Gap Filler Detail

1961 – National Archives of Canada

10-36-80/5 (DCEP)

Victoria Island,
Ottawa, Ontario

24 April 1961

Lalonde, Girouard & Letendre
8790 Park Avenue
Montreal 11, Quebec

Re: Site Drawings & Supplementary Specifications
Gap Filler Radar Stations W Quebec

Dear Sirs:

This letter will confirm the visit of our Mr W R Alexander to your office on 7 April 1961 and the discussion of site drawings and supplementary specifications to be prepared by your firm.

In the attached Appendix are listed the documents which were handed over to your firm and also a summary of the main points discussed.

Any further questions are to be brought to the immediate attention of AFHQ/CCE.

Yours truly,

(JW Griffith)
Group Captain
for Chief of the Air Staff

APPENDIX "A" TO

10-36-80/5 (DCEP)
of 24 April 1961

SITE DRAWINGS & SUPPLEMENTARY SPECIFICATIONS

The following docments shall be used as guidance in preparing the supplementary specifications for each site:

  1. Specification Format including Supplementary Specifications -

  2. Sample Specifications -

  3. Sample Paragraphs - Clearing and Grubbing - 4 pages

  4. Std Specification Telco Building (Steelox) - complete - 48 sheets

  5. Std Specification 7 Ft Chain Link Fence - 8 pages

  6. Notes for Consultants on Preparation of Specification

  7. Std Drawing No S-49-1002-1 and S-49-1004-2 - Fencing

  8. Uncompleted Drawing for 2,000 Gallon Fuel Oil Storage Tank

  9. Uncompleted Drawing for 50,000 Gallong Fuel Oil Storage Tank

The consultant was advised that Standard Specifications for Radar Building, Power and Accommodation Building, Foundations for Standard Radar Tower and Joint Radar and Forestry Tower, and Bulk Fuel Facilities will be forwarded to them as quickly as possible. Preparation of Supplementary Specifications for Sub-Sections of Section 2 will have to wait Standard Specifications but other Supplementary Specifications can be proceeded with now.

The main points of discussion were as follows:

  1. Index, Section 1(d) and 1 (e) will be prepared only in draft form. Sub-sections of Section 2 and 4 will be prepared on Multilith Duplimat with two carbon copies for checking purposes (one for consultant, one for AFHQ).

  2. Section 1(d) Scope of Work Supplementary will include a general summary of all work involved - Buildings, Tower foundation, Covered Entrance, Access Road, Bulk Fuel Facilities, Security Fence, Clearing, Grubbing and Grading, Grounding, Sanitary Drain (as applicable). Reference should be made to types of foundations, number of diesel generator sets, number and size of fuel oil storage tanks, and siting of buildings, tower and facilities.

  3. Section 1(e) Instructions to Bidders will include special details of each site including Location of Site, Means of Access, Nearest Railhead, Visit to Site, Soil Conditions, Availability of Aggregates, Work Permits from Dept of Lands and Forests, Availability of Temporary Construction Facilities, (water, power, etc), Location of Construction Camp to be arranged for by contractor outside security fence and off access road allowance. Reference to Snow Loading will be added by AFHQ.

  4. Sub-Sections to Section 2 General Trades Supplementary will include all amendments when Standard Specification will not be applicable to individual sites and also reference to all sub-sections required for the construction of the covered entrance. All sub-sections in this section, if short, may be combined on one or more duplimats.

  5. Paragraph 3 of all sub-sections to Section 4 will be titled "Drawings" and list all drawings applicable to each sub-section even if drawing applies to more than one sub-section.

  6. Sub-Section 4(d) Access Road Supplementary will also included culverts as required, schedule of quantities using only cubic yard units, not tons, and will call for materials available locally at each site, such as bank-run gravel. Reference to clearing and grubbing will be made in sub-section 4(k). Contractor's construction roads to the site shall follow the final route of the access road as far as practicable. All borrow pits shall be neatly trimmed and drained to the satisfaction of the Engineer. The access road allowance on existing roads used for access will be increased to 66 ft and cleared and ditched even though no improvement is being made to alignment, grade or surfacing.

  7. Sub-Section 4(h) Bulk Fuel Facilities Supplementary will include foundations for tank(s), cradles for piping, culverts and dykes as applicable.

  8. Sub-Section 4(i) Security Fencing Supplementary will include schedule of quantities.

  9. Sub-Section 4(k) Clearing, Grubbing and Grading Supplementary will include all clearing and grubbing within the building area and for fire protection and on access road. Work included in this sub-section should state that all such work called for under Standard Specifications for Buildings and Tower will be carried out and paid for under this sub-section. Particular attention shall be paid to the disposal of merchantable timber (depending upon desires of owner) and stumps and debris. Stumps are to be disposed of by the contractor far enough away from the DND building area and access road that they cannot be seen and where it does not destroy the value of the land or present a hazard. Permission to use land for such purposes shall be obtained by the contractor in writing from the owner. Disposal of the debris shall be by burning or removal from building area and access road. Permits for burning must be obtained by the contractor from the proper authorities. The enclosed sample paragraphs on clearing and grubbing should be read to appreciate how complicated this work can be on major projects, such as runways. The extent of this sub-section shall depend upon the amount of work involved on each site. Clearing for contractor's construction road outside the access road allowance will not be paid for under this sub-section.

  10. Sub-Section 3(b) Plumbing and Drainage Supplementary will be prepared if special instructions have to be issued regarding sanitary drain to soak away pit. On rocky sites drain is to terminate just outside building and drain into shallow trench.

  11. Sub-Section 3(d) Electrical Supplementary will be prepared if special instructions have to be issued regarding grounding. Where ground rods cannot be driven on a site, copper plates at the top of the fill or ground rods in the adjacent valley shall be called for but no specific location need be mentioned.

  12. The standard specification for the building states that most of the components of the Steelox Buildings will be supplied by the owner (RCAF) and the balance will be supplied by the contractor (lists of material are included), also that the diesel generator sets will be supplied by the owner (prepurchase).

  13. All building legends shall be standard and list only RCAF buildings and facilities using the following numbers:

    No 1 - Radar Building
    No 2 - Power and Accommodation Building
    No 3 - Radar Tower (70 ft) or Joint Radar and Forestry Tower (100 ft)
    No 4 - 2,000 Gallon Fuel Oil Tank
    No 5 - 50,000 Gallon Fuel Oil Tank (where installed)

    Reference to other buildings and structures shall be by name only, such as farm buildings, forestry tower, ranger's cabin.

  14. Transformer pole structure will NOT be shown on Siting Instruction Plan.

  15. A small insert may be included on the Siting Instruction Plan showing the relationship between the buildings and tower and between two corner of the Radar Building and the PSMS. Another small insert may be included showing final grading contours if substantially different from original ones.

  16. The consultant will prepare complete details of the covered entrance between the two buildings using materials available locally for each site, with dimensions of 5 ft wide and 8 ft high to outside face of 2" x 4" studding, and shed type roof, exterior door 3 ft x 7 ft and exterior light circuit extended from one of the building exterior lights. The covered entrance is not to be attached to the Armco Steelox buildings but with flashing to underside of cave and is to have a concrete floor, foundation and steps as required.

  17. The consultant shall advise AFHQ if farm fencing is required on access road where it crosses private property and requested by owner or where improvements are to be made to an existing road which will be used for access.

  18. The loop road around the buildings will have no ditch on the inside but a cross slope to the outside. The area withing the loop with have a uniform slope from the building to the road and be rough-graded. On rock sites backfill will not be required around foundation walls except to provide drainage from buildings.

  19. The consultant will design a ramp to the double doors of both buildings for the handling of equipment to suit site conditions.

  20. The consultant will design special foundations for the diesel generator sets when the original ground under the floor slab is not level - and backfilll exceeds 8 inches. When the depth is between 2 to 3 ft, a solid foundation 4 ft by 14 ft shall be provided and for over 3 feet, two foundation walls 14 ft long by 12 inches wide shall be provided, both to have a construction joint all around. Foundation design shall be adjusted when type and size of diesel generator set is known.

  21. The consultant may prepare a general detail drawing if desired to show details pertaining to such items as security fencing, fuel oil piping and cradles, sanitary drain, etc, where details would not occupy a full sheet.

  22. The enclosed sample specifications shall be used as a guide to the format required and the type of paragraphs which may be included if required at individual sites.

Typist note: This letter also sent to the other Consulting Engineers.