Going with the Flow: HBSCBN Gets Creative to Repair HVAC

Photo By Desmond Martin | Terrance Henry, a member of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, Facility Maintenance Team, sprays bubble water on the pipes of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) during an air pressure test, May 13, 2020, at Hopkins Hall Gym, on Camp Elmore in Norfolk, Virginia. The purpose of this is to find breaches in the pipes, if any, so they can repair them, ensuring that the HVAC will have proper airflow with no leaks. The HVAC provides the gym with the ability to host a variety of events from blood drives to ceremonies by improving the airflow throughout the building. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Desmond Martin)  

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

05.22.2020

Story by Cpl. Desmond Martin 

Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, Marine Forces Command, Marine Forces Northern Command

Personnel with Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, Facility Maintenance Team, repaired the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) May 13, 2020, at Hopkins Hall Gym, on Camp Elmore, in Norfolk, Virginia.
Due to changes in staffing to adhere to COVID-19 mitigation guidelines, the facility maintenance team conducted the repair without their senior maintenance executive, Carlos Johnson, who needed to telework at the time.
As a solution, the facility maintenance team used video conferencing to communicate with Johnson as they worked on the HVAC system to guide them while they repaired the equipment.
”Carlos has a lot more experience,” said Abraham Egley, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Facilities and Maintenance Division electrician. “We are going to be using his knowledge to accomplish the task at hand.”
“Situations like this expose everyone to something different, which in return strengthens everyone’s skills, making everyone more well-rounded individuals,” said Matthew Greer, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Facilities and Maintenance Division maintenance mechanic. “It takes the effort of a whole team to accomplish this task. We had to deal with many different types of occupational fields to get the job done. It takes a whole team.”
The repair of the HVAC system is a three-day process which consists of the removal of the old compressors, replacing them with new compressors and brazing the fittings, followed by an air pressure test to ensure everything runs smoothly.
“Accomplishing this task opens up a great amount of opportunities for MARFORCOM,” said Abraham Egley. “Not only is this a gym, but it is also used for blood drives and many different ceremonies.”

• Date Taken: 05.22.2020
• Date Posted: 05.22.2020 14:14
• Story ID: 370666
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US