How Do They Do That? The Monokote Process

Before the MONOKOTE texture is applied, all of the steel must be cleaned of debris. This process includes but not limited to: scraping, rasping, brushing, blowing, vacuuming, and pressured washed. Once dry, the base isolators, dampers, and damper pedestals are wrapped in plastic to prevent the MONOKOTE from adhering to any of the seismic systems or other vital equipment. 🔨

Near the center elevator pit, I came across this lone individual, blowing debris from the concrete and steel that surrounded the bottom of an elevator shaft. 🔨

Pressure washing the steel beams on level “A”. 🔨

Down in the basement where the central elevator pit is located two electricians were working to install electrical conduit and boxes before the MONOKOTE texture would be applied. The plastic covers the concrete, and the base isolators are wrapped. 🔨

THE MONOKOTE PROCESS

A Family Affair With a Couple of Exceptions

MONOKOTE: A life-safety fireproofing product designed to reduce the rate of temperature rise in steel or concrete in the event of a fire.*

The Mixing Room: In late May, the subcontractor that will apply the MONOKOTE material erected a steel canopy near the northeast corner of the building. Soon after, the company delivered a truckload of MONOKOTE mix. Once the bags were stacked around the perimeter of the canopy, the area looked like “Fort Loma Linda.” The canopy, which shades the operators and the mixing equipment will be on site until the MONOKOTE is applied to the very last piece of steel somewhere on the 17th story. There is also one of these mixing stations on the south side of the structure. 🔨

Masters of  MONOKOTE

To be a “MonoKoter” one has to be willing to get the ole hard had a tad dirty. Armando III (left) appears as if he attempted to clean his helmet. On the other hand, Brian’s hat looks as if he spent the day in an aviary. These partners have one thing in common: Their glasses are clean. 🔨

Brian poses at the covered entrance to the ground floor. 🔨

Armando III poses with the crane and the Medical Center in the background. 🔨

Father and Son: Armando II (left) and Armando III (right) stand together under the mixing canopy. Armando the first was also in the business. 🔨

Sal (right) stands next to his grandfather Jesse. 🔨

The mixing machine is located in the center right behind Sal’s left shoulder. A different density is used below ground than what is used on floors above grade. 🔨

In the northwest section of the basement (“B” Level), I found Brian (with back to the camera) and Armando III (on the scaffold) checking out the MONOKOTE that had been sprayed onto the spline beams. The process is much like spaying stucco on the side of a house, and the texture is much the same. It takes up to 36-hours for the application to dry. ‘Tis a messy job!!! 🔨

All of the strange hieroglyphics (numbers, letters, arrows, and other symbols) known only to the fabricators and ironworkers will be covered with MONOKOTE never to be deciphered again. 🔨

Armando III stands on a scaffold while applying the texture. Note his stooped posture sprays an even coat. Down on the concrete, Brian stabilizes the scaffold and with his broader field of view can point out any areas that may have been missed or too thinly spread. 🔨

Once the MONOKOTE has dried, field inspectors among other tests, which include density, and bond strength, check the thickness of the application. 🔨