The National Fire Protection Association has dropped its ban on glass boarding bridges. Most airports can now use bridges built using glass, opening up a new experience for air travelers.
Glass bridges are expected to be adopted widely by local safety officials throughout the country and provide a fresh alternative to airport designers, said Randy Pope, chairman of the NFPA task force that recommended dropping the ban on glass.
Previously, the only glass endorsed for use in boarding bridges by the NFPA code was limited to the control cab, from which the operator positions the bridge at the aircraft.
“In Europe and Canada, they’ve used glass boarding bridges for years because they offer great views and are much more aesthetically pleasing than the boxes that are prevalent at U.S. airport terminals,” Pope said. “While glass can be more expensive, it has significant environmental advantages, so I think it will receive more consideration right away."
Related Stories
Airports | Sep 18, 2020
Wings clipped, airports veer to tech to regain passenger trust
Alternative project delivery methods are also being considered.
Airports | Sep 10, 2020
The Weekly show: Curtis Fentress, FAIA, on airport design, and how P3s are keeping university projects alive
The September 10 episode of BD+C's "The Weekly" is available for viewing on demand.
Giants 400 | Aug 28, 2020
2020 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms
The 2020 Giants 400 Report features more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Airports | Jul 28, 2020
CallisonRTKL to design one of the world’s first net-zero airports
Guadalajara Airport Terminal 2 will be designed from the ground up.
Coronavirus | Jul 20, 2020
Student housing amid the pandemic, infection control in buildings, and future airport design on "The Weekly"
Experts from Core Spaces, Bala Consulting Engineers, and Populous were interviewed in the July 23 streaming program from Horizon TV.
Airports | Jun 24, 2020
LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B officially opens
HOK and WSP USA designed the project.
Airports | Feb 7, 2020
A 780-ft-long pedestrian walkway is positioned over an active taxi lane at Sea-Tac International
It took eight years to plan, design, and construct this bridge.
Airports | Nov 12, 2019
$1B terminal opens at New Orleans International Airport
LEO A DALY designed the project.
Airports | Oct 30, 2019
COX Architecture and Zaha Hadid Architects will design the Western Sydney Airport
The COX/ZHA team was selected from a field of over forty applicants.
Giants 400 | Oct 25, 2019
Top 55 Airport Sector Construction Firms for 2019
Hensel Phelps, AECOM, Turner, Skanska, and PCL top the rankings of the nation's largest airport terminal sector contractors and construction management firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.
