AVT has completed an 18-inch live valve installation on a fire suppression line at a major international airport on the West Coast of the United States.
The project allowed essential fire protection services to remain operational throughout the work, avoiding the need to shut down flow on a critical pipeline serving an operational airport environment.
The installation took place near aircraft maintenance hangars used by a major airline, as part of a wider airfield improvement programme involving pavement replacement and new pipeline installation.
Live valve insertion avoids fire service shutdown
The fire suppression line could not be taken out of service, making a conventional shutdown-based valve installation unsuitable. The work also had to be delivered inside a high-security airport setting, where access, safety and coordination requirements added further complexity.
AVT’s local installation partner selected the 18-inch AVT EZ Valve system because it can be installed on a live pipeline. The partner had previously delivered projects at the same airport and worked with AVT technical specialists during the installation.
The valve installation created a permanent control point within the fire suppression network, supporting future isolation and maintenance work while keeping the system available during the upgrade.
“The successful delivery of this project demonstrates the strength of our technology and the expertise of our partners,” said Shawn Petty, Head of AVT.
“In environments where shutdowns are simply not an option, AVT provides the confidence and capability to keep systems running while essential improvements are made.”
Why the airport setting mattered
Airport fire suppression infrastructure is a critical service, particularly around aircraft maintenance and hangar areas. In this case, the requirement was not only to install a large-diameter valve, but to do so while maintaining uninterrupted protection.
The project also reflects wider demand for large-diameter live insertion solutions in complex water and fire protection networks, where downtime can create operational, safety or regulatory risk.
AVT is part of Henkel Adhesive Technologies. Henkel’s wider water and civil infrastructure portfolio includes technologies for valve installation, pipeline rehabilitation, manhole rehabilitation, coatings and structural reinforcement.
For more water technology updates, visit the H2O Global News Technology section.
FAQs
What was installed at the West Coast airport?
An 18-inch AVT EZ Valve was installed on a fire suppression line serving a major international airport on the West Coast of the United States.
Was the fire suppression line shut down?
No. The valve was installed on a live pipeline, allowing the fire suppression service to remain operational throughout the work.
Why was live valve insertion required?
The pipeline supported essential fire protection services near aircraft maintenance hangars, so taking the line out of service was not considered suitable for the project.
