The airport environment brings together a rare combination of simultaneous engineering challenges: 24-hour and high-volume traffic of ground equipment and passengers, continuous exposure to jet fuel and corrosive de-icing fluid, mandatory electrical safety and anti-spark protection in fueling zones (ATEX), extreme sensitivity of navigation and radar equipment to electromagnetic interference, and constant, direct sun exposure on the open apron surfaces. Ordinary metals in this environment gradually suffer corrosion from fuel and de-icing agents while also risking interference with sensitive navigation equipment. Nabak Composite’s FRP and GRP profiles, with their high chemical resistance, complete electrical insulation, non-magnetic behavior, and light weight, offer an engineering solution for apron infrastructure, terminals, passenger boarding bridges, and fueling zones.

1Why FRP Is Suited to Airports

2Six Key Engineering Characteristics for Airports

Selecting FRP for airport infrastructure relies on six complementary characteristics. First, chemical resistance to fuel and de-icing agents; apron and fueling-zone surfaces are continuously exposed to jet fuel, hydraulic oil, and glycol-based de-icing fluids. Second, electrical insulation and non-sparking behavior; a critical requirement for any component near fuel tanks and lines in ATEX zones. Third, non-magnetic behavior; no interference with sensitive radar, antenna, and airport navigation equipment. Fourth, resistance to UV and weathering for the apron’s open, unshaded surfaces. Fifth, light weight for installation on lightweight terminal structures, boarding bridges, and mobile ground equipment. And sixth, a non-slip and wear-resistant surface to withstand continuous passenger and equipment traffic.

Diverse FRP Applications Across the Airport — from the Apron to the Terminal and Security Perimeter

Resin selection (vinyl ester or hydrocarbon-resistant epoxy) for each project is recommended by Nabak Composite’s technical department based on the specific requirements of the airport zone — apron, fueling, or terminal.

3Application of FRP Profiles in Apron and Runway Infrastructure

The airport apron sees continuous traffic from aircraft, ground vehicles, and service equipment, while also carrying substantial electrical, communications, and ventilation infrastructure overhead. Overhead cable tray beneath boarding bridges and apron canopies, grating walkways for access to electrical rooms and HVAC equipment, ladder access platforms to rooftop equipment, and access platforms for electric ground support equipment (GSE) charging stations are among the key applications in this area.

Overhead Cable Tray, Grating Walkway, and FRP Access Structure on the Airport Apron

4Application of FRP Profiles in Terminals and Airport Buildings

The passenger terminal handles a high daily volume of thousands of passengers while also functioning as an architectural space with high aesthetic standards. Planter and bench edging and framing in waiting areas, grating flooring and overhead access walkways in large halls, HVAC equipment access platforms on the terminal roof, and handrails and guards for internal stairs and landings are common applications in terminal infrastructure, which must simultaneously offer a stylish appearance and high durability.

5Application of FRP Profiles in Passenger Boarding Bridges and Mobile Stairs

Passenger boarding bridges (Jet Bridges) and mobile boarding stairs transfer passengers directly from the terminal or apron into the aircraft, and must simultaneously be lightweight (to reduce load on the moving structure), non-slip (for safe passage in rain or snow), and resistant to direct apron sun exposure. Handrails and guards for mobile stairs, non-slip grating stair treads, boarding-bridge floor walkways, and bridge maintenance access platforms are key applications in this area.

FRP Handrail and Grating Stair Treads on Passenger Boarding Mobile Stairs

6Application of FRP Profiles in the Fueling Zone and ATEX Areas

Jet fuel storage tanks, hydrant fueling lines, and aircraft refueling stations are areas with an explosion-hazard classification (ATEX / hazardous area), where even a minor spark from friction or static electricity can be catastrophic. Non-sparking grating and platforms beside fuel tanks, insulating cable tray along hydrant fueling lines, inspection ladders and access platforms for tanks, and guards and handrails around the fueling safety perimeter are critical applications in this area.

7In-Depth Technical Analysis: Electrical Safety and Navigation Non-Interference

Airport engineers have two primary concerns: anti-spark safety in ATEX fueling zones and freedom from electromagnetic interference with sensitive radar and navigation equipment. Regarding anti-spark safety, any metal structure or ladder near fuel tanks can, on contact with a tool or through friction, produce a miniature spark that is ignitable in the presence of fuel vapor; the non-metallic FRP profile eliminates this risk at its source, since metal-on-metal friction cannot occur.

Regarding electromagnetic interference, Surface Movement Radar systems, ILS (Instrument Landing System) antennas, and airport navigation equipment are highly sensitive to reflection or interference from nearby metal structures; even a single metal handrail or structure in the radar beam’s path can reduce the accuracy of aircraft positioning. The table below compares material behavior against the most important technical criteria for airport infrastructure .

8Focus on Iran's Airport Industry

Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA), as the country's primary aerial gateway, alongside Mehrabad Airport, Mashhad Airport, Shiraz Airport, Isfahan Airport, and Kish Airport, each facing a different combination of climate conditions — from the high humidity of the Persian Gulf coast to the dust and intense sun exposure of desert and mountainous regions — require infrastructure resistant to corrosion, UV exposure, and harsh weather conditions. Southern airports along the Persian Gulf coast (Kish, Bandar Abbas, Bushehr) have the greatest need for coastal corrosion resistance similar to that required in marine industries, due to salty sea humidity, while desert and mountainous airports (Isfahan, Yazd, Kerman) face intense sun exposure and high temperature fluctuations.

The Economic Advantage of FRP for Iranian Airport Operators

Maintaining and repairing airport infrastructure is one of the most costly operational areas at any airport, due to the requirement for uninterrupted 24-hour operations and the severely limited scheduling windows available for repair work without disrupting flights. Replacing corroded metal infrastructure — handrails, grating, cable tray, and access platforms — with FRP profiles that do not corrode and require no repainting noticeably reduces the frequency of repairs and operational downtime; a direct benefit for the country’s high-traffic airports operating under tight maintenance budgets.

9Reference Airport Standards

10Cross-Disciplinary Engineering Acceptance of This Solution