Case Study Heathrow Terminal 5 – Satellite & Tunnels

The Projects

Construction of the second Satellite building (C) serving the main Terminal building (A) at Heathrow Airport – Terminal 5. The main terminal is connected to the satellite buildings via underground tunnels. The original development included the tunnels connecting the main Terminal (A) to Satellite (B) and the floors had been completed with a power floated concrete. The site was land-locked, in the middle of one of the busiest airports in the world, so getting labour, plant and materials onto the site was complicated. The tunnels connecting Satellite (C) to (B) were almost half a kilometre long and some 20m below ground level, and could only be accessed from one end – so pumping distances and logistics generally proved extremely challenging.

Contract Descriptions

Requirements

The client did not like the power-floated finish achieved in the tunnels connecting A and B but still wanted a very smooth hard-wearing cementitious surface.

Solution

From works that we had previously completed – primarily on Kings Cross Underground Station we recommended use of a liquid cementitious industrial wearing-grade screed as an alternative to the specified granolithic screed. This was applied onto a Fine Concrete screed base layer. After much discussion and design development the proposal was accepted and duly installed.