Denver Airport Job Challenges ReSource Colorado

Denver, CO, June 19, 2008 – The statistics and logistics alone are impressive at the flooring installation project at the Denver International Airport, the third largest airport in the world.

In addition, there's airport clearance for installers for ReSource Colorado Inc., security tool checks in and out on a daily basis, delivery of materials down airport runways and up escalators, and limited work periods in between flights and during overnight hours.

ReSource Colorado is replacing the carpeting in concourses A & C and parts of the main terminal building.

"This has definitely been our most challenging installation to date," says John Stanfield, president of ReSource Colorado.

"From an installer's perspective, things like fingerprinting for security clearance and the logistics of working in a facility that's always very busy aren't normal concerns. None of my guys were certified to drive on an airport runway, but they are now!
We've really had to rethink our project management approach."

According to Starnet Worldwide Commercial Flooring Partnership, this is one of the largest carpet recovery projects performed by a member to date.

Installation and tear out, which is simultaneous due to the nature of the job and airport passenger safety concerns, began in early April on Concourse C and early May on Concourse A and is expected to run through late October or early November. The month of August is a planned installation hiatus with the expected dramatic increase in passenger traffic due to Denver hosting the Democratic National Convention later in the month.

A total crew of 30, including supply truck drivers, measuring specialists, project managers and 24 full time installers are working two shifts around the clock to complete the job in the specified timeframe. Each of the crew had to be formally fingerprinted and cleared by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and was issued a photo ID badge in order to work in the facility. A daily check is conducted when bringing installation tools like carpet knives and razors into the actual airport building. The number of sharp objects is checked in by TSA, recorded onto a log and then checked back out at the end of each shift. The two numbers are required to match.

Seventy thousand square yards of Bentley broadloom carpet will be installed from 12 foot rolls. Parts of the facility don't contain freight elevators, so the ReSource Colorado crew had to get creative in transporting the 650-900 pound rolls of carpet up and down airport escalators.

"It's certainly been a challenge," says Tanner DeJonge, project manager for ReSource Colorado.

"Our guys are good and created their own system for transporting the rolls up the escalators."

The old carpet consists of two types and all will be reclaimed in some manner. The material from Concourse C was manufactured by C & A, who has engineered a reclamation program specifically for their product. The carpet is collected in semi-trailers and shipped to C & A's facility in Georgia.

The material is processed and lives a second life as backing for new carpet. The carpet from Concourse A and the terminal is a rubber-backed product. ReSource Colorado has contracted with a cement plant in Sugar Creek, Mo., where the materials will be shipped to and burned for fuel.

"I think the biggest thing we've learned during this process is the value of coordination, patience and sound project management skills," says DeJonge.

"Coordination with airport management, government security, the mill and reclamation facility are key to this project's timely success. If we can do this, while saving 70,000 square feet of carpet from the landfill, we can do anything."

Denver International Airport – Environmental Impact of Reclamation vs. Landfill

Quantity Diverted from Landfill:   630,000 sq. feet
Equivalent number of pounds reclaimed:   315,000 lbs.
Cubic Yards of landfill saved:   1,556
Average Equivalent BTU's saved:   3,150,000,000
# of avg. US homes could be supplied for 1 year:   18
Global warming potential averted (CO2 equiv. lbs):   2,202,480 lbs.
Gallons of water saved:   960,750