The first BREEAM rated airport project

At Heathrow’s Terminal 2B, Balfour Beatty is utilising careful collaboration, sustainable best practices and industry-leading innovation to deliver the works sustainably.

To achieve quality and sustainability objectives, Balfour Beatty also worked closely with the T2B supply chain and client Heathrow Airports Limited.

Setting a benchmark in sustainability and the first BREEAM certificate for a UK airport building, Balfour Beatty has successfully integrated a range of sustainable initiatives for the new Heathrow Terminal 2B satellite terminal helping the building achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’ for sustainable construction, design and innovation

Before work on site could begin, Balfour Beatty developed a Sustainability Action Plan to define what was expected throughout the project’s design, procurement and construction phases.

Throughout the design phase, the team focussed on optimisation of design solutions to ensure that efficient systems were developed and incorporated into the final building design. An example of this includes the  innovative design of the fire sprinkler system incorporated in the fire protection system will allow HAL to save 300,000 litres of potable water per year by recycling test water.

With the project expected to export a large amount of material to landfill, a key driver was a clear commitment to reducing, reusing and recycling materials.
Waste reduction innovations on site included the use of over 450,000m3 of London Clay to remediate a local non -operational landfill site. In addition, a large quantity of on-site gravels and concrete arisings were processed and reused under aircraft stands and taxiways.

Balfour Beatty continues to set the standard for offsite prefabrication at flagship projects across the UK. At T2B, lean construction and the integration of modularised elements helped to reduce working from height and minimise waste, whilst improving day to day performance and increasing onsite reliability. Further benefits included the coordinated planning of daily activities reducing re-work, standing time and minimising last minute changes to the programme.

With modularised mechanical and electrical building services, the T2B project benefitted from programme acceleration, as well as improved quality and health and safety performance.

Balfour Beatty has supported HAL in developing and establishing the Heathrow Construction Academy, an initiative to offer training and employment opportunities to members of the 5 local boroughs. This programme has resulted in sustainable employment for members of the local community Terminal 2B.