aviation hangar _ whole building design guide

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Home > Design Guidance > Building Types > Aviation > Aviation Hangar

by Don McLaughlin, PE

Burns & McDonnell

Last updated: 07-07-2011

Aircraft hangars are commonly referred to as "glorified garages" for

airplanes. They can vary from simple "shade" structures that

protect all or parts of the aircraft from the elements to complicated

environmentally controlled maintenance facilities in which robots

apply radar absorbing coatings. However, since planes are

designed to fly, it is essential to minimize their maintenance time in

the hangar and maximize their availability to fly.

The Armed Services have developed definitive designs for hangar

facilities to house and maintain their aircraft. Many of these definitive designs are shown in UFC 4-

211-01: Aircraft Maintenance Hangars: Type I and Type II. Much of the criteria for the design comes

from AFH 32-1084 Facility Requirements.

In the commercial aircraft sector the designer

needs to rely on Facility and Planning Criteria

that are issued by the aircraft manufacturers

for their aircraft or a third party compilation of

data. For example, the Boeing aircraft

characteristics can be found on the

company's web site. The designer must

follow local building codes and integrate the

characteristics of all possible aircraft that can

populate the hangar to develop the space

requirements for the intended use of the

hangar.

There are five types of spaces in hangar

facilities:

1. Hangar Area

2. Shops Area

3. Warehouse Area

4. Office/Administration and Specialty Areas

5. Building Utilities Area

Careful analysis of the following will allow designer to determine the space needs for general

spaces listed above common to aircraft hangars.

Identification of the type of aircraft that will populate the hangar.

Identification of the aircraft mix that will populate the hangar.

Identification of the aircraft maintenance functions that will be performed in the facility.

Estimation of the type and amount of shop area required to perform the maintenance

functions.

Estimation of the type and amount of warehouse space required to support the maintenance

effort.

Estimation of the floor space required for Office and Administration Area.

Identification of special purpose areas such as locker rooms, toilets, personnel berthing area,

dining areas and public lobbies to name a few.

Estimation of the floor space required for the Building Utilities Area.BACK TO TOP

Determine Facility Space Requirements

Step 1: Determine the types and number of

aircraft which populate the hangar.

During this initial stage, input is needed from the hangar's future owner about his aircraft fleet.

HOME ABOUT CONTACT SITE MAP LOG IN

Aviation Hangar

OVERVIEW

BUILDING ATTRIBUTES



160 Meter clear span Aircraft Maintenance Facility for

Evergreen Airw ays in Taiw an, Republic of China

(Courtesy of Burns & McDonnell)

Coating/Composite Restoration Facility for

Fighter Aircraft at Langley AFB - View

enlarged plan (Courtesy of Burns &

McDonnell)

Lockheed Martin Corporate Hangar Facility—

Baltimore, Maryland - View enlarged plan


Information such as the following:

Type of aircraft in the fleet

Number of each type of aircraft in the fleet

Mix of aircraft that will populate the hangar

Allowance for future aircraft that may

populate the hangar

Step 2: Determine the Maintenance Function

of the Hangar Facility.

Input is needed from the owner with regards

to the maintenance that will be performed on

the aircraft in the hangar. This can vary from

no maintenance at all to complete overhaul of

the aircraft. Different levels of maintenance are required by the Federal Aviation Administration for

certain aircraft currently in operation..

Step 3: Compile the Aircraft Characteristics

Some references to obtain physical characteristics and

maintenance requirements of aircraft are as follows:

Jane's All the World's Aircraft

U.S. Navy Aircraft Characteristics

Burns & McDonnell Aircraft characteristics

Airbus

Boeing

Cessna

Gulfstream

Piper

Raytheon Aircraft Company

Step 4: Determine Hangar Space Requirements

To determine the most efficient use of hangar space

use templates representing the aircraft and floor plans

drawn at the same scale. Arrange the templates in various combinations to the make the most

efficient use of space and permits maintenance operations.

Minimum separation distances between aircraft and minimum distances between the aircraft and

other obstructions are defined in some building codes and in AFH 32-1084 Facility Requirements.

Another factor to consider in sizing the hangar space is the fire protection requirements. The

National Fire Protection Association standard, NFPA 409 - Standard for Aircraft Hangars

establishes four different groups of hangars based on their size and construction type. In general,

the smaller the hangar space the less expensive the fire protection and utility requirements.

When sizing the hangar space, do not overlook tail heights, the height and width of the hangar door

openings, the structural depth of columns and trusses and the turning radius of tow vehicles

connected to aircraft. Also in larger hangars, distance to means of egress become a concern and

should be laid out to meet local codes and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code.

Step 5: Determine space needs for the Maintenance

Shops and Warehouse

The maintenance shops and warehouse provide space

and storage for required maintenance activities such

as fabrication shops, airframe repair, engine repair,

aerospace systems repair, battery servicing area,

cryogenics maintenance, interior finishes repair and

nondestructive testing laboratory.

For Air Force Facilities, AFH 32-1084 Facility

Requirements lists maintenance shop space

requirements for different squadrons of aircraft. Similar

rational should be used in the commercial arena with

input from aircraft manufacturers.

The Federal Aviation Administration mandates

procedures to be followed by operators when establishing aircraft inspection intervals and overhaul

times.

Step 6: Determine space needs for the Office/Administration Area

The space needs in the Office/Administration area are similar to those required in any office

building. The general rule of thumb according to Office Finder is 175 to 250 square feet of useable

space per person.

Mechanical System Requirements



Lockheed Martin Corporate Hangar Facility—

Baltimore, Maryland (Courtesy of Burns &

McDonnell)

412 Foot Clear Span Maintenance Hangar for

US Airw ays in Indianapolis, Indiana


Determining the space need for the utility systems is

highly dependent on the hangar maintenance function

and the available utilities. In some corrosion control

hangars the HVAC requirements are so stringent that

the mechanical rooms can be as large as the hangar

space itself. Also in corrosion control hangar spaces

the mechanical rooms should be located adjacent to

the hangar space and with an exterior wall for outside

air requirements. The HVAC in the hangar space must

be integrated with the fire detection system to shut

down in case of a fire.

In general, the hangar space usually requires fire

protection using water mixed with an Aqueous Film

Forming Foam (AFFF). This can be applied by an

overhead system or water cannons mounted near the

floor. If the existing fire water pressure isn't adequate, the fire protection system may require a

reservoir and booster pumps to satisfy the demand of the hangar space. The National Fire

Protection Association standard, NFPA 409 - Standard for Aircraft Hangars establishes fire

protection criteria for hangars based on their size and construction type. Another resource is the

owner's insurance carrier who should have input into the fire protection and detection systems.

Electrical System Requirements

The electrical requirements of the hangar facility should meet the requirements of NFPA 70 -

National Electric Code. The hangar space should be classified as hazardous or nonhazardous

according to NFPA 70 and the electrical installations designed accordingly. Electrical equipment in

the hangar space should be waterproof, NEMA Type 4 (minimum rating) when deluge sprinkler

protection is provided. Various power supply voltages and frequencies are required in the facility

because Aircraft and Ground Support Equipment operate on different voltages and frequencies

than normally provided by the public utilities.

Hangar Doors

One of the largest single design elements to be selected is the type of hangar door to be utilized.

There are several different types (sliding, vertical lift, bifolding, fabric, etc) and each type has

advantages and design implications for the overall structure.

BACK TO TOP

Sustainable Design

Sustainable design should be incorporated into every

building design so the building can perform efficiently

without wasting energy during its lifetime. The hangar

area is particularly susceptible to heat loss as the

hangar doors are opened for aircraft movement.

Aircraft Metrics

The next generation of aircraft is larger and heavier

than current aircraft that will make many existing

hangar facilities obsolete. For a primer see Burns &

McDonnell's Special Report to the Airline Industry,

"How Will New Large Aircraft Affect Your Airport

Facilities".

New Technologies

As Aircraft manufacturers move towards composite materials and avionics become more

sophisticated, the hangar maintenance facility will need to respond to the new requirements. The

aircraft maintenance facility will resemble an industrial facility which will require remediation of toxic

effluents, air pollution permits, safety standards for working in hazardous areas and a high tech

facility with laboratories and clean rooms.

Physical Security

The aviation industry is a high profile industry and is a target for terrorist attacks. Future building

designs will incorporate higher levels of security and force protection/anti-terrorism standards.

BACK TO TOP

EMERGING ISSUES

RELEVANT CODES AND STANDARDS



International Building Code (IBC) or other state mandated building code

Local Building and Zoning Codes

Air Force

AFH 32-1084 Facility Requirements

Department of Defense

UFC 3-600-01 Fire Protection Engineering for Facilities

UFC 4-211-01 Aircraft Maintenance Hangars: Type I and Type II

National Fire Protection Association

NFPA 70 - National Electric Code

NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code

NFPA 409 - Standard for Aircraft Hangars

BACK TO TOP

WBDG

Building Types

Office Building, Warehouse

Design Objectives

Cost-Effective, Functional / Operational, Productive, Secure / Safe, Sustainable

OrganizationsFederal Aviation Administration

Professional Aviation Maintenance Association

BACK TO TOP

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