SITE SELECTION

1. LOCATION & PROGRAM
1. Program the Site
• GOALS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE ORGANISATION
  What is the overall objective of this operation (broad scale)? MFRI is in the process of preparing a number of training centers throughout the state of Maryland serving pre-established regions. Some are complete and operational; others are currently in construction, while others are still in the pipeline (i.e., one in the early stages of design, and another currently involved in a site selection process). It is important to note that this is an iterative process. Facilities typically need to be revisited over the years to incorporate new technology and just to conduct necessary maintenance.
• LEVEL OF ACTIVITY, TYPE OF TRAINING, (NUMBER OF PROPS, ETC.)
  Will the activity be limited to just a single element - a burn building?
  Economics dictate that site use should be maximized; therefore, what additional uses might be contemplated? In general, MFRI facilities encompass a burn building, burn pads for training in oil and oil related fires, extrication pads for training in vehicular accidents, office/classroom facilities, maintenance facilities, fuel oil containment and drafting facilities.
  MFRI Training Centers generally include:
  • a fire fighting structure
  • an industrial oil/water separator
  • a flammable liquids burn pad (concrete)
  • a fire extinguisher training pad (concrete)
  • a flammable gas burn pad (gravel)
  • an auto extrication/rescue pad (gravel)
  • a 10,000 gallon drafting source
  • a 10,000 gallon fuel storage tank
  • fire hydrants and pump connections
  • an instructional/office building
  • parking area for 60 cars
  • security fence with gates
  • roadway system
  • exterior lighting for security and night instruction
  • a holding pond
• DETERMINATION OF THE POPULATION TO BE SERVED AND GEOGRAPHICS DETERMINES MACRO-LEVEL SITE LOCATION
• Travel Distance - Ideally, the site should be located in an area which can be conveniently reached by all who use the facility. (Will the using population be required to use their own fire apparatus?)
• Geographics - Mountainous areas, major rivers, and/or landforms can impose undesirable hindrances to access. These hindrances may only be perceived, but none the less, the "psychological" barrier is still there.
• Infrastructure - Available roadways, means of access, surrounding communities, emergency services, etc., must be taken into account.
2. Site Identification
   • Industrial Locations
   • Government Complexes
   • Institutional Locations
   • Isolated Sites

• PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS
1. General Review of Existing Information
• There is a great deal of information already existing regarding most sites. This information should be well researched and reviewed prior to further development. It is extremely important to get out and walk the site. Items that are obvious when you see them for yourself don't always come across as well on the maps and in the reference books. Consider the existing conditions of the site in question and your intended use. Be critical. Look closely. This is a serious investment.
2. Topography
• AVAILABLE INFORMATION
• United States Geological Survey [www.usgs.gov ] - Quad Sheets Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, Public Affairs: 703.648.4460
  This resource will provide basic topographic information [also find information at www.maptech.com and www.topozone.com and www.terraserver.com ] , land contours, etc., including locations of bodies of water roads, railroad tracks, existing buildings, etc. These sheets are usually prepared at 1" equals 2000 feet with 5' or 10' contour intervals. Detailed project development will require topographic maps at 1' or 2' intervals. This information does provide a basic background from which to start.
• ANALYSIS
• Especially pay attention to land form, topography. Avoid excessively steep or excessively flat sites. Steep sites generally add to construction costs due to excessive regrading requirements, utilizing stepped foundation systems, and retaining walls.
• A flat site generally has poor subsurface hydrology (water movement) conditions and the development of these sites tends to be costly in the installation of drainage systems and gravity flow utility systems. Flat sites often require pumped and/or pressurized utility systems which can be quite costly and require occasional maintenance. Especially pertinent to the development of Burn Building Design is the installation of good site drainage. This can include good berming of the prop area, perimeter drainage swails, and water runoff collection points.
• The presence of erosion trenches on the site are evidence of a steep site which may be difficult to maintain due to excessive overland water flow.
• Land will help determine site layout by selecting where storm water and water use containment ponds are located. A general rule of thumb has the elevation of the site water containment pond lower than the training facility at a ratio of 1/4" per foot of distance. Storm water ponds are generally located at the lowest perimeter elevation.
3. Zoning
• AVAILABLE INFORMATION
• Local zoning codes.
• ANALYSIS
• Zoning (adjacent communities/activities)
• Residential
• Commercial
• Industrial
• Park Land
4. Flood Plain
• AVAILABLE INFORMATION
• FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) maps - Flood plain [www.fema.gov/maps/ and www.fema.gov/mit/tsch ] These maps provide site information regarding areas which may be within the 100 year flood and flood hazard areas.
• ANALYSIS
• There are regulations regarding the development of territory within the 100 year flood area. Generally, development within the flood plain is strongly discouraged, especially elements which will alter the contour of the flood plain. Some elements such as parking lots and agricultural development may be permitted.
• If a need for development within the 100 year flood plain is felt justified, co-ordination with the local governmental agency having jurisdiction must be conducted. In the state of Maryland, the Department of Natural Resources, Water Resource Administration, is the governing body. They can either grant or deny permission for development.
• If permission is granted, special conditions on construction will probably be required. For instance, the finished floor elevation and access ways of any structure within the flood plain must be 1' higher than the ultimate flood elevation at that location. These special conditions generally increase the cost of the project. Also, public notice is required to inform neighboring properties of the potential increase in the flood elevation in the area due to your action.
5. Wetlands
   • AVAILABLE INFORMATION
   • Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture, [ www.usda.gov ] Washington, D.C. This agency provides Soil Survey Maps which provide general information regarding soil types and conditions, and information regarding substrata conditions.
   • State of Maryland, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) [ www.dnr.state.md.us ], Water Resource Administration. DNR's Water Resource Administration can provide information regarding the potential of the existence of wetlands within a site.
   • ANALYSIS
   • Three conditions are determinants of the existence of wetlands: soil type, flora and fauna (vegetation), and the presence of water.
   • The presence of standing surface water often indicates a high water table, poor site drainage, or the presence of soils with limited filtration ability.
   • Basic rule - DON'T BUILD ON WETLANDS. Especially something like a fire training center.
   • DNR requires you to identify five other sites which you have investigated and why none of these meet your needs before they will even consider your petition for building in the wetlands.
   • If you must build in wetlands, mitigation will be required. Mitigation requires a one-to-one replacement, acre for acre, and a two-to-one replacement if the wetland is forested. Creating wetlands is not the world's easiest effort. Finding property that the owner is willing to have turned into wetlands is the first obstacle.
6. Hazardous Sites
• AVAILABLE INFORMATION
  • Hazardous Site Listings - Monitoring lists of the Environmental Protection Agency [ www.epa.gov ] and State Department of the Environment [ www.mde.state.md.us ]. These agencies maintain lists of sites which have been identified as hazardous waste disposal sites. [ Also find information at "EnviroMapper" www.maps.epa.gov/environmapper ].
• ANALYSIS
• Whether or not the site is on these lists, precautions should be taken and soil sampling should be conducted to establish baseline conditions. These conditions should be submitted to the State Department of Environment for analysis. This is especially important if the site has previously been used as a fire training site, etc.
• Be aware of the activities previously conducted on the site. Request and environmental history of activity conducted at the site. Old deeds and tax maps may help with this investigation.
• Under the Federal "Superfund" legislation, the lessee of the site could potentially be responsible for costs associated with the clean-up of the site if hazardous wastes are found there-even though the lessee was not responsible for dumping the wastes there! These costs could easily run into the tens of millions of dollars.
7. NOAA
   • AVAILABLE INFORMATION [ www.noaa.gov ]
   • ANALYSIS
   • Predominant wind direction will help locate the burn building and burn pads such that those facilities are down wind of other facilities on site and such that there is a buffer zone between them and off site structures. Sound is also carried by wind. This is of lesser concern, though noise is a component of fire training. Take note of prevailing wind directions during walk through. Adjacent properties and/or facilities downwind may be affected by the smoke and fumes created within your site. Be conscious of your neighbors.
8. Bureau of Land Management
• AVAILABLE INFORMATION [ www.blm.gov ]
• ANALYSIS
9. U. S. Fish & Wildlife Endangered Species
   • AVAILABLE INFORMATION [ www.fws.gov ]
   • Threatened and endangered species system (TESS) [ www.fws.gov/webpage ] provides links to site maps, state lists, plants, animals, etc.
   • ANALYSIS
10. FAA Height Restrictions
• AVAILABLE INFORMATION [ www.faa.gov ]
• ANALYSIS
11. National Park Service
    • AVAILABLE INFORMATION [ www.nps.gov ]
    • ANALYSIS
    • Among the most prominent requirements needing attention are:
      Similar to a wetlands request, you must provide evidence that you have investigated 5 to 10 alternate sites. The rationale for why each of these sites cannot meet your requirements must also be presented. This evaluation of all practical alternatives to the requested conversion must be investigated and rejected on a sound basis. This rationale must also be presented to and supported by the National Park Service for further pursuit of the property to occur.
    • You must develop a list of potential alternative sites for review . DNR will support this effort by identifying any sites of which they may become aware which may meet your needs. In assisting this effort, representatives of DNR's Program Open Space [ www.dnr.state.md.us/pos.html ]indicated they would require approximately six weeks to conduct a thorough search of potential alternate properties within the region.
    • Any proposed replacement property identified for substitution must be of equal or greater fair market value, and it must be of equal or greater acreage per DNR's requirements. Fair market value of the existing parcel, and of the parcel proposed for replacement must be established by a private appraisal at the University's expense. This replacement property cannot already be within the State's or the Federal Parks property inventory.
    • The property proposed for replacement must be of reasonably equivalent usefulness and location (within the same political jurisdiction) as that being converted. If replacement property is identified which has ecological, environmental, or recreational significance, the need for adjacency may be waived at the discretion of DNR and/or the National Park Service.
    • Guidelines involving environmental evaluation must be completed and reviewed by appropriate federal and state agencies. The University's Engineering and Architectural Services will provide DNR with a copy of an Environmental Assessment Form prepared for another MFRI Training Center. This will familiarize DNR with a typical MFRI training facility. Based upon this description, DNR can determine if a formal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be required. If an EIS is required, DNR will prepare it and coordinate its distribution, review, and approval.
12. National or Historic Trust
    • AVAILABLE INFORMATION
    • National Historic Register of Historic Places [ www.cr.nps.gov/nr/research/nris.htm ] provides an extensive database document for 65,000 historic places.
    • Lists from the National, State, or Local Historic Trusts.
    • ANALYSIS
    • Contact the Historic Trust and ask if the site may be on their lists or if a study is required. Historical or archaeological sites are not always apparent. There may be Native American burial grounds, etc. under the surface. The old shed on your site which doesn't look important may actually be of historic importance. This site may require an Archaeological Survey or building investigation.
13. Accessibility
• AVAILABLE INFORMATION
• Road and Local Infrastructure information from the State and Local Jurisdiction.
• ANALYSIS
• Roadway and Accessibility to and within your site are vital. Remember, you are planning for vehicles often in excess of 60,000 pounds.
14. Easements
    • AVAILABLE INFORMATION
    • Deeds, Information from Utility Companies.
    • ANALYSIS
    • Site easements should be established prior to initiating any design whatsoever. Easements can be classified into two categories. One in which people, vehicles, etc., have the right to enter and/or pass through the site, or the other where utilities such as gas, electrical, water, etc., exist on or under the site. All easements should clearly identify what is and is not permitted. Overhead high voltage electrical lines may allow roadways to pass underneath, but because of extreme magnetic fields, no structure for habitation should be constructed within 500 feet.
    • Underground obstructions should be located in advance of any site plan development, if at all possible. Any prior site drawings or deed drawings may indicate prior uses.
• UTILITIES
  1. Electricity
     • AVAILABLE INFORMATION
     • Electric Utility Company
     • ANALYSIS
     • Electricity and available power for equipment operation, etc.
     • Electricity may be required to heat certain spaces.
     • Is electric service available within a reasonable distance?
  2. Telephone
  • AVAILABLE INFORMATION
  • Local telephone company.
  • ANALYSIS
  • Telephone and/or other methods of communication, the need for emergency services, etc.
  • Is telephone service likely to be available at a reasonable cost?
  3. Gas
     • AVAILABLE INFORMATION
     • Local gas company
     • ANALYSIS
     • Gas may be required to heat certain spaces.
     • Propane is another viable choice.
  4. Sewer
     • AVAILABLE INFORMATION
     • Local information on sewer system.
     • ANALYSIS
     • Historic information from local health department.
     • Soils survey.
  5. Water
     • AVAILABLE INFORMATION
     • Local water company.
     • ANALYSIS
     • Water, both potable and fire training water. These training centers tend to use excessive amounts of water. If your supply is provided from a local well system, unrestricted training activity may quickly drain the tapped aquifer. This tends to upset the neighbors.
  6. Storm Drainage
     • AVAILABLE INFORMATION
     • ANALYSIS
  7. Oil Water Separator
     • AVAILABLE INFORMATION
     • ANALYSIS
     • Land can have an effect on the selection and successful use of an oil/water separator. Certain separator types operate via gravity feed and require a greater slope.
     • The general location of the oil/water separator is down from the use facility, but up hill from the containment pond.
  Section 2:

  SITE EVALUATION

  1. PLANNING & ZONING
     1. Program Layout
        • GENERAL LAYOUT
        • An organizational concept is essential to provide efficient and safe usage of the site. Two basic organizations come to mind. One is the nodal concept which is geared towards one very important activity with lesser important support activities surrounding it. This concept does not prove to be efficient when there are multiple, equally important facilities on the site, as duplication of support facilities would occur.
        • The MFRI facilities, having several equally important functions, uses a spine concept organization. This is much like a double loaded corridor in a building. The corridor in our organization is the main street with different functions spaced on both sides. This organization is excellent for expanding the facilities either by providing more connection points or by extending the spine.
        • The location of the facility layout can be affected by many factors. The roadway accessing the site offers significant potential if it parallels the longest boundary line than if it dead ends into the property. The dead end roadway forces a connection to the facility at that location. Adjustments to the proper internal organization may require added internal roadways. The dead end roadway may require significant site modification for visual surveillance by the local security force. The parallel access road allows connection at various points which more easily can support the internal organization. The parallel road allows more locations for through sight lines thereby allowing better security.
        • SPECIAL LAYOUT REQUIREMENTS
        • The amount of land that is used for services versus the amount cleared is the result of many factors. With MFRI, the overall design encompasses more facilities than the burn building itself. This will also likely be the case with any facility even though it may be limited in scope to only a burn building.
        • The active facilities at MFRI constitute two burn pads for various types of oil fires and extinguishing techniques, two extrication pads for techniques in saving lives in vehicular accidents and one 2½-story burn building. One must determine what kinds of support facilities are required to allow the designed facilities to function.
        • Accessing the facilities is important. What kinds of apparatus will be accessing the facilities should be determined. In our burn building design, we require that the largest apparatus made have free access to the building and be utilized in the fighting of the fire. This necessitated that the access road to the burn building accommodate two way traffic for vehicles passing one another. The minimum width of the access road required 24'. Turning radii at intersections required 50' for the inside radius. Operating space around the burn building required clearance of 50' from any one point of the building. This facilitates vehicles passing one another and provides reasonable distance from the building during burn evolutions, simulating actual fire conditions. Our 45' square burn building required a clearing of 150' in diameter for apparatus access.
        • The access to the burn pads is primarily designed for foot access and delivery of fire fighting equipment by way of small truck. The access road in this case is 12' wide with a turning radius of no less than 15' on the inside. The burn pads are a minimum of 50' square in order to accommodate a 6' x 6' burn pan. The extraction pads require similar access as the burn pads are sized the same.
        • Support facilities have to be defined. First and foremost is parking. How many people will be attending these activities and what kind of vehicles will be brought to the site? The most efficient parking is 90 degree with two way traffic aisles. This, however, is not necessarily the most chosen because of ease of parking and safety. MFRI at present provides automobile parking for 60. Added pull offs and 24' road widths provide for fire apparatus parking.
        • Storage facilities must be determined. What kinds of materials are required to be stored on site for fire fighting, for burn materials, for maintenance of the site, lawn mowers, etc.? What kind of access is required for vehicles?
        • Garbage collection must be planned. MFRI has designated two pick up points for dumpsters. One near the burn facilities and one near the office facilities. Both locations have access designed for the garbage collection vehicle and turn round.
        • What kind of support facilities are required for safety, health, and general instruction prior to activity involvement? MFRI provides an office building which contains toilets, offices, and instructional spaces.
        • Buffer zones around each of the facilities must be determined as these add or reduce overall site clearing. Our burn pads are greatly affected by the required buffer zone. We have found that extinguishing the fuel oil flames significantly alters the direction of the flame such that it goes beyond the outer perimeter of the 50' burn pad by 10' to 15'. This area cannot contain any materials that can burn. Our 50' square pad must have a clearing of 90' square. Overlaps can occur with burn pads, provided that usage can be staggered.
        • General construction clearing also must be recommended as a construction buffer zone. If the size of a facility is designed to be 40' x 40', it is most likely the clearing will be a minimum 60' x 60' in order to accommodate construction vehicles. Under special occasions, hand labor can reduce clearing but at much added expense.
        • Sight lines both within the facility for operational control and safety, and from without the facility for security, can alter clearing. It is important that activities be able to be observed from within the site from defined vantage points. This provides overall control and coordination of the activities. The MFRI sites, for the most part, have direct vision from the office building to each of activity centers and the main entrance. The perimeter site fencing requires a cleared buffer zone about 8' in order to easily access the fence for security breaches. Depending upon local security "drive by," there is need for sight lines into the site to locations likely needing protection, i.e. storage, office, burn buildings, and wet ponds. It is also very likely that sight lines will be restricted from the outside viewing which could disrupt traffic patterns of passing vehicles or cause undue interest or alarm from nearby residences.
     2. Zoning Issues
        • Set backs and easements can greatly affect site configuration. The site layout should conform to county set back regulations either as zoned or as determined by the county engineer. These set backs can predict future adjacencies and/or access roads. If possible, keep the active functions, burn pads, burn building, and their inherent buffer zones, well within the set back limitations.

• ENGINEERING
  1. Environmental Impact
     • ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
     • An Environmental Assessment Form must be filled out and submitted to the proper governing bodies.
     • An environmental evaluation must be completed and reviewed by the appropriate federal and state agencies.
     • This will familiarize DNR with the activities which will occur during the operation of a typical fire training facility. Based upon this description, the DNR or similar state agency can determine if a formal EIS will be required.
     • ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS)
       • If an EIS is required, the state governing authority will review and make a determination regarding the significance of this impact and ultimate disposition. If no significant impact is found based on intervention and further proposals for site development, public notice must be listed in the local newspapers for thirty days. Once the Environmental Assessment has cleared the public domain, design may begin.
       • Preparation and acceptance of an EIS can take up to a year!
  2. Forest Conservation
     • Although not the initial or primary concern in site selection, one must consider the level of forestation which composes a site. Utilization of forested areas as a buffer zone is extremely desirable. However, elimination of forested areas now requires coordination through DNR.
     • Section 1 of the Forest Conservation Act (Chap. 255, Laws of MD 1991) holds the provisions of the Forest Conservation Program [ www.dnr.state.md.us.forests/landplanning/fca.html ], including conservation thresholds, afforestation, and reforestation standards, as well as requirements for forest stand delineation and forest conservation plans. The Program provides for the applicability of its requirements to any public or private subdivision plan or application for a grading or sediment control permit by any person, including a unit of state or local government, on areas 40,000 square feet or more. These provisions are codified as Natural Resources Article, sec. 5-1601 through 5-1613, Annotated Code of Maryland.
     • Section 2 of the Act amends the Natural Resources Article, Sec. 5-103 (the "Reforestation Act"). Section 5-103 requires units of the State government and persons using State funding for construction activities to minimize the cutting or clearing of trees and to contribute up to $500 per acre to a Reforestation Fund if the area cut or cleared is one acre or more. Section 2 amends the Section 5-103 by increasing the reforestation fee to 10 cents per square foot of the area required to be replanted. For any publicly financed construction activity, the requirements of the Forest Conservation Program apply.
     • You will likely be required to develop all projects in accordance with the Forest Conservation Act and its pertinent Regulations, 1991. A thorough review of the statute, the regulations, and the Forest Conservation Manual are necessary for a complete understanding of the law, and the Consultant's subsequent responsibilities. These responsibilities can typically be obtained from your state's natural resources department.
     • Reforestation within the site can occur in areas which are open to view but should be restricted to areas cleared for construction access beyond the required footprint.
     • Additional clearing occurs due to the requirements on controlling site water. The burn building pad is extended by a 6' diameter in order to direct water away from the burn building and into a swale which in turn goes into a holding pond. The burn pads, because of their fuel source, evacuate water by way of a center drain towards the oil/water separator. The pathways of water used in fighting fires have specialized paths which are in addition to the cleared paths for normal storm water management.
     • Clearing for storm water management will come from requirements of swales, infiltration ponds, detention ponds, and/or retention ponds. The area required for these management facilities varies with each site.
  3. Topography
  • Underground obstructions should be located in advance of any site plan development, if at all possible. Any prior site drawings or deed drawings may indicate prior uses. If there is any possibility of the existence of underground obstructions such as old footings from previous buildings or vaults from septic systems, do not hesitate to investigate. The investigation can take the form of pits and trenches. Soil borings are not a reliable investigative tool for finding underground obstructions.
  4. Wetlands
  5. Geotechnical
  • Geotechnical information is extremely important in selecting locations within the site for the different functions. Soil borings are an important way of obtaining geotechnic information. Through the borings it is possible to determine if the water table will cause design conflicts with underground tanks and/or building footings. If possible, this should be avoided as we have experienced added construction costs for dewatering. The soil types will indicate bearing capacity. This is significant not only to determine whether the building foundation is spread footings, grade beams, or pilings, but also to determine the design of the roadway to support 60,000-70,000 pound vehicles.
  6. Security
  • Ease of surveillance is generally a consideration with regard to these types of facilities. Placing the site down a long dead end road may not be appropriate as it may permit unwanted activities to occur within the site.
  • Open fencing versus closed fencing/walls (visual access versus seclusion).
  • Night lighting throughout the state.
  • If you have easy access, excellent, nearby support facilities, you will not be alone. Activities occurring at these training facilities when they are operational are not casual recreational activities. Public access must be controlled. One must therefore balance out these requirements, and make reasonable concessions between accessibility and controllability.
  7. UTILITIES
     • Electricity (Determine routing and cost)
     • Telephone (Determine routing and cost)
     • Gas (Determine routing and cost)
     • Sewer (Perc Tests)
     • Our MFRI facilities encompass sanitary facilities. Within the Washington, DC area, Prince George's County, and Montgomery County the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) reviews drawings for all sanitary connections and approves designs for permits. Our design standards for projects, in general, are in conformance to WSSC standards even though the project is outside of the local jurisdiction. Variation from WSSC standards is performed to accommodate local review for particular requirements. The local districts will review any and all connections to sewage systems both in drawing form and actual connection. It is best to keep them informed from the onset of the project, through the county engineer.
     • If reliance on a septic system is required, it is important to work with the county as they normally perform perc tests and verify capacity of soil which can be translated into quantities of people who will be using the facility on a daily, weekly, or peak period basis. It is important to coordinate this information with that programmed for the facility.
     • Connections to existing sewer systems can be broken down into two basic types: forced main which has the main sewer line under pressure as the elevation of the pipe run requires a pump station pumping sludge up a hill, or a gravity main which uses gravity as the force moving the sludge.
     • With the forced main, it is required that an on site sanitary pump and sundry back flow preventers be constructed and installed. This feature generally adds $7,000 to $10,000 over a connection to a gravity main. Sanitary pumps are generally not required when connecting to a gravity main except when the slope of the land and the fall of the pipe from the source prevent a continuous gravity flow to the main. The location of the sanitary facilities within the site organization can be determined in part by the need and expense for a sanitary pump.
     • Water
     • Access to water is a very important part of our facility. It is important to calculate the required overall usage of water for the facility and determine what portion is used for fire fighting and what portion is used for human consumption and general use. This calculation opens up possibilities as to what sources of water may be used and what must be available from the lexicon of wells, creeks, ponds, and municipal water supplies. Accessing non municipal water comes under the scrutiny of the DNR and the local county Health Department. Should we determine that a well is required, the state provides a Water Appropriation and Use Permit. Both permits are required in Maryland. It is possible to drill two wells, one for potable water and the other for fighting fires whose quality is less than that required for human consumption.
     • Adjacent streams can act as a supply of water for fire training either similar to that noted for the non-potable well water or as a direct supply by means of a drafting apparatus. The DNR calculates a flow-by for the stream. This determines the limits on water removed from the stream. This too requires a Water Appropriation and Use Permit.
     • Accessing municipal water supplies will require review by the county engineer in order to determine adequacy of supply versus need. The present MFRI Regional Training Centers anticipate using 1,500 gallons per minute at 20 psi with a daily maximum of 30,000 gallons and weekly maximum of 90,000 gallons.
     • The water usage at our Western Maryland site will be metered and paid for by the institute. In working with the county engineer, it was determined that a dual metering system - one for domestic water, low flow, and one for fire training, high flow - could save between $8,000 and $15,000 over a single metering system accommodating both high and low volume.
  Section 3:
  

  PROJECT DESIGN: Implementation of the design?

  1. SITE & STRUCTURES
     1. Site Grading
        • The location of activity pads, burn pads, burn building, and access routes should be in concert with the percentage of the slope of the land. As the pad is so large for the burn building, it is advisable to locate the facility on land which has a slope no greater than 5%, preferably on a knoll to drain the water from the center towards the outside.
        • Burn pads also can easily function on a slope of 5% or less. Slope greater than this would require extensive contouring. Slope for access by fire apparatus should not exceed 10% and great care should be taken during design to transition the clearance and could bottom out.
     2. Storm Water Management
        • The soil types will indicate drainage characteristics. This is important in determining types of storm water management systems from infiltration to retention ponds.
        • Site water management requires reviews and permitting from the Maryland Department of the Environment for Sediment and Erosion Control, Storm Water Management and Water Discharge from Site.
     3. Soil Erosion & Sediment Control
        • The sediment and erosion control plan is concerned with soil going beyond the boundaries of the property and eventually altering streams and rivers. The plan impacts the site primarily in a temporary manner as selection of the construction staging area, stabilized construction entrance, and topsoil/fill storage areas are all removed prior to project completion. These areas and the disturbed portions of the site are protected by siltation fencing and siltation traps. Review of this plan is frequently submitted with the storm water management plan, but it is a separate review and permit. This permit must be obtained prior to any construction or modification of the site, and the approved drawings must be on site at all times. The present approximate review time in the State of Maryland is 12 weeks.
        • The basic concept for storm water management is to maintain the status quo of the quality and quantity of the water runoff from the property prior to construction and to control down stream flooding and erosion.
        • There are three basic methods used for controlling the quantity and quality of storm water run off: infiltration detention (dry pond) and retention (wet pond) ponds. These ponds may suffice individually or in combination with one another.
        • Waivers may be obtained for having to build these facilities by way of comparative calculations for storm water run off from the existing land use to the proposed land use. In our Western Maryland site, the previous use was a Celenese plant with virtual coverage of the entire site with impervious materials. Our modifications to the site for the burn pads, burn building and associated roadways did not negatively impact the previous use, and we were permitted a storm water waiver. This saved several thousand dollars on storm water management ponds. Conversely, our Aberdeen site was equal to virgin land and required three detention ponds and controlled outlets at a cost of five to eight thousand dollars each.
        • Each of the methods for storm water management have rationale and advantages to suit the situation. The infiltration ponds primary purpose is to control the quality of water that leaves the site. This "pond" may occur in different forms. It may occur as a dry well which catches the sediment and water from the first half inch of rain water. The sediment is contained and the water migrates through the soil. It may occur as pavement, brick, stone or even special bituminous pavement, which allows penetration of water through to the soil and containment of sediment. The infiltration pond is frequently the least expensive of storm water management structures as this type of control is allowed to deal with portions of a site which have a storm water quantity waiver but not a quality waiver.
        • The detention pond is used for quantity control whereby it reduces peak discharges. All the water which is funnelled into this pond leaves the pond, but over an extended period of time. This is frequently called a dry pond.
        • A deviation of the detention pond is an extended detention pond which holds the water for a longer period of time thereby allowing sediment to filter to the bottom. This type of pond controls both quality and quantity of run off. The sizing of the detention pond or ponds is based on a calculation against the entire site area. Thus the detention ponds and the retention ponds are generally a more expensive way of required storm water management.
     4. Sewer
        • Soil information will also help to identify the possible use of a septic system.
     5. Oil/Water Separator
     • Another permit required for site water management is a discharge permit. This permit specifically concerns burn building and related structures. This permit is necessary for any point source of waste water being discharged into the waters of the state. Waste water is defined as any water that has been chemically altered through its use. Waters of the state include ground water as well as all surface water. The state of Maryland also requires a permit for discharging water which has not been chemically altered if the monthly average is greater than 10,000 gallons per day. This permit is provided by the Maryland Department of Environment's Hazardous and Solid Waste Section.
     • As Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute's water usage is calculated to exceed the average water usage, we have designed zones and areas of containment in which the water can be tested before release from the site.
     • Fire training which utilizes fuel oil fires requires all used liquids to enter a surge tank which filters out most of the solids washed down through the spray of the water. From the surge tank, the liquids continue to flow into an oil water separator which removes all oil and oil products to Coast Guard standards - 15 parts per million. The oil is stored and made ready for reuse. The remaining liquid, water, travels through a final oil sweep and testing area for verification of Coast Guard compliance. The water continues to a holding pond which is fitted with an aerator to reduce the chlorine gas contained within the water supplied by the Municipal Water Supply. Water used for non fuel oil fires has large particles filtered by site trenches, then proceeds to the holding pond. The holding pond contains a testing pit to determine acceptable standards for discharge. This water then proceeds to the storm water system and mixes with storm water where it may again be tested just prior to leaving the site. By having these containment zones, and visual as well as testing check points, we have built safeguards into the discharge system.
     6. Holding Pond
  2. CODES
  1. General
     • As we are a state agency, University of Maryland Engineering and Architectural Services in support of a state agency, MFRI, we are not subject to obtain a building permit in the technical sense. We, however, try to function as an exemplar in performing building code (BOCA code), handicapped accessibility code (ANSI A117.1), fire code (NFPA 101), and environmental safety reviews in house. We are, however, subject to external reviews by other state agencies concerned with the environment, and health and safety of our structures.
     • Our overall MFRI facilities are in full compliance with all codes and state regulations, the same as those encompassing the private sector. The design of a burn building in particular proves to be a special case not specifically defined in any applicable code. For this reason, we have made a determination that the burn building is not a building at all but a prop not unlike those used in Hollywood for stage settings.
  2. Building Code (BOCA in Maryland)
     • With this definition there is selective application of NFPA 101, BOCA code, and ANSI A117.1. These codes now function as guidelines to be used in coordination with the simulation activities designed into the burn "structure". Conditions concerning ingress and egress - stair width dimensions, riser-tread dimensions, hall widths, and number of egress and ingress points may justifiably fall outside code regulations because of teaching intent. Locations for siamese connections and stand pipes may be within code but the actual connection to a water source may be temporary and intermittent. Ceiling heights may be altered to create smoke pockets rather than to dissipate smoke.
     • The opposite also comes into play where we have found that code requirements are not sufficient. Floor loadings, wall and ceiling ratings, railing and stair loadings were increased to accommodate the specialized activities.
  3. Life Safety Code (NFPA in Maryland)
  4. ANSI
  5. ADA
  3. APPROVALS
     1. Electricity
  4. PERMITS
     1. Building
     2. Water
     3. Sewer
     4. Plumbing
     5. Electrical
     6. Flood Plain Development
        • Permit is needed from FEMA to prove that building will not impact the floor plan (flood plain levels) and that no habitable space will be below the flood plain level.
     7. Wetland Development & Mitigation
        • State Corps of Engineers
        • United States Corps of Engineers [ www.usace.army.mil ]
     8. National Park Service
     9. Permit for Open Burning
        • "Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act" [ www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/peg.caa/pegcaain.html ]
        • Health Department (EPA) Clean Air Act, Clean Air Act Advisory Committee [ www.epa.gov/oar/caaac ].
     10. Forest Conservation: Reforestation / Afforestation
     11. Environmental Impact Statement
     12. Storm Water Management
     13. Soil Erosion & Sediment Control
     14. Discharge Permit
  Other information may be obtained from the U. S. Department of the Interior at www.doi.gov/doichart.html.
  This information provides you with some basic considerations for site selection and development.