FAA approves polypropylene pipe for civilian airport water collection and disposal

Hilliard, Ohio — The Federal Aviation Administration recently approved polypropylene pipe for subsurface water collection and disposal at civilian airports. The decision to recognize polypropylene pipe as an equal alternative to other materials enables design engineers and contractors to leverage the benefits of the lightweight, cost-effective and durable solution for water collection and removal under airfield pavements.

This updated standard follows the recent approval of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe for under-pavement use in all airport areas including deicing pads, runways and taxiways.

"The nearly 400 commercial airports and 3,000 general aviation facilities in the United States require infrastructure upgrades and expansion to meet the demand of continual increases in air travel,” said Greg Bohn, Director of National Engineering and Product Development for Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. “This update to the FAA policy is in line with a growing number of Departments of Transportation (DOT) across the country who have approved polypropylene and HDPE pipe for critical infrastructure needs. These are easy to install, lightweight and cost-effective solutions with a high degree of stiffness and strength which enable developers to maximize a project's budget and provide substantial alternatives that meet AASHTO and ASTM standards.”