Patented JBAR™ system helps Gatwick Airport mitigate impact of flooding and ensure effective containment
Published 13 May 2025
Like many other critical infrastructure sites, airports face significant challenges due to climate change. Extreme heat can damage runway surfaces and limit the maximum weight an aircraft can take off with — especially on shorter runways — as air becomes less dense at higher temperatures.
Flooding poses further risks to airports, particularly those in coastal or low-lying areas. Rising sea levels and more frequent and intense weather events mean flooding incidents in the UK are increasingly likely. These incidents can cause major disruptions to airport operations and passengers, damaging equipment, and posing significant environmental hazards.
Having experienced several flooding events, Gatwick Airport needed a robust and flexible solution to protect its facilities and storage areas, especially those containing oil-filled electrical equipment. Effective flood mitigation measures had to be implemented in a way that would not interfere with airport operations or the environment.
Framing the challenge
The airport has a number of facilities and storage areas, one of which holds oil-filled electrical equipment close to the runway. There was the potential risk of oil leaks to the ground and surrounding areas in close proximity to a watercourse and within an identified flood zone.
We were asked to inspect the site and propose alternative solutions to address these issues in a way that would not interfere with traffic running in the adjacent roadway and with minimum detriment to the environment.
The specification of flood mitigation measures needed to take into account specific considerations:
- Allow for quick and easy access to the equipment
- Cause minimum disruption to other plant
- Ensure vehicle access to the roadway
- Retain oil spills and not allow flood ingress
The structure may also need to be moved at a later date.
Approach and implementation
After inspection, we proposed the use of our patented Joint Bund and Raising (JBAR™) system from our flood mitigation research and product development centre at Droitwich.
JBAR™ is a glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) modular bund or bund-raising system. It is low cost, quicker to install than concrete or brick structures, and can be moved to another location if required. The system is lightweight but strong, contains oils, and is specially designed to withstand flooding.
We also formed a sump providing for an oil discriminating pump, which discharged through the Sockit filtration system to localised drainage (Sockit is a portable filtration system for pumping out contaminated water).
We lined the base area of the bund with AdlerCoat™ – a polyurea protective coating which prevents any ground surface absorption. This serves to retain any oil within the bunded area.
Impact and outcomes
Our approach meant the work could be done quickly with the flexibility of temporarily moving the equipment to another location.
The environmentally friendly installation had a lower carbon footprint and reduced the time, plant and material involved. Equipment was returned to the contained area after only four days.
Our approach and innovative solutions deployed at Gatwick Airport are a prime example of how we put ESG into action, helping clients to manage and mitigate the impacts of climate change through actionable consultancy and expert engineering. It highlights the importance of adaptable, efficient, and environmentally friendly solutions in safeguarding critical infrastructure against the increasing threats of climate change.
By utilising the JBAR™ system, the project not only ensured the protection of vital equipment from flooding and oil spills but also minimised environmental impact and operational disruption.
The successful implementation at Gatwick Airport serves as a model for other airports and facilities facing similar challenges.
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