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The exclusive maintenance resource for the transit and motorcoach industries.
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BUSRIDEMAINTENANCE.COM
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BUS WASHING:WHAT OPERATORS NEED TO KNOW
Polyurea preserves wash bays
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THE EXCLUSIVE MAINTENANCE RESOURCE FOR THE TRANSIT AND MOTORCOACH INDUSTRY
2 BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | APRIL.2015 busridemaintenance.com
CEO Judi Victor
Publisher Steve Kane
Associate Publisher David Hubbard
Editor in ChiefRichard Tackett
Art DirectorStephen Gamble
Account ExecutiveJeanette Long
Accountant Fred Valdez
VOL. 05 • NO. 4
A publication of:
BUS INDUSTRY SAFETY COUNCIL
FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
Departments
Columns
From the Editor in Chief
Maintenance Facility DesignBy Mark Ellis and Justin Tripp
Products and Services
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Bus washing: what operators need to know Insights, best practices and pitfalls to avoid for more efficiency
4On the cover:
BUSRide Maintenance is all about bus washing
This issue, BUSRide Maintenance presents a special focus on bus washing — a close-up examination zeroing in on the critical aspects of bus washing systems, some of the largest and most important investments that operators and agencies make for their maintenance facilities
In this issue, leading bus wash system manufacturers and maintenance facility design experts spotlight best practices, purchasing advice, maintenance to-dos and more.
Bus wash system OEMs, like Awash Systems, Bitimec, NS Wash Systems and Wash Dynamics, examine why bus washes are so important and present the different types of wash systems available in today’s market. They offer advice that many operators might not have previously considered and run through wash system operational and environmental concerns, maintenance requirements, and pitfalls to avoid.
Also in this issue, Maintenance Design Group highlights the potential benefits of polyurea coating in vehicle washing bays. They explain what polyurea is and how it’s applied, as well its benefits and downsides as compared to similar solutions.
All bus wash systems are not created equal – and BUSRide Maintenance wants to peel the layers back on this in-depth and engrossing topic.
Richard TackettEditor in ChiefBUSRide Maintenance Magazine
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to:
BUSRide Maintenance Magazine4742 North 24th Street, STE 340Phoenix, Arizona 85016Phone: (602) 265-7600 Fax: (602) 277-7588 busridemaintenance.com
busridemaintenance.com | BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE 3
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Antaira Technologies expands offeringsAntaira Technologies’ LNX-0501G-SFP series is a five-port
industrial gigabit unmanaged Ethernet switch, with 4*RJ45 10/100/1000Tx and 1*dual rate 100/1000 SFP slot. The LNX-0601G-SFP series is a six-port industrial gigabit unmanaged Ethernet switch, with 5*RJ45 10/100/1000Tx and 1*dual rate 100/1000 SFP slot. Each series has a low power consumption that is less than 7W and has a 12~48VDC power input range that can support MDI/MDI-X functions and 9.6Kbytes jumbo frames. This makes it ideal for applications that demand high bandwidth and long distance communication.
Antaira TechnologiesAnaheim, CA
Tracer debuts heavy-duty kitTracer Products has a special leak detection kit that makes
it easy for heavy-duty technicians to find all air conditioning and fluid leaks the first time — and avoid costly comebacks.
The TP-8647HD kit features the OPTIMAX Jr™, a cordless, blue light LED leak detection flashlight with mega power that reveals even the smallest leaks. It is ideal for leak checking hard-to-reach spots that are inaccessible to larger lamps.
Also included in the kit are an EZ-Ject™ A/C dye injector with hose/coupler and adapter/purge fitting, two EZ-Ject universal A/C dye cartridges with co-solvent free Fluoro-Lite® dye, an 8 oz bottle of Dye-Lite® All-In-One™ concentrated oil dye, an 8-oz. bottle of Dye-Lite coolant dye and fluorescence-enhancing glasses. Everything is stored in a convenient, sturdy carrying case.
Tracer ProductsWestbury, NY
4 BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | APRIL.2015
What operators need to know
BUS WASHING:
BUSRide called on leading bus wash OEMs for best practices, pitfalls to avoid and critical points to fit the most effective, cost efficient system to the company and fleet.
Why is a bus wash system important to the company?Nothing makes a better first impression on the paying
customers than the arrival of a clean, shiny bus or motorcoach. A clean bus is statistically safer and easier to maintain, and the vehicle stands a better chance of a longer operating cycle.
Thorough bus washing on a regular basis protects all exterior surfaces from the elements and corrosive contaminants. In the advent of bus-wrap advertising and upscale graphic design, extra care to the exterior surfaces of buses and coaches has become a greater concern.
The capability of cleaning the undercarriage is particularly important in regions where harsh winters require corrosive salts and chlorides to clear slippery roads. These chemicals wreak havoc on exposed steel bus frames.
Scheduled washes using the correct system are essential to reducing damage and structural repairs. Taking control of bus washing controls the company’s image and can be the least expensive way to meet quality assurance and quality control.
What are the types of bus wash systems?As bus companies and transit agencies vary greatly, each wash
system is highly customized to meet specific needs according to fleet size and vehicle makeup. The necessary components may include more than one brush or mitter system, and range from one to multiple high-pressure stations with pre-soap, high-pressure rinse, spot free rinse or wax capability. Some will institute blowers to hasten the drying time as the bus exits the wash bay.
Gantry systems wash buses in a stationary position, as brushes, mops and touchless sprayers on tracks, move over the vehicle and down the side, front to back.
Drive-through systems remain stationary as the driver moves the vehicle through the brushes, sprayers, product dispensers and dryers.
Tower or walkaround systems are cost-effective solutions for small fleets, easily moved by hand around the vehicle as the rotating brush sprays, scrubs and rotates. With their low price point and versatility, a company of any size can use these systems — as the main wash source for small fleets or for larger fleets to use a tool for odd size washing, or backup should the permanent automatic system break down.
Undercarriage wash systems are of interest to operators doing business in harsh, corrosive-prone winter environments. Standalone undercarriage systems combine chloride neutralizing with corrosion inhibition and protection. Measured against corrosion repair costs, this specialized system offers exceptional ROI.
What determines the system bus and coach operators should consider?
Where large transit bus and coach fleets may require 30 washes an hour and up to hundreds per day, automated drive-through and gantry systems are the answer. The greatest demand is for wash systems that can handle five to 40 buses per shift.
For the company that must move several hundred buses through the system at night, or before the drivers leave their shift, the drive-through is the most popular solution.
The rollover gantry removes the driver from the equation and typically takes no more than 5 to 8 minutes per wash cycle. Gantry systems tend to work most effectively when service schedules are not as tight and the desire is for a higher level of wash quality.
Bus yards and garage facilities vary in size and layout from one operation to the next, each with separate specifications
busridemaintenance.com | BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE 5
No Wires - No Hassle Bus Washing.If you have 5 to 50 bus and van washes to do a day… you’re on the right page! Single brush bus washers have come of age. Fast machines provide unlimited elbow grease under the control of a human operator, to deliver consistently high quality washing. Bitimec is the market leader in the sector with Electric, Diesel, Battery and even Hybrid powered machines.
Bitimec International Inc.15 E. Putnam AveGreenwich, CT 06830203-340-9388www.bitimec.com
Bitimec International Inc.The Tower Wash is easy and efficientWashing your bus has never been so easy and so efficient. Superior in design and automation, the Tower Wash System features an exclusive direct injector soap system that assures the same application every time. Using a mere 25 gallons of water and only a few ounces of soap, a bus wash takes less than 5 minutes. The only North American manufacturer of this type of system in 25 years, serving every U.S. state and Canadian province, Awash Systems customizes each order to accommodate each wash setup. Installation includes overhead track and cable system design for inside and outside wash bays.
Awash Systems Corp.
Awash Systems Corp.19 Community Ave., Unit #2Stoney Creek, ON L8E 2X91-800-265-7405www.awashsystems.com
for the optimum wash equipment. Autonomous single-brush bus washers are especially applicable for challenged space and budget situations.
What do operators need to know about bus wash systems they may not already know?
A bus wash system is not a do-it-yourself project kit. Selecting and configuring the most appropriate system involves the operator working closely with the wash system OEM to determine the most effective solution for the fleet in the space available.
The system must fit and function properly, allowing adequate access to electric utilities, water supply and proper sewer drainage.
During design and installation, operators need to be aware of the capacity and restrictions of all utilities, and ensure the parameters and specifications match those the OEM recommends.
The wash bay footprint must allow the correct placement of all the controls and leave adequate room for vehicles to enter and exit safely.
Benchmarking is helpful. Few operators know their cost per wash, which considers the estimated life cycle of the system, annual maintenance costs and costs of wash products, as well as required time and labor. The advantage of this metric is knowing precisely what the company spends on this function. Understanding the exact cost affords an opportunity to make the wash process more cost efficient.
What are the greatest concerns in the operation of the wash system? In a drive-through system that is most effective when the bus
is moving approximately 1.5 feet per second, the bus driver is
the independent variable. Impatient drivers can move the bus through the cycle too fast for a complete and thorough wash, often resulting in damage to the bus and the wash equipment.
Some drive-through systems incorporate speed control sensing devices that track the bus through the wash at specified intervals.
What role does technology play in bus wash systems?Until recently, bus wash systems were a mechanical
function. The influx of electronic sensing and monitoring technology has advanced the wash process, and the benefits and savings are apparent.
Bus wash OEMs continue to implement technologies that refine the process, improve quality and lower costs by conserving water, products and electricity. Technology has brought metered soap systems, improved mitter systems, water softening and mineral removal.
How important is the choice of chemicals and wash products? The correct mix of chemicals has as much an impact on the
quality of the wash as the equipment itself. Aside from utility costs over time, the bus wash chemicals
and cleaning products constitute the biggest expense. However, a modern bus wash system can save as much as 25 percent in chemical usage compared to older systems, simply because the new wash systems are more effective at metering usage to consistent levels.
What are the water drainage requirements? The most important question in the long-term use of a bus wash
system is whether to incorporate a reclaimed water system
6 BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | APRIL.2015 busridemaintenance.com
Is your road equipment left exposed due to ineffective wash programs? The CorroDyne Chloride Knockdown System automates the neutralizing and protection process, providing a massive advantage when compared to simple rinse automation or manual applications. Can you afford to leave your fleet untreated and exposed to the constant barrage of road salts and corrosion? Control the issue and put a cap on repair and maintenance costs with CorroDyne.
WASH DYNAMICS
Wash Dynamics2101 Dawn AvenueVirginia Beach, VA 23451(888) 999-8628www.washdynamics.com
GOT RUST?Fight back with CorroDyne:
The first Automated Chloride Knockdown System to manage Fleet Corrosion Protection.
NS Wash Systems has been designing and building vehicle wash equipment since 1961, becoming the leading supplier to many of the nation’s largest and most demanding transit authorities. Our line of bus washes has revolutionized the large vehicle cleaning industry with such innovations as:
NS WASH SYSTEMS
• Rugged ladderized aluminum frame construction• Lammscloth cleaning components• Up to 30 buses an hour• Virtually maintenance free• Undercarriage Washers• Wheel Wash Systems• High Volume Spinner Arches• High Pressure Cleaning Systems• Water Recycling Systems
Everything for a Complete Bus Cleaning
NS Wash Systems235 Florence Ave.Inglewood, CA 90301(877) 679-2741www.nswash.com
— easily the best choice for reducing water usage. Depending on the complexity of the system and the overall configuration, the typical recycling system can recapture on average up to 80 percent of the water used for each wash. A system with advanced technology can control water usage even more.
Except for the soap, totally loop-closed reclamation systems filter everything out effectively for washing only. Rinses require only a minimum amount of necessary freshwater. While this is premium from a conservation standpoint, the costs are much higher
What are the environmental concerns in a bus wash operation?For the most part, today’s wash chemicals are much friendlier
to the environment, removed simply enough through normal sewer drain systems. For all intents and purposes, hazardous waste removal systems are unnecessary for modern wash systems.
Where there is no federal protocol, with each municipality, county or state establishing its own level of wastewater tolerances, this is somewhat a controversial red herring. Nonetheless, the industry has complied with better technology and decreased use of acid products, which most operators no longer even consider an option.
What are the recommended maintenance requirements?Operators often overlook or underestimate their maintenance
needs, as well as their available manpower to operate and maintain the bus wash system. Preventative maintenance naturally ensures longevity and better use over the system’s life cycle. The OEM recommendation is to adhere to the recommended maintenance schedule and assign a technician to specifically monitor the wash system and keep it in working order. The job requires someone with mechanical aptitude, because of the multiple hydraulic, electric, water and air pressure systems, as well as automated, computerized control systems at work in the wash bay.
In the area of bus washing, what pitfalls should an operator work to avoid?
Do not view the wash system as a magical solution for a fleet of any size with every type of bus. Every available system comes with advantages as well as limitations. Know what to expect and do not ask more from the system than can it accommodate with normal use.
busridemaintenance.com | BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE 7
MaintenanceFacility Design
Polyurea coating - Could it save your wash bay?
By Mark Ellis and Justin Tripp
The use of polyurea coatings in maintenance facilities has been increasing in popularity for the past decade, although their use in automotive and facility applications has been around for nearly 30 years. Traditionally, polyurea coatings have been used to line the inside of truck beds to protect the underlying metal from weather and other corrosive elements, and to provide for easier clean up. This principle also applies when polyurea coatings are used on wash bay floors and walls in maintenance facilities. Not only does the coating protect the underlying floors and walls, but it also allows for ease of cleaning these surfaces.
What is polyurea?Polyurea is a chemical mixture of an isocyanate compound
and a resin blend. When these two chemicals are mixed and introduced to compressed air, they form a hardened rubber-like compound that, when applied correctly and dried, forms a completely sealed coating that is impervious and easy to clean.
How is it applied?The most common way to apply a polyurea coating to a surface
is by spraying it with special equipment. The preferred method to quickly cover large areas like wash bays is by using a machine that draws the chemicals from two separate drums into a paint-like sprayer. Since the chemicals come from bulk supply drums, it expedites the coating process. Also, this application machine has a control panel that adjusts the speed of the chemical mix along with how much air is being released. This helps deliver the coating in a consistent even layer.
What are the benefits?
Paint, epoxy and other coatings are the traditional ways to protect surfaces in harsh wash and maintenance facility areas. However, when these coatings are used in a wash bay or a maintenance pit where they are exposed to grease, dirt and moisture, they begin to lose their protective qualities. Paint begins to fade and flake away over time and with repetitive exposure to a pressure washer. Paint also scratches and releases very easily, exposing the underlying surface to moisture and contaminants.
Polyurea coatings, unlike traditional paints and coatings, hold up against abrasion, corrosion, pressure washing and temperature changes. In addition to protecting the surface, polyurea also strengthens the structure because it is a solid coating across the entire area without gaps or end points. The material is somewhat flexible and allows for expansion and contraction with weather changes, and it completely seals
so no moisture will penetrate through to the surface that is being protected. Polyurea coatings also protect against many chemicals that can pass through paint. As for cleaning, grease and dirt are easily washed away with a pressure washer, leaving the coating completely intact. As is popular with paint, polyurea coating can be dyed to match the preferred wall and floor color scheme in a facility.
What is the downside?While there are many upsides to using polyurea coatings on
wash bay surfaces, it is not the cheapest option. On average, 1/8-inch polyurea coating in basic black costs about $2.50 per square foot for the material, not including the application labor. Thicker application coating and custom colors will increase the price.
Applying the coating is also not as easy as rolling paint on the walls. There are necessary personal safety equipment requirements including using a full breathing mask and a protective jump suit to be worn during application. Overspray on surrounding surfaces can also be a problem, so surrounding areas that are not being coated must be completely covered and sealed with plastic to protect them from overspray.
Overall, polyurea coatings are a good investment for your wash bays and other harsh maintenance environments because of the long lasting protection they give to the building surfaces and structure and the ease of cleaning. Polyurea coatings also are impervious to moisture and most chemical damage and can withstand both physical and environmental trauma. In addition, the ability to customize the color adds a professional touch that will last the life of the facility with limited upkeep or maintenance.
Mark Ellis, central region manager, and Justin Tripp, facility designer for Maintenance Design Group have worked with transit agencies throughout the U.S. to plan and design their bus maintenance facilities. To learn more about MDG’s capabilities and to gain valuable insights and information, please visit www.maintenancedesigngroup.com
Polyurea coatings hold up against abrasion, corrosion, pressure washing and temperature changes.
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