Hazardous Materials Facilities

Cash & Associates extensive background in facilities design has included several projects with hazardous materials handling and/or storage components.  A significant amount of our experience has been for major defense contractors and semiconductor manufacturing companies such as Raytheon, Conextant, and Hughes Aircraft who utilize a wide variety of chemicals, gases and other hazardous materials for research and production operations.  Selected examples of our hazardous materials experience follow.


HERAEUS METAL PROCESSING, INC.
Santa Fe Springs, California

Consulting services for this precious metals reclamation facility involved various program improvements.  Because facility processing operations require  significant amounts of chlorine liquid and gas, the objective of programming efforts was to increase reclamation rates through mode intensive use of chlorine gas.  Using our previous experience with passive containment of chlorine gas, Cash & Associates developed a methodology that created a new gas room to house a liquid chlorine evaporator and total passive containment vessels, which would limit burdens on existing and future scrubbers, as well as mitigate the potential for gas release during process operations and/or outdoor storage.  Design efforts included extensive coordination with the local fire department and County Building Department.   Consulting services also included assistance with the development of a Risk Management Plan and identification and prioritization of program improvements. 

Other work at the Heraeus facility involved modifications to an existing hazardous materials storage warehouse to provide flexible storage that would allow the facility to maintain a "S" occupancy while storing hazardous materials.  Work involved identifying what materials could remain in the warehouse, those that required separate storage, and determining the storage limitations for materials to be warehoused.   Study results were used to design flexible controlled areas that allow for future building programs.  A separate, isolated hazardous materials building was designed for materials that could be not stored within the warehouse.  A facility-wide emergency generator system to support various on-site processes was designed, as well.


HAZARDOUS MATERIALS COLLECTION, PROCESSING, TRANSFER FACILITY
Los Angeles, California

This project involved extensive renovations to an existing hazardous materials facility including a new two story office building with an analytical laboratory and a  new H-3 totally non-combustible warehouse building.  The analytical laboratory included electrical, gas, water, acid waste, ventilation, air conditioning and sewer systems, as well as plumbing systems for 10 different specialty gases.  The warehouse building was permitted for RCRA, TSCA, CERCLA and "extremely hazardous" wastes, all State of California listed wastes and PCBs (except biological and nuclear).  Processing capabilities included bulking, decanting, fuel blending, wastewater treatment and lab packing.  Material handling capabilities included automatic conveying and retrieval systems, pallet storage for "live" 55 gallon drums, and mezzanine storage for empty drums.  Due to the highly volatile nature of materials, special design was required for fire protection and electrical systems.  The warehouse included specially coated non-sparking floors, fume hoods and incinerators, HVAC system, and back-up electrical power.  Spill containment measures included an automatic retrieval system to disburse granular absorbent.  Site work included grading, paving and an on-site rail spur.  In addition, a system of berms, curbs, sumps, trenches was design to collect and retain contaminated storm water runoff and and hazardous spills.  An on-site treatment system was provided, as well.



NAVAL WEAPONS STATION
Seal Beach, California

Working under an IDIQ Contract for A-E Services, Cash & Associates provided engineering services for multiple projects.  Two of the projects involved hazardous materials storage facilities.  The first project involved modifications to an existing hazardous waste unloading, storage and transfer facility.  The project scope involved expanding an existing facility and developing measures to prevent the accumulation of rainwater in a bermed containment areas.  Project components included adding a new pre-engineered metal building onto an existing concrete masonry building as well as adding a new 2-ton monorail and explosion-proof 2-ton bridge crane, an exhaust fan system, and skylights.  All interior and exterior slabs were modified to ensure containment of potential hazardous spills.  The second project involved design of a new hazardous storage facility (otto fuel).  Project components included a pre-engineered metal building, building foundation, 6" high  building perimeter curb, sealed concrete floor with trench drain system, forklift and personnel access doors, open ventilation and emergency showers.  The 30' wide building was divided into two clear span modules providing pallet storage for 55 gallon drums.   Pre-engineered metal buildings were selected for both projects to minimize the overall project cost.