Hospital Rooftop Helipad Package: What the Scope Includes

A hospital rooftop helipad package covers the structure that carries the helicopter, the landing surface, the safety net, lighting and markings, drainage with fuel containment, firefighting provisions and the route to the emergency department. It is built to GACAR Part 138 and ICAO Annex 14 Volume II, and ends with the documents the owner needs for its GACA submission.

Start with the helicopter and the roof

Everything on a rooftop helipad follows from the design helicopter. The owner sets its dimension (the D-value) and its maximum take-off mass, and the structural engineer checks the roof slab or steel frame for those loads, including the load path down to the columns. On an existing hospital this is often the first surprise, because a roof built for plant and a water tank may need strengthening before it can take a helicopter.

The contractor builds to the structural drawings and keeps the records that prove it: reinforcement inspections, material tests and the load path documentation. If your BOQ has a helipad line but the roof design does not show helicopter loads, raise it with the consultant before pricing.

The landing surface and safety area

The geometry has three parts. The FATO is the final approach and take-off area. The TLOF is the load-bearing touchdown and lift-off surface inside it. Around them sits the safety area. On a roof, the TLOF is usually a reinforced concrete topping or a steel or aluminium deck with a non-slip finish, set to falls that drain to the outlets. A safety net runs around the edge, because a roof helipad has a drop on every side.

Geometry follows GACAR Part 138, ICAO Annex 14 Volume II and, where the specification cites it, FAA AC 150/5390-2C. See hospital rooftop helipads for the full package.

Wind, obstacles and noise

A building changes the air around it. Wind turbulence over the roof edge, obstacle surfaces created by neighbouring towers, cooling plant, antennas and lift overruns, and noise toward wards are design inputs. They are settled in the aeronautical study, not on site. That study and the feasibility work belong to Northlane Solutions. NLS Contractors takes the construction package that follows from them.

Lighting, markings and the wind indicator

A night-capable helipad carries perimeter lights, floodlights, a lit wind direction indicator, obstruction lights, the H marking and the maximum weight marking. Behind them sit the power supply, a control panel and a backup source. The installation covers circuits, earthing, testing and the function tests, and lightning protection to IEC 62305 where the specification asks for it. Aviation lighting equipment supply sits with Northlane Solutions; the installation work is in this package. Details are on the helipad electrical and lighting installation page.

Drainage and firefighting

Fuel spills on a roof are a building problem, not just a helipad problem. The surface needs drainage with fuel containment so spilled fuel does not reach the building drains. Firefighting provisions are set by the owner and Civil Defense with NFPA 418 and ICAO guidance as references: hose reels, extinguishers, foam or hydrant provisions, a fire main connection and a store for rescue equipment. The roof structure also needs protection. The scope sits on the helipad drainage and firefighting provisions page.

The route to the emergency department

A helipad is only useful if a stretcher can reach the emergency department fast. Check the lift, the roof lobby and the corridor on the route. They are often outside the helipad package, so confirm who owns them and when they will be ready.

Approvals and the documents behind them

GACA approval belongs to the owner and normally runs through the consultant. What the construction side supplies is the document set behind the submission: drawings, obstacle surface inputs, lighting and marking datasheets, inspection records and as-builts, indexed so the consultant can lift them straight into the file. Civil Defense inspects the fire provisions. More on this at GACA approval support for helipad construction and the helipad and heliport construction service.

What to send us

Send the roof structural drawings, the design helicopter, the consultant's helipad specification, the lighting and marking schedule, the BOQ lines and the hospital's access constraints (crane position, working hours, noise limits near patients). We come back with one priced offer and a list of the records it will hand over.

FAQ

Who approves a hospital helipad in Saudi Arabia?

The owner applies to GACA under GACAR Part 138, normally through the consultant. The contractor supplies the construction documents behind the submission and does not hold the approval.

Can an existing hospital roof take a helipad?

Only after a structural check for helicopter loads. Some roofs need strengthening, and that work should be priced as its own line before the helipad surface.

What is the difference between FATO and TLOF?

The FATO is the final approach and take-off area. The TLOF is the load-bearing surface inside it where the helicopter touches down and lifts off.

Does the package include the lights?

Installation, circuits, testing and function tests are included. Supply of the aviation lighting equipment sits with Northlane Solutions.