figure to do all three stations for $70,505.  This would provide a long life surface of 1/16-inch thickness.

Compass Enterprises of Menomonee Falls offers superior methods in surface preparation, application, and coats applied.  Their finished product is 1/8 inch thick or twice that of the prior example, and their cost is lower at $55,039. They are a local company and if there is a problem or issue they can be contacted easily.  Compass Enterprises Inc. has provided long life floor surfaces for Menomonee Falls, Germantown, and Okauchee Fire Departments, so they are aware of our operational requirements and have an excellent record.  The process they proposed was by far the most complete and thorough.  The process will include shot blasting the floor, filling and grinding all cracks and joints and repairing all the broken concrete around the trench drains.  Once all the prep work is completed there is a five coat system that is applied that includes a primer, two coats of epoxy, grout coat, and a chemical resistant urethane.  The result will be a 1/8” thick slip resistant seamless floor surface.

The stations are priced individually and the total price is not affected by the number of stations completed.  At this time we only intend to proceed with Stations 2 and 3 until the status of Station 1 is determined.

Fiscal Impact:  Funds of $60,000 for this project were budgeted for in the Fire Department’s 2004 CIP Account 04007.

Prepared by: Roy A. P. Giesenschlag Fire Lieutenant	Respectfully submitted, Barbara S. Blumenfield, Ph.D City Administrator
Approved by: Gerard R. Hammernik Fire Chief	Fiscal Review by: Beverly A. Buretta, CMC City Clerk