Turkey's large airports reach annual capacities of 90, 41 and 39 million passengers. At the largest, the terminal covers 1.4 million m², there are 230 passenger boarding bridges, and about 800,000 L of Jet A-1 is held on the apron. At this scale NFPA 415 brings boarding bridge roof protection, apron drainage, a 3% AFFF foam system and atrium smoke control to the table at the same time. The hardest part on these projects is planning from the start that these systems must work as an integrated whole, not independently.

Terminal Hazards

  • Atrium: 30–40 m high, with an unprotected steel roof
  • Baggage conveyors: 15 km long; the rubber belts add fire load
  • Duty-free shops: High fire load from alcohol, perfume and cosmetics
  • Occupant load: 40,000 people at peak hour; the evacuation scenario is critical
  • Jet A-1 hydrant system: Pressurized line beneath the apron

NFPA 415 and Passenger Boarding Bridges

  • Passenger boarding bridge: Protection of the roof and tunnel is mandatory
  • Sprinklers: 5.7 L/min/m² density inside the tunnel
  • Egress: Reverse-direction exit to the apron
  • Shell: Glass-fiber panels
  • Proximity: 15 m to the aircraft; fuel fire risk

Apron Drainage

  • Fuel spill: 800 L/min Jet A-1 scenario flow rate
  • Drainage slope: 1% for proper surface runoff
  • Oil separator: API 421 criteria
  • Foam monitor: 1,900 L/min capacity
  • Aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF): 3-minute response time

Atrium Smoke Control

  • NFPA 92: Reference standard for smoke control
  • CFD modeling: Scenario simulation with FDS 6
  • Exhaust fans: 10–15 air changes per hour
  • Makeup air: Natural or mechanical inlets
  • Smoke-free height: The smoke layer must stay at least 1.8 m above the egress path

Turkey Airports

  • Largest airport: Annual capacity of 90 million passengers
  • Second-largest hub: 41 million passengers
  • Tourism airport: 39 million passengers; tourism-driven seasonal peaks
  • Another large airport: 17 million passengers
  • Largest terminal: Opened with a 1.4 million m² terminal

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Sources & Further Reading

NFPA 415, NFPA 92, ICAO Annex 14, FAA AC 150/5210. NFPA 415 Aircraft Fueling Ramp Drainage and Loading Walkways.