Page 32 - CIJ April 2024 - Digital Edition

COVER STORY

Airport Infrastructure

Designing

for Effective

Maintenance

When designing an airport terminal,
several aspects related to overall

maintenance, access, indoor air quality,
safety, acoustic design, washroom maintenance,
and waste management need to be considered. Nandita Bhatt,

Executive Director-Planning, Airport Authority of India, opines that
engaging with stakeholders, including airport authorities, architects,

contractors, and maintenance personnel, throughout the design
and construction process will ensure alignment with sustainability
objectives and maintenance requirements. In conversation with Clean

India Journal, she breaks down each aspect that will reduce the
challenges faced in effective & quality maintenance and sustainability.

irport designs while easy to clean, and require at the same time, integrating
meeting sustainability minimal maintenance should maintenance-friendly features into
goals also appreciates be considered. “For example, the design is equally essential. This
the need for choose sustainable and durable may include incorporating access
Aincorporating cleaning materials for the construction of panels or removable sections for
and maintenance programs. This in intricate designs. In case of using easier maintenance and repair
turn requires strategizing, planning, wood, it is essential to opt for without compromising the overall
preventive & predictive measures, responsibly sourced wood certified aesthetic appeal.
and a complete understanding of by organizations like the Forest Speaking of high access points,
the airport design. By embracing Stewardship Council (FSC) to providing safe and efficient
sustainable design principles, ensure ethical and environment access to high areas for cleaning
leveraging advanced technologies, friendly practices. Additionally, through platforms, catwalks,
and prioritizing maintenance alternatives to solid wood, such as and maintenance corridors is
considerations, airports can engineered wood products, which important. “Consider the placement
successfully transition to complex offer comparable aesthetics with of equipment such as scissor lifts
building designs while meeting improved dimensional stability or cherry pickers for accessing
sustainability goals and retaining and sustainability could be high areas; and implement
aesthetic appeal. considered.” safety protocols and training for
Selection of materials that While, collaborating with maintenance staff working at
are resistant to wear and tear, architects, engineers, and designers heights.”

APRIL 2024•Clean India Journal
32 www.cleanindiajournal.com