Gatic drainage solution specified for state-of-the-art Farnborough Airport development

Gatic Slotdrain from Alumasc Water Management Solutions (AWMS), has been successfully installed at Farnborough Airport’s new innovative hangar facility. The sustainable £55million development adds 175,000 square feet to the existing site, further supporting Farnborough Airport as the UK’s largest business aviation hub.

Farnborough is the latest addition to Gatic’s long and successful track record in the aviation sector, which also includes installations at Manchester and Gatwick. The hangar, named Domus III, was designed by architect Gebler Tooth and delivered by main contractor McLaughlin and Harvey.

In accordance with the sustainable requirements of the project, water management on site was carefully considered. Installing contractor, Gill Civil Engineering Ltd, has a well-established working relationship with Gatic, and specified Gatic UltraSlot from the Slotdrain range, for the new runway slabs and taxiways.

UltraSlot is designed for use in external concrete areas subject to F900 loading, by ensuring sufficient depth of concrete over the main body of the system. However, the Farnborough project presented a number of depth restraints which required a bespoke solution. The Gatic technical team developed a new patented design, known as Slotdrain-e. This comprises a system of brackets running along the channel, to accommodate a change in the usual reinforcement mesh cage. The new design allows a reduction of mesh which not only addressed the restrictions posed on site, but also saved excavation time and labour costs. This new design can be used with all sizes of Slotdrain, allowing for further cost-efficiency across multiple applications. When maximising on the system’s economic use of time and materials, Slotdrain-e can provide users with an average cost saving of 25% per installation.

Vikram Trehan of Gill Civil was the site manager. He comments:

“Having worked with Gatic on previous projects, I was aware that Slotdrain offered the robust drainage solution required at Domus III, but that the challenges on site would require some bespoke modification to the product.

“The new system developed by Gatic’s technical team not only resulted in those challenges being addressed successfully, but it also reduced product installation time and labour hours, which is always a hugely positive outcome on high profile projects such as Farnborough.”

UltraSlot units are available from 100 to 600mm wide; the largest unit having a storage capacity of 405 l/m. The range can be installed in areas likely to experience extreme temperatures, and when installed in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations, should perform for the lifetime of the site.

For more information Gatic on 01787 475151 or visit https://www.alumascwms.co.uk/products/gatic/slotdrain/