Airport terminals are large, tall and busy, and they rarely close. Passenger numbers swing from near empty to peak within an hour, and the building has to stay comfortable, safe and operational throughout. Mechanical systems are central to all three.
Large volumes, variable occupancy
Check-in halls and departure lounges have high ceilings and occupancy that changes by the minute. Demand-controlled ventilation, using carbon dioxide sensing, adjusts outdoor air to the actual number of people, while zoning and air distribution strategies such as displacement ventilation condition the occupied zone rather than the whole volume.
Smoke management
Large open spaces need engineered smoke control so that passengers can evacuate safely. Smoke exhaust, make-up air and their interfaces with the fire alarm system are designed to a fire engineering strategy, typically following NFPA 92, and must be tested as an integrated system.
Working in a live airport
Modernization projects take place while flights continue. Works are phased so that existing systems keep running, temporary services are installed where needed and shutdowns are planned for low-traffic hours with the airport operator.
Plumbing for peak demand
Washrooms, food outlets and lounges see sharp peaks when flights arrive and depart. Water storage, booster pumps and drainage are sized for these peaks, with durable fixtures designed for intensive use.
Designed for maintenance
Airports run around the clock, so equipment must be accessible and serviceable without disrupting passengers. Plant rooms, isolation valves and access panels are planned with the operator's maintenance team in mind.
TERMA's work on the modernization of Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport in Conakry, Guinea, delivered the HVAC, plumbing and fire protection scope from shop drawings and quantity take-offs through testing, commissioning and handover.