Acclaimed as a Flagship UK Terminal at LHR - oops what's wrong here then?

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Member for

15 years 9 months

Posts: 1,684

Acclaimed as a Flagship UK Terminal at LHR - oops what's wrong here then and how easy is the solution to put into effect? Unfortunately no prizes from me but if they get the problem sorted that will be adequate.

BTW I have a lot positive to say about LHR T5 but please have a look at these pics.

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Original post

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 4,887

I fail to see what's wrong with it, other then having a "industrial look" instead of a "shiney terminal look". And looks are very subjective anyway.

Considering that T5 has been in use now for several years, surely whatever issue you try to point out can't be that bad?

Member for

15 years 9 months

Posts: 1,684

Hi Tenthije

Nothing to do with the industrial look which is common now in many places where transport is involved.

The problem I have given visual evidence of is seen clearly from normal customer/passenger and staff access areas and is so simple to resolve, yet obviously oblivious to most eyes that pass by every day.

Member for

13 years 7 months

Posts: 261

Hi Tenthije

Nothing to do with the industrial look which is common now in many places where transport is involved.

The problem I have given visual evidence of is seen clearly from normal customer/passenger and staff access areas and is so simple to resolve, yet obviously oblivious to most eyes that pass by every day.

I would say those railings are almost natural ladders for unattended children, and it could result in some nasty situation.

Member for

15 years 9 months

Posts: 1,684

Hi Verbatim,

The railings can (I hope) only be accessed by authorised staff getting on to maintenence walkways by opening securely locked doors and which are also well covered by CCTV.

Hence children should not ever be able to use the walkways and hence the railings as ladders.

The problem I am focussing on is marginally related to health and safety but is more connected with .......?????
Please keep looking... at the pictures or if you are passing through take a few minutes look for real, and it should 'hit you' straight away.

Member for

11 years 8 months

Posts: 569

I assume we're looking at the water leaks / mold stains on the canvas covering? Not a pleasant site to see at BA's flagship, granted.

EDIT: I see it, it's the dust haha. Perhaps their budget doesn't extend to portable hoovers and wet wipes ;) If you want action perhaps a friendly email to BA's customer complaints will get you further than a topic on a forum.

Member for

13 years 7 months

Posts: 261

I assume we're looking at the water leaks / mold stains on the canvas covering? Not a pleasant site to see at BA's flagship, granted.

EDIT: I see it, it's the dust haha. Perhaps their budget doesn't extend to portable hoovers and wet wipes ;) If you want action perhaps a friendly email to BA's customer complaints will get you further than a topic on a forum.

Nope, it should be the abysmal absence of any barrier stopping maintenance workers from spitting upon passengers' heads... :o

Member for

15 years 9 months

Posts: 1,684

[QUOTE=Matt-100;2061578][SIZE=1]I assume we're looking at the water leaks / mold stains on the canvas covering? Not a pleasant site to see at BA's flagship, granted.

EDIT: I see it, it's the dust haha. Perhaps their budget doesn't extend to portable hoovers and wet wipes ;) If you want action perhaps a friendly email to BA's customer complaints will get you further than a topic on a forum.[/QUOTE]

Hi Matt100,
Definitely yes to both.
The pics I posted show these two areas of years of neglect by routine maintenence.
They have all the expensive tools and equipment (e.g. elevating platforms used to replace light fittings, etc) to do the job regularly.

The dust (years of it) are everywhere that the contract cleaning firms (AMEY and OCS) do not possibly go routinely.

A very clear 'birds eye' and/or 'eye level' view of the dust can be had when you use e.g. the lift/elevator from 'Departures' or 'Arrivals' to reach the London Underground.

Look up while at 'Arrivals' when waiting for the same lift/elevator to reach the London Undergound and you will see the dust/dirt on the supports of the transluscent roof as well (albeit not in my pics).

My problem and the reason I posted this problem, is that thousands of staff both Heathrow (formerly BAA) and BA staff obviously walk around with their 'eyes closed'. Surely someone or many are paid large salaries to keep an eye on such matters of routine maintenence of T5.(given that they like to feel proud that it is a Uk Flagship Airline Terminal)

Another area which isn't in pics as it is impossible to depict in a pic. In T5 arrivals the passenger toilets and baby changing next to Marks & Spencers has a permanent obnoxious 'smell' in distinct contrast to the passenger toilets at the other end of T5 Arrivals near the Staff Search which is much more pleasant to use as it is usually devoid of obnoxious smells. This problem is definitely one that the contract cleaning firms AMEY and OCS should literally 'have their noses' into.

Member for

15 years 9 months

Posts: 1,684

Here are a few more pictures on what matt100 referred to as leaks (of water).

The roof and supporting structures which I have observed and in some case shown in the previous pics are all aspects that were clearly apparent when the Terminal was constructed.

Maintenance (including periodic/regular removal of dust and dirt from accessible areas of the structure) should have all been factored in.

With buildings such as Terminal 5 there may be apportioning of blame for the leaks (water) from the roof to errors in design/construction and there may be legal wrangles on going with no one willing to take responsibility.
Extremely sad when it gets to this sort of deadlock situation.

Given that these aspects of neglect are visible to everyone(staff and public) it should be a priority to clean regularly irrespective of the legal process (if any) going on behind the scenes.

The dust and dirt on the accessible to staff only secure walkways (in the pics uploaded today) is unforgiveable as most of the cleaning staff (AMEY and OCS) have (Blue) Airside access passes and should be able to get to these secure walkways which in fact are on landside.

And here is a humorous but more serious aspect.

The two pics of the elevator/lift near the M&S Food Only and Giraffe Coffee Bar is one where on two occasions I have seen a field mouse come out of the elevator/lift door and quite calmly scuttle along towards M&S (discerning in it's choice of food obviously). On both occasions it was while a member of BA staff was waiting for the elevator/lift and they saw it clearly as they stepped back and watched the mouse.

Mice maybe even rats – surely there are modern methods electronic and chemical for keeping vermin under control inside buildings? - risk to staff, cabling, baggage and other valuables.

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Having said all this BA remains my favourite airline and I am quite keen to see T5 uphold it's name as a Flagship Terminal.

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Member for

11 years 2 months

Posts: 901

Electronic mouse traps are available, I sell them.

Member for

15 years 9 months

Posts: 1,684

There are so many simple ways to reduce the dust/dirt and prevent vermin in T5

The ways are simple to prevent dust/dirt within the terminal especially where it is in the visible areas of passengers/staff.

The cross beams (metal and roof support structures) can regularly be blown free of dust (now that years of dust/dirt have settled on these structures they will obviously have to be wiped clean) using elevating platforms. (They have many elevating platforms in use within the terminal already)

The stains caused by the water leaks from the roof if un preventable can be frequently cleaned. Instead they have been left for years to create permanent large stains (a harder task now obviously).

The dust/dirt on the secure walkways can be cleaned periodically by Amey/OCS with access to the secure walkways being provided by someone having authority to open the doors and ensuring they are closed after the cleaning operation.

Thanks Mr Merry for your comment - as I have myself used electronic mice deterrent devices in places where I have lived and although they weren't electronic moustraps, they created a special 'noise' within the electrical circuitry of the house that only mice/rats supposedly can hear (which prevented the mice/rats coming into the areas covered by the devices within the wiring circuit).

Why then between BAA and BA can these simple housekeeping and maintenenece measures be NOT put in place in their flagship terminal at LHR?

Member for

11 years 2 months

Posts: 901

I sell the deterrent devices as well as the traps:cool:

I must admit when I first had seen the photos I thought it was rather dirty area.

Why not send BAA a link to this thread, see what happens (if anything).

Member for

18 years 10 months

Posts: 1,084

Poor design or poor cleaning.... ?

The ways are simple to prevent dust/dirt within the terminal especially where it is in the visible areas of passengers/staff.

The cross beams (metal and roof support structures) can regularly be blown free of dust (now that years of dust/dirt have settled on these structures they will obviously have to be wiped clean) using elevating platforms. (They have many elevating platforms in use within the terminal already)

... The dust/dirt on the secure walkways can be cleaned periodically by Amey/OCS with access to the secure walkways being provided by someone having authority to open the doors and ensuring they are closed after the cleaning operation.

.... Why then between BAA and BA can these simple housekeeping and maintenenece measures be NOT put in place in their flagship terminal at LHR?

Yep, that just about sums it up. Whomever designed the building leaving all those horizontal areas exposed no doubt either disregarded the build up of dust completely, or assumed the building owner woud put a suitable cleaning procedure and schedule in place to keep the surfaces clean.

Makes you feel quite queasy when you realise much of the dust is probably dead skin-cells from all the passengers who have passed through the terminal, so simply blowing it off the ledges onto the floor, and/or any other surfaces below, may not seem a desirable solution - probably need to vacuum and damp-wipe it all away, and then repeat the process every three or six months to prevent it building up again.

Perhaps all those "trendy" exposed beams/surfaces suddenly seem a little less attractive when you see what is collecting on top of them...:(
Paul F

Member for

12 years 8 months

Posts: 124

I agree that T5, along with the rest of the LHR terminals, is very poorly maintained and cleaned, I guess it's part of the aviation industry (and British industry in general) being in something of a race to the bottom lately, with every penny possible being pinched.

Just to be clear though, T5 belongs to Heathrow Airport Ltd not British Airways PLC and as such the responsibility for cleaning rests with HAL except in areas leased specifically by another company for their sole use, eg: BA Lounges, M&S shops, TFL stations, etc.

Member for

15 years 9 months

Posts: 1,684

I sell the deterrent devices as well as the traps:cool:

I must admit when I first had seen the photos I thought it was rather dirty area.

Why not send BAA a link to this thread, see what happens (if anything).

Hi Mr Merry,

Obviously although the place is awash with the most sophisticated electronic equipment they haven't thought of an independent mains electricity loop all over to carry any vermin deterrent devices.

Ofcourse there must be managers in abundance at both BAA (owner) and BA (the tenant/lessee) of T5 who are all paid handsomely to ensure the maintenence is up to standard. :D
Ahem! what standard/standards?????

What beats me is that so many passengers must see the dirt/dust, vermin and smell the obnoxious toilet next to M&S at Arrivals. What are their impressions I wonder?

Member for

15 years 9 months

Posts: 1,684

Yep, that just about sums it up. Whomever designed the building leaving all those horizontal areas exposed no doubt either disregarded the build up of dust completely, or assumed the building owner woud put a suitable cleaning procedure and schedule in place to keep the surfaces clean.

Makes you feel quite queasy when you realise much of the dust is probably dead skin-cells from all the passengers who have passed through the terminal, so simply blowing it off the ledges onto the floor, and/or any other surfaces below, may not seem a desirable solution - probably need to vacuum and damp-wipe it all away, and then repeat the process every three or six months to prevent it building up again.

Perhaps all those "trendy" exposed beams/surfaces suddenly seem a little less attractive when you see what is collecting on top of them...:(
Paul F

Architects, Engineers and Maintenence should all be singing from the same 'Hymn Sheet' when new structures are put up that the public have to use for many years to come.

Maintenence is a forgotten allocation on most budgets - sad but true