Airport manhole covers & gratings are drainage components used on the drainage system of the airport area.
Airport Drainage System
The airport drainage system is similar to the highway drainage system. The characteristic of the airport is a wide paved area with a relatively flat gradient. Airport areas need rapid water absorption, requiring an integrated drainage system. Water that is on the surface must immediately flow into the drains to avoid puddles. The runway, taxiway, and apron should be free of puddles intended for flight safety.
A well-designed airport drainage system is a key requirement for operational safety, efficiency, and asphalt road resistance. Insufficient drainage facilities may cause flooding, endanger air traffic, erosion, saturation, and weakening of asphalt road foundations.
The existence of an airport drainage system aims to avoid an accident, property damage, losses, and other expenses due to waterlogging. So the airport drainage system has functions:
- Drying the airport area of waterlogging
- Controlling the accumulation of excessive rainwater
- Controlling erosion
Airport Drainage Components
To support a good airport drainage system, one of the aspects is to use the drainage component. Airport drainage system uses drainage components to close and distribute water from the surface to the drain. The drainage components commonly used in airport areas are manhole cover and grating.
The manhole covers are usually used in the apron ( aircraft parking areas ). While the gratings are usually used in border areas between the apron and taxiway.
Airport Manhole Covers & Gratings Project of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali
The drainage project of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport is a replacement project of drainage components used in this airport area. The project aims to replace the old drainage components that are already obsolete with new drainage components. The drainage system at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport uses cast iron manhole covers and cast iron gratings. In this project, Infiniferro contributes by supplying the drainage components. The following is a description of the manhole covers and gratings that we supply.
In this project, Infiniferro contributes by supplying the drainage components. The following is a description of the manhole covers and gratings that we supply.
1. Cast Iron Manhole Covers
Designs of Airport Manhole Covers
On the drainage line at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport using cast iron manhole covers consisting of 10 designs:
- D650 Round cast iron manhole cover
- D550 Round cast iron manhole cover
- 750x550x100 mm Rectangular cast iron manhole cover
- 700x700x100 mm Square cast iron manhole cover
- 600x600x100 mm Square cast iron manhole cover
- 500x500x100 mm Square cast iron manhole cover
- 450x450x100 mm Square cast iron manhole cover
- 1675x1165x103 mm lift pump manhole cover
- 1680x620x103 mm lift pump manhole cover
- 750x750x105 mm lift pump manhole cover
One unit of cast iron manhole cover consists of two parts, namely frame and cover. On the frame, there are holes to strengthen the installation on the concrete foundation. When pouring concrete, the holes will be filled with concrete. So that when the concrete hardens the frame will be strongly installed.
While the cover is designed with embossed motifs and letters. It can serve as an anti-slip and also an identity. The cover also comes with a keyhole for easy opening and closing the manhole covers.
Material for Making Airport Manhole Covers
Manufacturing of airport manhole covers using ductile iron material (grade-A cast iron). The ductile iron material has characteristics:
- Wear-resistance
- Adequate toughness
- High score in fracture test
- High score in the tensile test
- Good machining capability
Hence manhole cover of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport including heavy-duty type. A heavy-duty type manhole covers able to withstand heavy loads through it like an airplane. So it is appropriate to use in the airport area where there is airplane traffic.
Manufacturing of Airport Manhole Cover
Above is a 3D image design ( drawing ) of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport manhole cover. We use 2D & 3D drawing and simulation programs to draw the design. The drawing process is an early stage in the manufacture of cast iron manhole covers. Also, this process is important because it affects the next process until the final outcome. A Proper drawing will produce the right product or on-demand.
After the drawing is complete, we continue to the next processes which are: pattern making, mold making, melting and pouring, finishing, and quality control.
Use of Airport Manhole Covers
Manhole covers have the primary function as a cover on a manhole in the drainage line. While the manhole serves as the entrance for technicians when doing maintenance. Besides the installation of the manhole cover also aims to prevent people from falling into the manhole.
2. Cast Iron Gratings
The old gratings of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport are steel grating. For use in an area with heavy load vehicle traffic, a steel plate material is less proper. Steel grating in the long term will be deformed due to withstanding the heavy load.
Gratings that have been curved, someday will eventually be broken. So it can not last for a long time. Bad grating conditions can disrupt air traffic because the plane will shake as it passes through it.
Design of Airport Cast Iron Gratings
Cast iron gratings for I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport consist of 3 designs and sizes:
- 1000x420x105 mm
- 997x420x105 mm
- 995x415x105 mm
Airport cast iron gratings have a rectangular design and holes in the middle. The holes on the gratings serve as water entrances on the surface of the drainage line. Thus, the water will flow quickly and does not cause puddles.
On the surface of the gratings, there is an embossed letter of the project owner’s name and logo, and also the year of project execution. The motif on the surface of gratings can serve as an identity.
Cast iron gratings have a design without frames to install directly on the concrete foundation. The surface of the gratings shall be flat with the surface of the installation area. This is intended to avoid shocks when the vehicles pass. If you want a stronger installation, you can use bolts to hook the gratings to the concrete foundation.
Material of Airport Gratings
To manufacture airport grating use the same material as the airport manhole covers that are ductile iron. Thus the gratings have good strength and are not easily broken.
Manufacturing of Airport Gratings
The manufacturing process of airport gratings is the same as the manufacturing process of airport manhole covers, that is through a metal casting process. This process consists of drawing, pattern making, mold making, melting and pouring, finishing, and quality control.
Usage and Installation of Airport Gratings
Installation of the gratings is in a row and connecting between one grating with the other grating along the drainage line at the airport. The use of grating in the airport area is usually in an open drainage system in the area between the apron and runway. Hence the cast iron gratings can serve as a pedestrian bridge and prevent people from falling into the drainage line.
Conclusion
The airport drainage system has an important role in the safety of flight operations. Because if there are puddles in the runway area it may endanger the take-off and landing process. For the airport area, often using drainage components such as ductile iron manhole covers and ductile iron gratings. This material has good resistance and strength so that it can withstand the load of the airplane passing through it.
charbel ghanem says
Hi
is the cover you specify watertight?
can it be used along a rubber gasket?
thank you
Infiniferro says
Hi,
This cover is not watertight.
We can also make watertight covers if you need them.
Please email your quotation to info@infiniferro.com
Thank you