Correct Campus Safety Deficiencies

A safety deficiencies assessment of Building 41 on the campus of the New Mexico VA Healthcare System (NMVAHCS) located in Albuquerque, New Mexico was performed by the design team. The assessment was focused on the Interstitial Floor Levels for the Fire-Safety and Life Safety items which no longer meet code requirements. The evaluation of deficiencies was based on current code requirements effective at the time of the assessment.

Evaluations were performed in the field by the design team with the assistance of the project COR, Derrick Chee, and a Representative of the Facility Safety Office. Building 41 was built in 1986 and consists of 6 floors above grade and a basement. The Basement and floors 1 through 5 each have interstitial Walk-on Decks above. The basement structure is a concrete slab on grade, and the suspended floors and roof are a composite system with concrete filled metal deck on structural steel beams with steel shear studs.

The Interstitial Walk-on Deck system is a lightweight concrete slab on metal deck supported by steel purlins suspended from structural floor or roof above by steel rods. The assessment determined that there were architectural deficiencies, fire protection deficiencies, that existing Fire Department Connections (FDCs) on Buildings 41 & 49 were inaccessible, and that a new post indicator valve (PIV) should be added near the relocated FDCs. The forecasted duration of the project is 240 days. Completion of expired C-Period Services.