King County Environmental Purchasing Program

Sign Refurbishing

• Introduction
• Usage History and Experience
• Bid and Contract Specifications
• For More Information
• Vendor Information

Introduction

King County is using a sign refurbishing service that uses a process called hydrostripping.  Hydrostripping is an alternative to sandblasting (or other processes of grinding off the laminates). The process does not damage the sign blanks or affect the integrity of the aluminum. It uses water pressurized to 36,000 pounds per square inch (psi) to strip laminates from their underlying blanks and particles of laminate blasted from the sign are then drawn by vacuum to a container for proper disposal. There are no chemicals or abrasives used, and analysis of solids allows for safe, non-hazardous disposal.

Using this refurbishing service is saving the County money. According to the Sign and Marking Supervisor: "It costs approximately 1/2 as much to refurbish the sign as it does to purchase new aluminum sign blanks."

Usage History and Experience

The King County Traffic/Sign Shop, in the Roads Division of the Department of Transportation, has set up a new recycling program for damaged aluminum signs. The sign refurbishing program is using a relatively new high pressure water process to remove laminate from signs, called hydrostripping. The County established a contract for this service in 2001. The City of Seattle is using these services for their signs too, and both the City and the County expect this new process to offer significant savings.

Scope of work

Navigational Construction, Inc is awarded a contract for hydrostripping aluminum signs.  This process includes the safe removal of engineer grade, high intensity and diamond grad laminates from all shape of aluminum blanks provided by the County through a process called HYDROSTRIPPING.

More specifically, this Contract engages Navigational Construction, Inc. to provide ultra-high pressure water jet services to remove the existing laminates from aluminum signs provided by the County.  The process, which was evaluated previously via a pilot test contract between the County and the Contractor, uses 36,000-psi water pressure.  Water only.  As during the test period, the Contractor shall use no chemicals or an abrasive in the process, which causes the County concern or places the County in a libelous position.  This process, when completed, shall leave the aluminum blank free from adhesives or any sign laminate material.  The process should not affect the integrity of  the aluminum. 

The work as described should take place at the Contractor’s facility located at 253 SE Franklin, Redmond Oregon.

Health, Safety and Environmental Laws

The Contractor is responsible for meeting all pertinent local, state, and federal health, safety and environmental laws, regulations, and standards applying to hydrostripping, waste disposal generated by hydrostripping and all other activities related to and supporting the requirements of the Contract.

 

Reporting Requirements

The Contractor is expected to provide reports on various aspects during the implementation of this Contract as requested by the County.  Such reports will include the number of signs processed, cost, disposition of the resulting waste, etc.

 

Pricing Sheet

Payment for services rendered in accordance with requirements and specification of this Contract is based on the following:

• Contractor pick-up and transporting aluminum signs identified by County personnel from a County facility to Contractor's facility in Redmond, Oregon for processing at no additional cost to the County;
• Contractor will completely remove (hydrostripping) laminates from the front of the signs identified for processing, leaving the aluminum blank free from adhesives and or any sign of laminate material.  Contractor will remove materials from the back of the sign to the greatest extent possible.
• Contractor shall transport the County's processed blanks to the City in a timely manner and at no additional cost to the County.
• Prices are based on the square footage of each shipment and mileage from the shipping distance to the Contractor's facility.
• Prices listed below include freight both ways
• All shipping arrangements are made by the Contractor.

Price Guide

Number of Bins (Per Pickup)	Size of Bin	Price
One (1)	4x4x30 inches	$.87 sf
More Than One (1)	4x4x30 inches	$.80 sf

All signs will be charged a minimum size of 1.5 square feet.

Any signs that have 3 or more laminates will be cleaned and charged an additional $.10 psf for each additional laminates.

 For More Information

George Dudley

Traffic Signs & Markings Lead

King County Roads Division

(206)296-8155