FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – The 172nd infantry brigade, Blackhawks, are putting a coat of foam all over structures at Forward Operating Base Kalsu to help keep Soldiers a little cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
“Contractors from Honeywell Corporation will spray 369,000 gallons of foam on our base structures, which reduces the need for air conditioning output by 40 to 50 percent,” said Capt. Devin W. Pompa, 172nd Inf. Bde. construction officer.
“It not only helps with insulation, but decreases dust and wind from getting in and the light yellow color reflects heat rather than absorbing it,” added Pompa, an Albuquerque, N.M. resident.
Each structure receives a two-inch polyurethane layer of foam sprayed directly on the surface, which creates a hard shelled insulation on the outside of the structure.
While the brigade has also directed the coating of wooden structures and tin buildings, the fabric tents receive the most benefit. The medical, transient and public computer tents have been coated to help make them more efficient and comfortable. The foam coating also the tents last longer under the extreme environments of the desert.
The spray foam reduces the amount of electricity needed to cool or heat structures, which is a definite reduction of fossil fuels needed to run electricity-producing generators.
Major Gen. Ken Dowd, Central Command J4, said, “The majority of power usage … is for environmental control inside temporary structures.”
“A foam insulation initiative has reduced the power requirement by 85 percent and air condition requirements by 50 percent in these buildings. The reduction in fossil fuel transportation for power generation also decreases vehicle fuel consumption and reduced convoy traffic saves lives,” added Dowd.
Contractors began foaming the structures on FOB Kalsu Aug. 17 and plan to finish by Sep. 3. The medical tents, battalion buildings, temporary living tents, fitness center and maintenance areas are some of facilities that will benefit from the insulation.
“In the back room of the gym, where it receives the most sun light, it has lowered the temperatures by about 10 degrees, which has allowed us to work out even harder,” said Sgt. 1st Class Stefan B. Sturkie, senior career counselor, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 172nd Inf. Bde.
“I think it is cool that they are doing this to keep us from sweating to death around here,” added Sturkie, a native of Columbia, S.C.
