ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
DATE: July 9, 1996
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: General Manager, Fire & Rescue Services and the
Manager, Occupational Health, Safety & Rehabilitation, Human
Resource Services
SUBJECT: Firehall Vehicle Exhaust Ventilation Program
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT City Council approve the allocation of $200,000 from the
capital reserve to accelerate the installation of vehicle
ventilation systems in firehalls. The advance will be repaid by a
reduction of $40,000 per year for 5 years in the Fire & Rescue
Services operating budget.
COUNCIL POLICY
Council in 1989, adopted a policy to support expenditures which could
improve the health and safety of City staff.
On December 8, 1994, Council adopted the City's mission, values and
objectives which in part state as an objective to "create a challenging,
safe, healthy and rewarding workplace."
PURPOSE
To obtain Council's approval to accelerate the installation of vehicle
ventilation systems for eight firehalls and the Machine Shop at Firehall
#1 in 1996.
BACKGROUND
Fire & Rescue Services has been installing local ventilation systems to
extract vehicle exhaust from its firehalls at a rate of two a year since
1991. Over half are complete with the remaining nine planned for in the
next five years. Due to firefighter concerns, reduced permissible
concentrations and WCB orders there exists a real need to accelerate
installation in the remaining firehalls.
There are two types of ventilation systems to remove the exhaust created
by vehicles. 1) General ventilation, which removes all of the air in
the firehall by relying on large fans and opening of doors; and 2) local
ventilation which extracts contaminants at their source. General
ventilation is both inefficient and costly as whole air volumes must be
removed and replaced with heated air in the winter. Local ventilation
is more efficient as it removes the contaminate at its source without
contaminating the entire air space.
Firehalls have always had general ventilation systems. Local exhaust
systems in the past did not work as the need to leave the firehall in a
hurry prevented their proper use. In 1991 Fire & Rescue Services began
installation of Nederman Local Ventilation Systems that extract
themselves from the vehicle exhaust port as the vehicle leaves the
firehall. Fire & Rescue Services developed an installation plan of two
firehalls per year to remain within its building maintenance budget as
these systems cost approximately $20,000 per firehall.
In 1993 the WCB permissible concentrations were lowered for Carbon
Monoxide (400%) and Nitrous oxide (500%) to respond to growing concerns
of the long term effects of exposure to these chemical compounds. These
two substances are the primary hazards of both gasoline and diesel
exhaust emissions. In February of this year the WCB wrote orders on the
City stating that our program of installation was not sufficient to meet
the new permissible concentrations.
DISCUSSION
Ventilation of vehicle exhaust from firehalls is not a new issue. Fire
and Rescue Services has always been concerned about the exposure of its
staff to any type of airborne contaminant. Vehicle exhaust for fire
apparatus is particularly troublesome because of; 1) the residue that
remains in the living quarters of the firefighters; and 2) the
ventilation system cannot impede the movement of emergency vehicles.
Industry has responded to the challenge and in the last 10 years proper
exhaust systems for emergency vehicles have been made available. After
extensive testing in 1991, Fire & Rescue services chose the Nederman
Ventilation System as sufficient to meet its needs.
When the installation of these systems began in 1991, the priority of
installation was based on individual firehall call volume. Upon review
of records in 1995, apparatus movement for training, emergency calls,
maintenance and scheduled activities has increased at least 30%. While
we believe that proper contaminant testing to establish the level of
exposure to our firefighters would be within the permissible levels,
this is expensive and is redundant considering we are going to place
local ventilation in each hall anyway. Council is asked to approve
installation of ventilation systems for the remaining eight firehalls
and Machine Shop at No. 1 Hall within 1996.
Proper local exhaust ventilation systems have been installed in the
following halls:
1991 #09 1993 #03, #06 1995 #2, #12,
1992 #07, #22 1994 #05, #17 1996 #10, #01, #14
The halls remaining in need of ventilation systems are:
Firehall #1 - Machine Shop $20,000
Firehall #4 - 2 bays $20,000
Firehall #8 - 2 bays $20,000
Firehall #13 - 2 bays $20,000
Firehall #15 - 2 bays $20,000
Firehall #18 - 4 bays $40,000
Firehall #19 - 2 bays $20,000
Firehall #20 - 2 bays $20,000
Firehall #21 - 2 bays $20,000
TOTAL $200,000
These costs are approximate based on our previous experience. However,
there are savings in installing this number of systems at once.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
As noted in the report, the vehicle ventilation systems have been
installed at the firehalls at the rate of two per year since 1991. A
funding source is required now in order to fund this accelerated
program. It is recommended that the project cost of $200,000 be
advanced from the capital reserve, and to be repaid, without interest,
by an annual reduction of $40,000 per year for five years in the Fire
and Rescue Services Operating Budget.
CONCLUSION
This is a good initiative for both the City and its employees.
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