WA9601-CS 981202
SHIMEK, JACOBS ~ FINKLEA, L.L.P.
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
Gary C. Hendricks, P.E.
Date:
T~ ~tfAC.~O
SHIMEK, JACOBS & FINKLEA, L.L.P.
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
8333 Douglas Avenue, #820 Dallas, Texas 75225-5816 Fax (214) 361-0204 Phone (214) 361-7900
ROSS L. JACOBS, P.E.
RONALD V. CON~VAY, P.E.
JOHN W. BIRKHOFF, P.E.
JOE R. CARTER, P.E. December 2, 1998
GARY C. HENDRICKS, P.E.
I. C. F1NKLEA, P.E.
Mr. Kenneth M. Griffin, P.E.
City of Coppell
Post Office Box 478
Coppell, Texas 75019
Re: Wagon Wheel Ranch Elevated Storage Tank
Shop Applied Prime Coat
Dear Mr. Griffin:
We are forwarding the letter we received via facsimile today from Landmark Structures, Inc., concerning the
recently delivered tank shell plates for the Wagon Wheel Ranch Elevated Storage Tank project. The tank shell
plates have been delivered to the project with a shop-applied primer on both the interior and exterior surfaces.
The project specifications require that the structural plate steel is to be blasted and the prime coat applied in
the field. Landmark Structures, Inc. has offered two options to rectify the deviation from the specifications:
1. Proceed with construction in full accordance with the project specifications. This will require that the
shop applied prime coat be blasted off prior to erecting the tank shell and the prime coat re-applied after
the tank is erected.
2. Consider a change order to the specifications allowing the shop applied prime coat to remain and brush
blast immediately prior to applying the top coat. This approach includes Landmark Structures performing
an adhesion test to the prime coat to confirm its adequacy. If this option is allowed, the contractor has
offered a deduction in the contract of $16,100.
In general, a shop applied prime coat is in many ways superior in quality to a field applied prime coat.
However, it has been our experience that the shop applied prime coat often times is damaged, marred or
otherwise contaminated during the construction process of the tank shell. Sometimes this damage is difficult
to observe or recognize and may go unnoticed by those involved in the project. Further, brush blasting the
shop applied prime coat in preparation for the application of the top coat may fracture the surface of the prime
coat. We believe all of these factors may lead to a shorter coating system life span when a shop applied prime
coat is used in lieu of a carefully controlled field blast and prime coat system. These are the reasons we wrote
the specification as we did.
Nonetheless, we have evaluated the credit for the allowing the shop applied prime coat to remain and find it is
a fair offer. Our opinion is based on multiplying a unit price of $1.00 per square foot for blasting the tank shell
steel times the approximately 16, 054 square feet of surface area to be blasted.
Mr. Kenneth M. Griffin, P.E.
City of Coppell
December 3, 1998
Page Number 2
We recommend the City have the contractor prepare the tank shell steel in accordance with the current project
specifications. However, if the shop applied prime coat is allowed, the proposed contract credit of $16,100
appears fair and reasonable. We are available to discuss this project further at your convenience.
Si ,
Enclosure 6a y C. rick
j:Xclerical\coppell\96-149\letters\const\prirnectdoc
DEC.:Oy 98(~ED) 16:01 LAND~]~;'~ TEL:SlT-~-S888 P. O01
LANDMARK
December 2, 1998 1665 Harmon Road
Fort Worth, Texas
Sent via Facshnlle (214) 361-0204 U .5,A, 76177
Original to Follow in Mail Tel: (817) 439-8888
Fax: (817) 439-9001
Shimek. Jacobs & Finklea
8833 Douglas Avenue
Suite 820
Dallas. Texas 75225
Attn: Mr. Gary C. Hendricks, P.E.
Re: Wagon Wheel Ranch 2.0 MG Elevated Storage Tank
Bid No. Q 0198-03
Dear Sir:
I need to bring a possible change in the contract to your attention for consideration.
We have had a mix-up in our tank plate handling and sent the shell plate for this project to our
shop painting facility. The result of this mix-up is that the shell plate has been shop primed, even
though it is not allowed by the contract specifications. I first became aware of this situation when
the plate arrived on site and was called to my attention by my welding superintendent.
I request that you consider the following two options:
1, Proceed per the specifications - we will remove the plate from site and blast off the
coating without delay.
2. Consider a Change Order - we would provide a credit of $16,100 if the plate would be
acceptable with the shop prime coating. If allowed to remain. the shop priming would be
blasted and primer reinstatement would proceed in accordance with Tnemec's printed
data sheets.
Landmark is confident that the surface preparation and priming has been performed in
accordance with standard industry procedures. The blasting on the plate has been performed
with a "wheel-a-brator." manufactured by U.S. Filter. that utilizes steel shot to consistently provide
a 3 mil anchor profile at a SSPC-10 "near white" blast cleaning. Landmark is confident that this
process eliminates the potential for inadequate blasting due to human error. To further confirm
the acceptability. we will be able to pe~ornf,~eld adhesion testing in the presence of the coating's
inspector. An added advantage to leavi'ng the prime in plate. if acceptable. is that the
construction time will be reduced by 10 t.o 14 days.
We will be ready to install the first ring of shell early next week and therefore request a decision
or direction on this as soon as convenient. Please call me if you need any additional information
on this issue.
Design Innovation, Construction Excellence