Sunday, December 13, 2009

Helicopter Pad

We have a new helipad here at Parkview that we will need to maintain over the winter months. Ours is physically located within the ED parking area (set slightly above parking grade so that no one will park directly on the pad). Like many of you, we use salt exclusively for the treatment of roadways and parking areas. We have a concern that the salt itself may become a projectile hazard as helicopters land/takeoff. Question: What do you folks do to treat your helipad and any surrounding parking area? Does it need to be liquified salt (brine)? Do you treat the surrounding parking and roadways differently than the helipad?

7 comments:

Maine Healthcare Engineers said...

We use straight salt, or pre-wetted salt, which is usually dissolved in solution during a storm event, leaving very little, if any residual after a storm. Sand is more of a hazard since it does not dissolve, and even though we don’t use it, invariably the helicopter will kick up a dust bowl when it lands.

Maine Healthcare Engineers said...

We have a new pad here as well and plan to use straight salt. Our previous area was a parking lot surrounded on 3 sides with brick walls and windows, some as close as 40 feet. We used straight salt there as well with no issues.

Maine Healthcare Engineers said...

We use a liquid which is applied with a spray canister. This is done after the pad is cleared.

Maine Healthcare Engineers said...

Like the others that have responded, at Goodall Hospital we use straight salt as well. Over the past couple of seasons we have also begun using some pre-storm treatment products that have been effective. They have helped to reduced the amount of salt used overall.

Maine Healthcare Engineers said...

For our Helipad at Thayer in Waterville, we have been using Calcium flakes. Generally comes in a 50lb bag which we purchase through Ware Butler in Waterville. We chose flakes for the same reasons you are mentioning. Although salt crystals do dissolve, the concern was how quickly they dissolve. The calcium flakes eliminated that concern completely.

Maine Healthcare Engineers said...

A couple of years ago I attended a seminar in Portland regarding environmental controls during construction. W H Shurleff (whshurtleff.com) from Portland had some products that were suitable as an environmentally safe chemical for snow removal. I seem to recall that Urea was one of their products.

Maine Healthcare Engineers said...

We have been utilizing Engruis Urea fertilizer, company name: Agromart Agrocentre Fertilizer, on our heli pad. It is a real fine product, disappears fairly quickly. Keeps the area clear and tends to be kind to concrete. Product is utilized in small doses.