Case Study: Endangered Atlantic Salmon Protected by FRP

0570-Fish Hatchery Roof Structure Main0570-Fish Hatchery Roof Structure DetailThe United States Fish and Wildlife Service has established the Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery in East Orland, Maine to propagate and stock juvenile Atlantic salmon. The hatchery takes great care in the repopulating efforts for the endangered salmon. Thus a clean environment is essential.

The Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery uses crowding pools to raise the young salmon, or fry. The hatchery’s existing roof frame systems, located over the crowding pools, had succumbed to years of environmental corrosion and were in need of replacement. Contractor Apex Construction, Inc. was chosen to replace the dilapidated roof frames.

TECHNICAL DATA
Product: FRP Roof Framing
Process: Pultrusion
Materials: EXTREN® 525 series fiberglass reinforced polymer, fire retardant
Sizes: EXTREN® structural shapes:

  • 10" x 3/8" & 6" x 3/8" Wide Flange Beam
  • 9" x 6" Round Tube
  • 4" x 1/2" & 1" x 1/8" Angle
  • 1/2" Plate
For: Empire Fibreglass Products, Inc.
Little Falls, NY
User: Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery
East Orland, ME

Because the environment surrounding the crowding pools is moisture rich and unheated, Apex Construction selected Strongwell’s EXTREN® structural shapes from Little Falls, New York based distributor, Empire Fibreglass Products, Inc. The fiberglass structural shapes solved the low maintenance challenge as well as cold temperature performance to provide the non-corrosive environment necessary to produce the young Atlantic salmon.

The fiberglass framed structures were built on top of the existing concrete tanks. The EXTREN® shapes were combined with stainless steel gusset plates to form the corrosion resistant roof framing. The result was a unique and appealing appearance. The initial investment in FRP provides the Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery a maintenance free future with improved cost effectiveness over time.

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