Public Report To: From: Report Number: Community Services Committee Ron Diskey, Commissioner, Community Services Department CS-17-18 Date of Report: March 24, 2017 Date of Meeting: March 30, 2017 Subject: Generators at City Facilities File: F-5000 1.0 Purpose The purpose of this report is to respond to the Notice of Motion CS-16-51, Generators for Fire Halls and Recreation Facilities, including: 1. An updated status on portable generators for Fire Halls 2, 3 and 4 including a strategy on how these generators will be deployed in an emergency, for example: if all three stations are out at one time, etc.; and, 2. An update and funding strategy for a generator at Fire Hall 6; and, 3. An update on how we plan to have generators for recreation facilities in case of emergencies. 2.0 Recommendation That the Community Services Committee recommend to City Council: That as outlined in Report CS-17-18 dated March 24, 2017 concerning Generators at City Facilities: 1. Fire Halls 2, 3 and 4 be fitted with permanent generators funded through the 2016 Approved Capital Budget (Project 11-0196) and the Fire Equipment Reserve; 2. That Fire Hall 6 be fitted with a permanent generator funded through the project variance from the approved Fire Hall 6 Project (Project 1248-2) and the Fire Equipment Reserve; and, 3. That a strategy for generators at recreation facilities is delayed until further investigation and options are reviewed for installing Combined Heat and Power units.
Meeting Date: March 30, 2017 Page 2 3.0 Executive Summary Notice of Motion CS-16-51, Generators for Fire Halls and Recreation Facilities, directed staff to investigate the installation of generators at Fire Halls 2, 3, 4 and 6 and also to review a generator strategy for the City including generators at recreation facilities. Staff has determined that installing permanent generators with the ability to fully operate the fire halls would be the best option based on considerations that would allow Fire Services staff to rehabilitate after calls and events and would allow for equipment such as bunker gear to be dried and prepared for the next call or event. Staff is currently investigating opportunities for a Combined Heat and Power (C.H.P.) project at the Legends Centre in partnership with Oshawa Power & Utilities Corporation (O.P.U.C.). O.P.U.C. has indicated an interest in other recreation facilities including Donevan Recreation Complex, Civic Recreation Complex and the South Oshawa Community Centre (S.O.C.C.). The installation of C.H.P. s at recreation facilities would eliminate the need for emergency generators and staff recommend delaying a decision to install emergency generators at these facilities until a complete review of C.H.P. s is completed. 4.0 Input From Other Sources Facilities Management Services Finance Services Fire Services Recreation and Culture Services O.P.U.C. 5.0 Analysis 5.1 Current Generator Inventory The following facilities have permanent generators that power the facility to varying degrees and are fueled by either natural gas or diesel. 1. Fire Hall 1 houses the communication and dispatch infrastructure for Oshawa Fire Services. The generator located at this facility is 135 kw s, fueled by diesel and it can supply power to the entire facility. 2. Fire Hall 5 is the Emergency Operations Centre for the City. The generator located at this facility is 200 kw s, fueled by natural gas and it can supply power to the entire facility. 3. Northview Community Centre was previously used as the City s Emergency Operations Centre. The generator located at this facility is 135 kw s, fueled by natural gas and supplies power to the portion of the facility added in 2004. 4. The Consolidated Operations Depot houses many City assets and staff that would be deployed from this site during an emergency event. The generator located at this
Meeting Date: March 30, 2017 Page 3 facility is 120 kw s, fueled by diesel and it can supply power to the entire facility and site. 5. The Legends Centre is used as a Reception Centre in the event of a Nuclear Emergency. The generator located at this facility is 80 kw s and currently supplies power to 10% of the facility. Emergency power is supplied for emergency lighting, essential building systems and life safety equipment. 6.. 5.2 Mobile Generators for Fire Halls 2, 3 and 4 Currently, Fire Halls 2, 3 and 4 do not have generators. Council, as part of the 2016 Capital budget, approved $250,000 in funding to purchase a mobile generator and complete electrical modifications to each Fire Hall (project 11-0196). The mobile generator would provide full power to each facility in the event of a major emergency scenario (i.e. power outage, ice storm or flooding). This project has been delayed to review options in consideration of Notice of Motion CS- 16-51. Staff reviewed how a mobile generator would be deployed in an emergency, for example: if all three stations are out at one time and determined it would not be feasible if two or more fire halls required use of the mobile generator at the same time. In order to mitigate this risk, an additional mobile generator(s) would need to be purchased. This would include additional maintenance and site storage requirements. 5.3 Proposed Generators for Fire Halls 2, 3, 4 and 6 Fire Hall 2 and 4 would require a 100 kw single-phase diesel generator to supply power to the entire facility. Cost for the generator including a fenced enclosure, electrical modifications to connect the generator, installation, contingency, consulting, permits and taxes are estimated at $95,000 each or $190,000 for both locations. Staff recommends this option. Fire Hall 3 would require a 100kW multi-phase diesel generator to supply power to the entire facility. Cost for the generator including a fenced enclosure, electrical modifications to connect the generator and installation, contingency, consulting, permits and taxes are estimated at $95,000. Staff recommends this option. Fire Hall 6 was designed to contain a 100kW multi-phase natural gas generator to supply power to the entire facility. During the course of the project, the generator was removed from the scope of the project to keep within the approved budget. The generator room, gas line, and electrical infrastructure for the generator are complete. The cost for the generator including installation is estimated at $100,000 including taxes. Currently there is a positive variance of $19,000 that could be used for the installation of a permanent generator for Fire Hall 6. Additional funding of $81,000 would be required to complete this project. Staff recommends this option.
Meeting Date: March 30, 2017 Page 4 Other options considered for the fire halls included installing permanent smaller kw generators at each facility. The intent of the smaller generator would be to supply power to the buildings lights, overhead doors, emergency lights, and exit signs and communications equipment in order to maintain crucial functions at the facility. Staff does not recommend this option even though it is less costly. The existing electrical infrastructure would need replacing to separate the emergency only equipment from the balance of the buildings electrical requirements. Also partial power would not provide Heating, Ventilation, or Air Conditioning. These amenities are essential to allow staff to recover from calls or events during their shift and to allow them to dry their gear and prepare for the next call or event. Attachment 1 illustrates three options for a generator at the Fire Hall 2 which can act as a model for the other halls. Option 1 is for a 100KW permanent generator that will supply power to the entire Hall, Option 2 is for a 19.5 KW generator that will provide power to basic functions at the Fire Hall but would not include HVAC and only provide 20% of the lighting. Option 3 is for a mobile generator. 5.4 Power outages at Fire Halls The O.P.U.C. has provided data on the number of sustained power outages to Fire Halls 2, 3 and 4 from 2011 up to and including 2016. During this time period sustained power outages for Fire Halls 2, 3 and 4 were 35, 24 and 22 respectively during the 6 year period. During the ice storm of 2013 the issues encountered at the fire halls due to prolonged power outages were: 1. Delayed response times due to manual operation of bay doors for exiting fire trucks. During power outages, doors have to be manually pulled up and lowered before crews can respond. The doors and building were left unsecured as a result of the manual operation. 2. No area for warm / hot food preparation; the food industry was shut down so staff had no back-up food resources other than outdoor barbeques. Staff had no heat inside the fire hall, after returning from operations, crews had no warming area for rehabilitation or the ability to dry bunker gear. 3. Lighting after dark became an issue as back-up battery emergency lighting is short term only, approximately 90 minutes. This also posed a Health & Safety risk for staff operating inside the building after dark. 4. Radio / Alerting backup systems were jeopardized after their batteries run out of power. Portable radio batteries have a working cycle of approximately 6-8 hours based on a full charge, dependent on usage. Batteries would require cycling though Fire Hall 1 or 5 with on line power. 5.5 Recreation Facilities As noted previously in Section 5.1 of this report, the Legends Centre and Northview Community Centre are two recreation facilities that contain permanent generators. Recreation facilities can and have been utilized during community emergencies as evacuation locations or warming or cooling centers. It is not recommended that fire halls
Meeting Date: March 30, 2017 Page 5 or other City facilities be used for these purposes, as they do not have staff present to coordinate and deploy emergency measures and resources. Legends Centre is the designated Nuclear Reception Centre in the event of a nuclear incident. As part of the City s overall Emergency Plan, there would be benefit to having generator capabilities for South Oshawa Community Centre to ensure evacuation center capabilities in this sector of the city. 5.6 Combined Heat and Power (C.H.P.) As noted earlier in the report, the Legends Centre has a back-up generator that supplies limited power to the facility. City staff may bring forward a report for Council consideration of a partnership with the O.P.U.C. to install and operate a Combined Heat and Power (C.H.P.) unit at the Legends Centre. This unit would supply power to the Legends Centre, reducing dependency from the grid and will also include heat recovery to supply hot water and heated air to the building. The O.P.U.C. has expressed an interest in other City facilities as well. A C.H.P. unit at Legends would provide the building with sufficient power in the event of a power outage allowing the facility to be used as an evacuation centre if required. 5.7 Generator Strategy Currently, the City of Oshawa has generators at Fire Halls 1 and 5, at the Legends Centre and the Northview Community Centre. It is recommended that permanent generators be placed at Fire Halls 2, 3, 4 and 6. It is also recommended that plans for a mobile generator for the South Oshawa Community Centre be delayed until other options such as C.H.P. are fully explored. The O.P.U.C. has indicated if the City moves forward with the Legends Centre C.H.P. that other projects at S.O.C.C., Donevan and the Civic Recreation Complex would be considered to implement similar technology. Installation of a C.H.P. at other facilities could eliminate the need for back-up generators. This strategy would allow for recreation facilities in the north and south quadrants of the city to act as evacuation centers and allow all fire halls to maintain power during a power outage and during emergency events. 6.0 Financial Implications Staff investigated the option of purchasing all four generators at one time that could save the City approximately 7 percent. If alternate installation schedules are considered such as installation of two units in 2017 and two units in 2018, these savings may be lost. Staff are recommending all four units be purchased and installed at the same time under one project. As shown in the following chart, the 2016 capital budget approved funding in the amount of $250,000 for generators at Fire Halls 2, 3 and 4 (Project 11-0196). Project estimates for the three generators have exceeded the approved budget by $35,000. The generator for Fire Hall 6 requires an additional $81,000 in funding.
Meeting Date: March 30, 2017 Page 6 Facility Current funding Additional Funding Additional Funding Source Fire Hall 6 $ 19,000 (Fire Hall 6 Project funding) $81,000 Fire Equipment Reserve Fire Hall 2, 3 and 4 $250,000 (2016 Capital) $35,000 Fire Equipment Reserve The additional funding requirements can be accommodated from the uncommitted balance in the Fire Equipment Reserve. The Fire Equipment Reserve will have an uncommitted balance over $200,000 remaining if the generators are funded from the reserve. An annual contribution to the Fire Equipment Reserve will be required to provide funding for the future replacement of these assets on completion of their life cycle. Annual maintenance and fuel costs are estimated at $2,300 per generator for an approximate increase to the operating budget of $9,200 per year. 7.0 Relationship to the Oshawa Strategic Plan This report responds to the Oshawa Strategic Plan by responding to the goal of Social Equity, Ensure an inclusive, healthy and safe community and Accountable Leadership ensuring respect, responsiveness and transparency. Ron Diskey, Commissioner, Community Services Department
CS-17-18 Attachment 1 Facility Generator Options Example Location: Fire Hall 2 Service Level Generator Installati Installation Vehicle Kitche Option Capacity Multi-Voltage Fuel Type Mobile Cost on Cost Duration Communication Doors HVAC Lights n 1 100kw No Diesel No $ 53,000 $ 22,000 1 Week Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ** 2 19.5kw No Natural Gas No $ 8,500 $ 32,000 3 Weeks Yes Yes No 20% Yes 3 100kw Yes Diesel * Yes $ 92,500 $ 22,000 1 Week Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes * The mobile generator can be used to provide 100% back-up service at the other Fire Hall's, and support major components of other large City Facilities ** Option 2 - this is an off-the-shelf residential sized generator similar to the ones at Home Depot The mobile generator will require one parking space to be available, adjacent to the exterior connection Installation cost includes electrical modifications to install the automatic transfer switch and to rewire the facility to provide power to specific circuits for Op Installation costs doesn't include perimeter fencing for the generator Pricing provided are estimates only Option 1 Generator $ 53,000 Installation $ 22,000 includes electrical modifications, concrete pad and fence Subtotal $ 75,000 25% $ 18,750 consulting, permits and contingency Subtotal $ 93,750 HST $ 1,650 non-rebated portion Total $ 95,400