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i. <br />■j; <br />k§'' <br />" .£■ <br />m- <br />bp.: <br />It’ <br />»•;•■* . _ <br />fv>.‘ . <br />'. I* <br />-:•1 <br />■rnyp: <»/P4 <br />To:Mayor Peterson and Orono City Council <br />Ron Moorser City Administrator Cv ''^7 <br />/p <br />Michael P. Gaffron, Asst Planning & Zoning Adm^istr^or v <br />Date: <br />Subject: <br />0 <br />u <br />4 <br />45 <br />August 4, 1992 <br />Technical Information - Styrofoam Flotation ~ Summary <br />CounciImember Jabbour has received a wealth of information <br />from Frederic G. Hunt PE, a Columbus Ohio marina consultant <br />specializing in floating docks, and information from James E. <br />Muschell with United Design Associates of Cheboygan, Michigan. <br />The information sent to us was quite detailed, and includes not <br />only various treatises on flotation materials, but includes <br />suggested specifications and a list of credentials of both Mr. <br />Bunt and UDA. <br />The professional background of both of these consultants <br />leads me to believe we have zeroed in on the recognized experts <br />in the field of floating docks. <br />I will attempt to summarize the technical information <br />provided to us: <br />A.Use of exposed polystyrene blocks for flotation is by <br />no means the state of the art technology that it was <br />three decades ago. <br />B.Float protection technology and the selection of <br />flotation alternatives has expanded to a point where <br />use of unprotected polystyrene is beginning to be <br />banned by the Corps of Engineers in many reservoirs <br />under their jurisdiction. At some locations, USCE is <br />requiring all existing exposed polystyrene flotation to <br />be replaced within five years. <br />Hunt notes the following current flotation choices and <br />a few comments about each: <br />1.Wood. Has a given useful life prior to water <br />absorption, decay, and ingestion by various marine <br />orgaiiisms. <br />2.Air. Only as good as its encasement, which may be <br />metal or plastic. With metal, good welds and <br />adequate thickness are required to combat <br />corrosion and require coatings. Plastic must be <br />designed with the proper thickness and strength to <br />resist collapse or stress-cracking.