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Home > Design Guidance > Building Types > Aviation > Aviation Hangar
Aviation Hangar
by Don McLaughlin, PE Burns & McDonnell Last updated: 07-07-2011
Facility Performance Evaluation (FPE) Hangar Pavement Design Wi hin Thi Page Overview Building Attributes Emerging Issues Relevant Codes and Standards Major Resources
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OVERVIEW
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 4211-01: Aircraft Maintenance Hangars: T pe I and T pe II. Much of the criteria for the design comes from AFH 32-1084 Facilit 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. 2. 3. 4. 5. Hangar Area Shops Area Warehouse Area Office/Administration and Specialty Areas Building Utilities Area
F22 Fighter Aircraft Robotic Coating Facility, Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems Company Marietta, Georgia (Courtesy of Burns & McDonnell)
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.
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BUILDING ATTRIBUTES
Determine Facilit Space Requirements
Step 1: Determine the t pes and numb er of aircraft which populate the hangar. During this initial stage, input is needed from the hangar's future owner about his aircraft fleet.
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Coating/Composite Restoration Facility for Fighter Aircraft at Langley AFB - View enlarged plan (Courtesy of Burns & McDonnell)
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 Facilit 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 Safet 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 Facilit 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.
Lockheed Martin Corporate Hangar Facility Baltimore, Maryland - View enlarged plan (Courtesy of Burns & McDonnell)
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.
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In general, the hangar space usually requires fire Baltimore, Maryland (Courtesy of Burns & protection using water mixed with an Aqueous Film McDonnell) 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 - S anda d fo Ai c af Hanga 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.
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.
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EMERGING ISSUES
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".
412 Foot Clear Span Maintenance Hangar for US Airw ays in Indianapolis, Indiana (Courtesy of Burns & McDonnell)
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.
Ph sical Securit
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.
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MAJOR RESOURCES
WBDG
Building T pes Office Building, Warehouse Design Objectives Cost-Effective, Functional / Operational, Productive, Secure / Safe, Sustainable
Organi ations
Federal Aviation Administration Professional Aviation Maintenance Association
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