Fire Safety in High-Risk Environments: Airports, Stations, and Transport Hubs

3 minute read
6th October 2025
By Midsummer Fire Protection

What You'll Learn Today

  • Airports and transport hubs face unique fire risks due to fuel storage, electrical systems, and heavy foot traffic.
  • Effective evacuation planning is critical, with clear signage, smoke control, and safe escape routes.
  • Passive fire protection systems help contain flames and smoke, buying valuable time for evacuation and emergency response.
  • Regular maintenance, inspection, and compartmentation checks are essential to keep fire safety systems performing as designed.
  • Compliance with UK standards such as the Fire Safety Order, BS 9999, and BS 7974 ensures safety and operational continuity.
  • A proactive fire safety strategy protects people, infrastructure, and day-to-day operations in high-risk environments.
  • Midsummer Fire Protection supports airports and transport operators with expert passive fire protection solutions and ongoing compliance.


Airports and major transport hubs are some of the busiest environments in the world. With thousands of passengers, constant vehicle movement, and complex electrical and fuel systems, even a small fire can cause major disruption. Fire safety here isn’t just about compliance; it’s about protecting lives, infrastructure, and national operations.

Understanding the Unique Risks

Unlike typical commercial buildings, transport hubs bring together several risk factors under one roof. Each contributes to the complexity of designing and maintaining an effective fire protection strategy.

Passenger Volume and Public Access

Large crowds and open spaces make evacuation more challenging. Clear signage, safe escape routes, and effective smoke control systems are essential for maintaining order and visibility during an incident.

Fuel and Power Sources

Airports handle aviation fuel daily, while train and logistics facilities rely on large electrical systems and machinery. Any leak, spark, or short circuit can quickly escalate into a fire.

Complex Building Layouts

Modern terminals combine retail areas, mechanical spaces, car parks, and maintenance zones. Each area has its own fire load and requires a tailored protection approach.

Round-the-Clock Operations

Transport infrastructure rarely stops. Continuous operations mean maintenance, inspection, and safety testing must be carefully planned to avoid disruption.

The Role of Passive Fire Protection

Passive fire protection (PFP) forms a silent but crucial part of safety in these environments. By containing flames and heat, it allows passengers and staff to evacuate safely while preventing the fire from spreading through critical areas.

Common Passive Fire Protection Systems

  • Intumescent coatings protect structural steel from failure in high heat
  • Fire-stopping systems seal service penetrations and compartment walls
  • Fire barriers and boards divide key zones such as terminals, plant rooms, and storage areas
  • Fire-rated doors and glazing help maintain escape routes and visibility

When installed correctly, these systems work together to delay fire spread, reduce smoke movement, and preserve escape routes long enough for evacuation and response teams to act.

Maintenance and Inspection

Airports and stations evolve constantly. New retail outlets, equipment, and layout changes can all affect existing fire protection systems. Routine inspection and maintenance are critical to ensuring everything still performs as designed.

Fire seals can degrade, coatings can be damaged during refurbishment, and service penetrations can be left unsealed after maintenance work. Regular fire door surveys, compartmentation checks, and PFP inspections help maintain the integrity of the safety strategy.

Compliance and Regulation

Transport hubs must comply with stringent fire safety standards and building regulations. In the UK, this includes:

  • Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
  • BS 9999 and BS 7974 for fire safety management and engineering approaches
  • CAA, Network Rail, and local authority guidance, depending on the site type

Compliance isn’t just about passing inspections. It’s about ensuring systems are reliable, up to date, and capable of performing under pressure.

Protecting People, Property, and Operations

The scale of airports and transport facilities means even minor oversights can have major consequences. By combining intelligent design with proactive maintenance, businesses can safeguard both daily operations and long-term resilience.

Fire safety in high-risk environments relies on more than quick fixes. It depends on a structured, well-maintained approach that keeps people safe, assets protected, and travel running smoothly.

At Midsummer Fire Protection, we work closely with airports, logistics hubs, and large-scale transport operators to ensure their fire safety measures perform when it matters most. From fire-stopping installations and surveys to full passive protection strategies, our experienced team helps maintain compliance and peace of mind across even the most demanding environments.

If you’d like to discuss fire protection for your site, get in touch with our team today.

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