F/A-18 Super Hornet – Corrosion Control & Maintenance Hangars, Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait

Client : U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
Company : NBTC - Naser Mohammed Al-Baddah & Partner for General Trading & Contracting Co.
Duration : March, 2022 - April, 2025

Project Description:
This specialized project formed part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s infrastructure program at Al Jaber Air Base to support F/A-18 Super Hornet operations. It involved the complete design and implementation of plumbing and fire protection systems for the Corrosion Control Hangar and Maintenance Hangar, ensuring high reliability, operational safety, and compliance with NFPA and UFC standards for aviation facilities.

Scope of Work:

External Utilities: underground water supply, drainage networks, fire hydrants, and fire pump house with storage tanks.
Internal Plumbing: hot & cold water distribution, sanitary fixtures, drainage, and compressed air systems.
Fire Protection Systems:

Automatic sprinkler networks for Maintenance and Corrosion Control Hangars.

Fire hose reels for first response firefighting.

Fire hydrant systems (internal and external) for firefighting coverage.

Portable fire extinguishers distributed across all hangar and service areas.

AFFF foam suppression system (grate nozzle type) integrated with hangar operations for aircraft and fuel-related fire hazards.

System testing, commissioning, and documentation as per NFPA and UFC codes.

Key Responsibilities:

Designed fire protection systems (sprinkler, hydrant, hose reel, and fire pump systems) in compliance with NFPA and UFC standards.
Prepared and verified hydraulic calculations using HASS and Elite software, including combined analyses for foam and sprinkler networks.
Re-engineered and balanced the overhead sprinkler and AFFF foam systems for Maintenance and Corrosion Control Hangars to achieve required discharge pressure (40–45 psi) and nozzle delivery time (≤30 seconds) in line with UFC codes.
Performed seismic bracing calculations for firefighting piping in compliance with NFPA 13.
Produced shop drawings and MEP coordination drawings for seamless integration with other building services.
Supervised installation, and witness commissioning of firefighting systems in presence of FPE from USA.
Applied relevant codes and standards including NFPA 13, UFC 4-211-01, and UFC 4-211-02 throughout the project lifecycle.

Project Highlight:

Delivered a mission-critical aviation facility with integrated foam and sprinkler protection systems, ensuring the safe operation and protection of high-value fighter aircraft assets under stringent U.S. DoD, UFC, and NFPA requirements