RAIN WATER DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS FOR AIRPORTS

The drainage of airports, both airside and landside, requires meticulous planning due to the vast expanse of sealed surfaces that can quickly accumulate water during rainfall. Proper drainage ensures safety, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. The drainage challenges encompass runways, taxiways, aprons (airside), terminal areas, parking lots, garages, and surrounding infrastructure (landside).

Airside Drainage

Airside includes areas such as runways, taxiways, aprons, and aircraft parking. These areas require robust drainage systems due to their large, flat, and sealed surfaces. Water accumulation can lead to dangerous conditions, such as hydroplaning, and must be rapidly evacuated to maintain safety.

1. Regulations and Standards
   • FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency): These authorities regulate the design and maintenance of airport surfaces, including drainage. Compliance with their guidelines ensures safe operational conditions.
   • ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) sets global standards, particularly in Annex 14, concerning the design of aerodromes, which includes drainage standards for runways, taxiways, and aprons.
   • EN 1433 (for Europe): This standard applies to linear drainage channels, focusing on mechanical load resistance, installation, and water conveyance.
2. Solutions for Airside MEA drainage channels provide solutions to efficiently manage water on large, sealed surfaces:
   • MEADRAIN EN/ENS: These channels are ideal for high-load areas such as runways and taxiways. They offer excellent resistance to dynamic and static loads, and their efficient water conveyance minimizes surface water, preventing hazardous conditions.
   • MEADRAIN DM and MEACRET LINE: Designed for areas requiring extremely robust drainage performance, such as aprons and aircraft parking areas, these channels provide heavy-duty solutions for high-load zones.

Landside Drainage (Parking Lots, Garages, Terminal Areas)

Landside areas include the terminal surroundings, parking lots, and parking garages, where significant foot and vehicle traffic necessitates efficient water management to avoid flooding, slips, and other hazards.

1. Regulations and Standards
   • Local Building Codes: These will dictate drainage requirements for public access areas, including parking lots and garages.
   • EN 1433: The same standard applies here, ensuring the use of certified drainage systems that meet load-bearing and water management criteria.
   • Stormwater Management Guidelines: National and local regulations often require sustainable solutions for stormwater, encouraging infiltration systems or rainwater reuse.
2. Solutions for Landside MEA offers several drainage solutions for parking and terminal areas:
   • MEARIN EXPERT and MEARIN PLUS: These channels, made of durable SMC (Sheet Molding Compound), are lightweight yet highly durable, making them ideal for parking lots and garages where installation efficiency and longevity are key factors. They offer corrosion resistance, which is especially valuable in areas exposed to deicing chemicals or oils.
   • MEASTORM: This system is ideal for managing large volumes of stormwater, especially in open areas such as parking lots and roadways, ensuring rapid evacuation of water during heavy rains.
   • MEARIN PG EVO: For parking garages where load-bearing capacity and ease of installation are essential, this system offers a highly durable, efficient drainage solution.

Drainage Around the Airport Building

The terminal buildings and surrounding areas, including access roads and service areas, also need tailored drainage solutions to prevent water accumulation, flooding, and ice formation.

1. Regulations and Standards
   • Building and Accessibility Codes: Ensure compliance with local regulations for water management around public and service areas.
   • Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS): Modern guidelines promote environmentally friendly drainage systems, encouraging permeable surfaces and infiltration systems to reduce runoff.
2. Solutions
   • MEARIN PLUS and MEARIN EXPERT: These channels provide an ideal solution for pedestrian zones and terminal surroundings, offering durability and a sleek design that complements architectural aesthetics.
   • MEADRAIN EN: For access roads and service areas, these heavy-duty channels ensure that large amounts of surface water are efficiently drained.
   • MEATEC II: For the drainage around buildings. The MEATEC II system has been designed for the drainage of facades and terraces to protect buildings against Waterlogging. The MEATEC II drainage solution is also perfect for a barrier-free construction.

Best Practices for Draining Large Sealed Surfaces

• Linear Drainage Systems: Utilize continuous channels that prevent water accumulation across large surfaces. This is crucial for preventing pooling in high-traffic or high-load areas, such as runways and parking lots.
• Infiltration Systems: Encourage the use of permeable materials or sub-surface infiltration systems to manage stormwater sustainably. These systems help reduce runoff and comply with regulations promoting environmentally responsible drainage solutions.
• Regular Maintenance: Ensure that drainage systems are maintained to prevent clogging, especially in high-load areas like airports, where foreign objects can obstruct drains.

By integrating MEA drainage channels like MEADRAIN EN/ENS, MEADRAIN DM, MEACRET LINE, MEARIN EXPERT, MEARIN PLUS, MEATEC II, MEASTORM, and MEARIN PG EVO, airports can achieve efficient, compliant, and sustainable drainage across all critical zones—airside, landside, and within terminal areas.