Kingdome Renovation Project
In 1994 Seattle Tarp Company was asked to help solve a large weather protection problem for the Kingdome re-roof project (The Kingdome was a domed stadium located in Seattle with a capacity of 75,000). With the start date of late August and a projected schedule that would have the project lasting until early spring several glaring problems came to the top.
The first thing was the fact that the 7 layer roofing system that was being applied is very weather sensitive. There could be no moisture present during the application of the roof system. The Seattle area’s wet season being October through the beginning of summer was the main concern. In addition to this, the fact that the roof area being 9 acres presented the other glaring challenge. Making this even more improbable was the fact that there was still many Seattle Mariners games to be played, dozens of events from Christmas bazaars to monster truck shows, In addition to a complete NFL season for the Seahawks, all the while the roof having the repairs being performed.
Although the project got off to a slow start, by the time the rains came STC had provided 11 air-inflated tents that were secured to the outer ribs and moved from rib to rib as the project moved to completion. With a support crew of Iron workers, a gifted crane operator and of course a large “Horse crane” STC flew the tents and secured them into position all the while maintaining them and improving the performance as they went. Using the already heated air from the Kingdome interior the tents were pumped to 1-1/2 pounds of static pressure allowing the tents to maintain strength and integrity through windstorms that produced 60 mph winds. The tents performed through the entire project resisting snow, sleet, and of course lots and lots of rain.
Black River Ranch Dairy Farm
In the summer of 1994 tiles fell from the ceiling in the Kingdome, home of both the Seattle Seahawks and the Mariners as well as many events throughout the year. The resulting investigation proved out that the roof needed to be replaced. In order to replace the roof the county had to find another home for these events to take place in, or come up with an alternative repair solution.
The alternative was to install 11 air-inflated tents to be attached to the ribs of the dome, thus providing the necessary water and weather-tight atmosphere needed to install the new roof system. Making this an even more daunting task was the installation of the tents themselves. 3 to 4 local tent and canvas manufactures bid on the project. However, Seattle Tarp Company was the only bidder willing to perform the installation as well.
The tents were air inflated with warm controlled air so that even in December, January, and throughout the project the roofing crew were in the dry and warm as well. Seattle Tarps responsibility was to install and maintain the tents on a 24 hour basis. The tents were moved from section to section as the contractor required. The core project lasted 6 months.
Boeing 757/777 Evac Simulation
On 2 different occasions STC produced a series of large curtains of a special Blackout fabric that allowed the Boeing company to create total darkness in order to perform evacuation tests of several models in the 700 series aircraft under zero-visibility conditions.
For certification reasons, the FAA is very strict on how much light can exist during such tests. In order to give the FAA the solution they needed, we had to take an entire corner of an Everett building and fully enclose the the aircraft yet allow room for the actual simulation.