Planned wooden airport terminal sparks fire concerns

By Phatarawadee Phataranawik 
The Nation 

 

 

MASSIVE WOODEN structures featuring prominently in the winning design for Suvarnabhumi Airport’s new passenger terminal could pose a fire risk and might violate construction laws, the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT) said yesterday.

 

It gave Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) the warning after engineers and citizens questioned the security of Terminal 2 (T2) on social media.

 

EIT vice president Kecha Thirakome said the design includes modular structures in multiple layers that, in case of a fire, could allow flames to spread fast.

 

The “forest” design for the Bt35-billion passenger terminal by renowned architect Duangrit Bunnag and a consortium called DBALP won the nod from an AoT judging panel last month.

 

The decision was immediately controversial, first facing claims that it plagiarised Kengo Kuma’s plans for the Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum in Japan. Meanwhile, another design consortium, SA Group, bidding for the job threatened a legal challenge after it was disqualified on a technicality. 

 

Kecha noted that Thailand adheres to US National Fire Protection Association standards, which ban the use of wood in public buildings such as airport terminals because it’s so combustible. “If this massive wooden structure is allowed, it would violate national construction laws,” he said.

 

Assistant Professor Chuchai Sujivorakul concurred that only safe materials like concrete, stone and ceramic should be used, and they are relatively easily to maintain as well.

 

“This terminal should upgrade our airport to ‘4.0’ standards with digital technology including IoT, Big Data and artificial intelligence,” added Associate Professor Anek Siripanichakorn. “We should also be concerned about safety and sustainability, as well as saving energy.”

 

Neither the EIT nor the Architects Council of Thailand was involved in the design contest. Both have suggested AoT review the design in detail and, if a fresh competition is deemed necessary, include them in setting the terms of reference.

 

AoT has yet to sign a contract with Duangrit and his team pending consultation with experts and the public.

 

If the DBALP proposal goes forward, construction of the 348,000-square-metre T2 is scheduled for completion in 30 months and the terminal should be fully operational in 2021 or early 2022. It’s intended to accommodate more than 30 million passengers annually.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30353911

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-09-07

 

Here is the first planned flight to the new terminal.

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

Planned wooden airport terminal

The Wright Brothers built a wooden plane, what's wrong with a wooden airport?

2 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

The Wright Brothers built a wooden plane, what's wrong with a wooden airport?

fire....

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Neither the EIT nor the Architects Council of Thailand was involved in the design contest

Upset they didn't get their pockets lined.

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

T2 is scheduled for completion in 30 months and the terminal should be fully operational in 2021 or early 2022

How about finish the satellite terminal first before making wild assertions. Clueless

16 minutes ago, than said:

fire....

 

After reading the criticism, posters might think that wood is easily burnt. All over Japan structures are wood to safeguard damage in earthquakes. They don't get burnt down.

42 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

After reading the criticism, posters might think that wood is easily burnt. All over Japan structures are wood to safeguard damage in earthquakes. They don't get burnt down.

That’s Japan. You’re comparing apples and oranges. 

3 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

That’s Japan. You’re comparing apples and oranges. 

Yes, you are right. Thailand and Japan; two different animals in the same box.

The key is it is illegal to build public structures using wood in Thailand. So it isn't clear they could ever get approval for this design. Shame as it looks so much better. It is surprising they propose genuine wood instead of doing it the Thai way. Usually in Thailand they build using concrete and steel then stick smartboard over it to get the appearance of wood. Doesn't look quite as good but resistant to fire, termites, rot, and easier to care for.

 

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

After reading the criticism, posters might think that wood is easily burnt. All over Japan structures are wood to safeguard damage in earthquakes. They don't get burnt down.

But Japan doesn't import Thai electricians to do the wiring!

4 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

The Wright Brothers built a wooden plane, what's wrong with a wooden airport?

 

1 hour ago, than said:

fire....

 

Termites....

6 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

 

 

Termites....

Bribes

With all the wood that goes "missing" from these road widening projects then someone has the idea to build a huge project out of wood .......I wonder why.....

2018, there are ceramic tiles available which look like wood... Just a thought..

I assume they will have to log some protected areas to get enough big timbers for that project. Quite a few brown envelopes involved with that aspect. But at lest it will be made from renewables and is biodegradable.

...all of this brings into question.....the so-called 'selection process'....

 

...jeez....

 

....another day......same ______......

Where is the timber being sourced?  There's virtually nothing left in LOS. 

Let me guess....Mynamar aka Burma   I can see a scandal brewing in the near future.   (50 , 000 logs invoiced but only 500 delivered and all from protected rain forrests.)      It will happen.

 

Are they going to import electricans?  There is no way they could let a Thai sparky near a huge timber building.

The airport will be lit up better than Harrods.

Edited September 7, 20187 yr by lanista

The architect is clearly a lover of Paragon Puzzles (of old) who designed and made beautiful wooden brain-teasers that kept me quiet for hours.

As for these shapes being the inspiration of an airport terminal design, I have two issues. One, the inevitably high cost of making and erecting a wooden structure, like the one pictured, and two, the mind-numbing task of keeping such a structure clean or had the architect got some cunning dust-prevention device hiding amongst all those blocks?

Expensive, impractical and utterly unnecessary for a building that people want to spend as little time in as possible.

Wood.    Perfect to go in harmony with the wooden heads of the AOT and the other interested parties supporting their decision.

 

 Ahh I here you say they won't really use wood, only imitation wood made from fibrous cement products.  Now any bets( if that were legal ) that one of the main manufacturers ,   SCG,  should be well placed for the fat juicy contract to supply those products?  

 

So any other favoured contractors for the construction of the terminal ? ehm let me think who possibly could win that contract ?  Of course after a fair bidding contest.   Not Ital Thai surely ?   If they were to be chosen at least they could get the top man to go around clearing the site of any wildlife as that's his hobby.

The EIT and AOT need to get out of their comfort and antiquated thinking. The use of wood is actually making a come back as they are a much more environmentally and carbon friendly material than steel and concrete. Moreover all building codes have incorporated  fire compliance for rating, flame spread and smoke using technologies and designs. 

 

https://www.theb1m.com/video/top-5-the-world-s-tallest-timber-buildings

Illegally smuggled in wood is perfect for swampy. 

3 hours ago, than said:

fire....

ISIS weren't very active during Wright Brothers time.

3 hours ago, owl sees all said:

After reading the criticism, posters might think that wood is easily burnt. All over Japan structures are wood to safeguard damage in earthquakes. They don't get burnt down.

There is a all wooden hanger at the Brice Canyon airport Utah erected in 1935 by The CCC camp that is still in every day use.

28 minutes ago, hobobo said:

ISIS weren't very active during Wright Brothers time.

 

a short circuit is enough, look what happened in Brazil these last days ...

The EIT and AOT need to get out of their comfort and antiquated thinking. The use of wood is actually making a come back as they are a much more environmentally and carbon friendly material than steel and concrete. Moreover all building codes have incorporated  fire compliance for rating, flame spread and smoke using technologies and designs. 
 
https://www.theb1m.com/video/top-5-the-world-s-tallest-timber-buildings

Yes in developed countries but not Thailand.

First terminal- bad because its all concrete and industrial.

 

New terminal - bad because it will feature wood.

 

No pleasing some people.

 

AIrports are about moving people from A to B- it's not about aesthetics. Plenty of large, safe, fireproof, wooden structures around the world- I get the feeling that a lot of this is sour grapes. On the other hand if they use wood one hopes it will be from sustainable sources.

 

I'm sure the collected chagrin of Thaigeezers will accrue at least ten pages out of this heinous decision.

Edited September 7, 20187 yr by Psimbo

18 minutes ago, CLW said:

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

The EIT and AOT need to get out of their comfort and antiquated thinking. The use of wood is actually making a come back as they are a much more environmentally and carbon friendly material than steel and concrete. Moreover all building codes have incorporated  fire compliance for rating, flame spread and smoke using technologies and designs. 
 
https://www.theb1m.com/video/top-5-the-world-s-tallest-timber-buildings

Yes in developed countries but not Thailand.

Not so much about stage of development but rather design, compliance and enforcement by relevant authorities. If it's a building down in Lad Prao by contractor Pornchai, I have my doubts but an international airport is on a different level. 

3 hours ago, Vacuum said:

 

 

Termites....

 

3 hours ago, wayned said:

But Japan doesn't import Thai electricians to do the wiring!

Termites shouldn't be a problem with electricity running through it if that's what wayned meant.................................

Edited September 7, 20187 yr by chrisinth

3 hours ago, canopy said:

The key is it is illegal to build public structures using wood in Thailand. So it isn't clear they could ever get approval for this design.

 

Presumably, the architects know this, so using wood as a major part of the design makes them stupid. If they didn't know it is illegal then that also makes them stupid. Whichever way you look at it, they're stupid and the design must be disqualified.

So now we start upon the endless trek of the company that was denied on a 'technicality' (the brown envelope was too small) taking court action which will drag on for years, and then new bids being requested which will also take years to go through endless committees. So they might begin work, perhaps, by 2030.