Blast-resistant buildings are designed to protect people and critical operations in some of the most demanding industrial environments. But like any facility exposed to years of weather, heavy use, and harsh operating conditions, these buildings require inspection, maintenance, and repair to continue performing as intended. That’s where RedGuard On-Site Services can help.
RedGuard provides field inspection, maintenance, repair, and refurbishment services for blast-resistant buildings at refineries, chemical plants, petrochemical facilities, LNG facilities, terminals, and other industrial sites. These services aren’t limited to RedGuard buildings.
If you have an aging fleet of blast-resistant modules from multiple suppliers, RedGuard can provide a single source for evaluating and maintaining those assets. RedGuard’s service team can also go beyond modular, servicing your aging brick-and-mortar control rooms and other facilities in need of repair.
Blast-Resistant Building Maintenance: Why It Matters
Blast-resistant buildings are deployed in challenging conditions to support operations where the equipment will remain in service for many years. During that time, buildings may be moved from one location to another. They are also exposed to extreme temperatures, rain, snow, humidity, corrosive environments, vibration, and everyday wear and tear.
Even when the structural shell remains in good condition, individual building components can deteriorate. Doors may become difficult to open or close. Door hardware and seals can wear out. HVAC equipment can lose efficiency or fail completely. Electrical components may need repair. Over time, exterior coatings can deteriorate, allowing corrosion to develop.
When small maintenance issues are ignored, they can eventually become bigger problems. During scheduled visits, RedGuard On-Site Services can identify these issues and determine the appropriate repairs to keep blast-resistant buildings in good operating condition.
Blast-Resistant Building Services for Mixed Fleets
It’s not uncommon for industrial sites to have blast-resistant buildings from several manufacturers. Buildings may have been purchased at different times, inherited through acquisitions, relocated from other facilities, or and contractors. That can make maintaining a mixed fleet complicated.
RedGuard’s service technicians can evaluate and repair blast-resistant buildings from other manufacturers as well. Rather than trying to locate the original manufacturer of every building on a site, customers can work with RedGuard to inspect their fleet, identify maintenance needs, recommend repairs, and perform the necessary work. In some cases, RedGuard may already be an approved or preferred vendor for the facility, which simplifies the whole process.
For facilities with dozens of blast-resistant buildings, working with a single service provider can significantly simplify maintenance planning.
Common Blast-Resistant Building Repairs
Many field service calls involve components that experience the greatest amount of use or environmental exposure. Doors, flooring, and HVAC systems are among the most common areas requiring attention.
Blast-resistant doors and door assemblies are among the most important because they contribute directly to the building’s protective envelope. Over time, doors can become difficult to close, fall out of alignment, develop damaged seals, or experience wear to hinges and other components. RedGuard can inspect door assemblies, identify problems, and repair or replace components as needed.
Door hardware is another common maintenance item. Closers, hinges, handles, panic hardware, latches, locks, seals, and related components can wear or become damaged through repeated use. Properly functioning hardware is important for both everyday operation and maintaining the integrity of the building.
Flooring can deteriorate after years of heavy foot traffic, equipment movement, and everyday use. Depending on the extent of the damage, repairs may involve replacing damaged flooring materials or addressing problems with the underlying floor structure.
HVAC systems are essential for maintaining comfortable and reliable interior conditions in occupied buildings. Blast-resistant buildings are frequently used as offices, control rooms, break rooms, operator shelters, and other occupied spaces. RedGuard On-Site Services can troubleshoot HVAC problems and repair or replace equipment when appropriate.
Other common service needs can include electrical components, lighting, receptacles, interior finishes, weather seals, roof penetrations, exterior coatings, corrosion repair, and other building systems.
Blast-Resistant Building Inspections: Identifying Problems Before Repairs
Sometimes the customer knows exactly what is wrong. A door won’t close properly, an HVAC unit has stopped cooling, or hardware is visibly damaged. In other situations, the condition of the building may not be as obvious.
RedGuard can perform field inspections to help customers better understand the condition of their blast-resistant building fleet. An inspection can identify visible damage, deterioration, maintenance needs, and components that may require additional evaluation. This can be especially valuable when buildings have been in service for many years or when a facility has acquired buildings with limited maintenance records.
When repairs involve structural components, RedGuard must also consider the building’s original engineering requirements and any changes to the blast hazards at its current location. This helps determine whether the proposed repairs are appropriate for the conditions the building will be exposed to.
The result is a clearer understanding of what needs immediate attention, what should be planned for future maintenance, and which buildings may require more extensive refurbishment.
Repair Instead of Replace
An older blast-resistant building does not automatically need to be replaced. In many cases, repairing or refurbishing an existing building may be a practical alternative to purchasing a new unit. A building with a sound structural shell may simply need new doors or hardware, HVAC replacement, electrical repairs, corrosion remediation, coatings, or interior improvements.
RedGuard On-Site Services can help customers evaluate those options. For example, a recent Gulf Coast refurbishment project involving aging blast-resistant buildings included sandblasting and repainting exterior surfaces, repairing flooring and walls, servicing door hardware, and performing HVAC and lighting maintenance. The work addressed multiple areas of deterioration as part of a coordinated refurbishment effort.
For facilities using blast-resistant buildings in coastal environments, protective coatings are particularly important. High humidity, salt exposure, and other corrosive conditions can accelerate coating deterioration, leaving steel surfaces vulnerable. Maintaining these coatings can help protect structural components and extend the useful life of the building.
Extending the useful life of existing buildings through refurbishment can help customers get more value from assets they already own while potentially avoiding the higher capital expense of replacement. This can be particularly valuable for companies operating large fleets of blast-resistant buildings across multiple sites.
On-Site Repairs and Off-Site Refurbishment
Industrial facilities can’t always send buildings away for repair. Some are permanent brick-and-mortar installations. For others, transportation may be too expensive, or removing a building from service may disrupt operations.
RedGuard On-Site Services is designed to bring service capabilities to the customer whenever practical. Field technicians can evaluate problems and perform many repairs where the buildings are located. This reduces unnecessary transportation and can help customers return buildings to normal service more quickly.
For larger repair or refurbishment projects involving modular blast-resistant buildings, transporting the units to a RedGuard facility may be the better option. RedGuard can determine the best approach based on the building’s condition and the scope of work required.
Planning for Long-Term Blast-Resistant Building Maintenance
For customers with large fleets, maintenance does not have to be entirely reactive. Periodic inspections can identify developing problems before they become major repairs or cause unexpected downtime.
RedGuard can help customers develop a systematic approach to blast-resistant building maintenance. These fleet maintenance programs can include monitoring the condition of:
- Blast-resistant doors, including alignment, hardware, closers, hinges, and seals
- HVAC systems and parts
- Electrical systems and components
- Flooring and interior condition
- Exterior coatings and corrosion
- Weatherproofing, penetrations, and seals
- General building condition and visible damage
Documenting these conditions over time can also help facility managers prioritize maintenance budgets, plan repairs, and make more informed decisions about refurbishment, relocation, or replacement.
One Call for Blast-Resistant Building Maintenance and Repair Needs
Whether your facility has one blast-resistant building or a large fleet spread across multiple locations, RedGuard brings decades of experience to protect your investment, no matter what brand name is on the building.
Protect your people and protect your investment for years to come. Contact RedGuard to request a quote or service call, schedule a blast-resistant building inspection, or discuss a field service and maintenance program for your facility.
