San Francisco International Airport strengthens fire protection and operational continuity with advanced foam suppression system

The SuperBay hangar presents a highly complex fire protection environment. At 276,000 square feet and capable of housing up to four Boeing 747 aircraft, the facility operates continuously with a steady flow of aircraft and personnel.

The existing decades-old protein foam system was no longer aligned with modern performance, sustainability, and efficiency requirements. The new solution needed to:

• Protect high-value, high-hazard aviation assets
• Meet NFPA 409 fire protection standard
• Minimize water usage and potential damage
• Support uninterrupted operations during installation
• Reduce downtime risk in the event of system activation

Balancing safety, compliance, and operational continuity at this scale required a highly engineered, integrated approach.

Johnson Controls leveraged its deep expertise and full line of class-leading fire protection products to design a tailored approach. By analyzing existing facility data—pipe sizes, sprinkler spacing, ceiling heights, and water pressure—Johnson Controls developed multiple solutions that fit within existing water supply parameters, eliminating the cost of fire pumps.

Key steps included:

• Conducting extensive fire tests to validate design variables
• Identifying two existing Tyco sprinkler models for certain areas
• Designing and UL-verifying two new custom sprinklers in under three months—a process that typically takes 12 to 18 months
• Coordinating manufacturing and delivery as part of a five-year upgrade plan

The upgraded fire suppression system delivers measurable performance, safety, and operational benefits for SFO:

• Rapid fire suppression: High-expansion foam capable of controlling jet fuel fires in minutes
• Reduced water consumption: Foam system design minimizes water usage and limits collateral damage
• Improved operational continuity: Remote reset deluge valves help reduce downtime from accidental activation
• Enhanced compliance: UL Listed system meeting NFPA 409 Standard
• Sustainable protection approach: Adoption of non-fluorinated foam technology

Commissioned in July 2020, the system was validated through a full performance demonstration—delivering confidence in real-world fire protection capability.

Driving performance through partnership

Johnson Controls partnered closely with OCI Associates to design and deliver a comprehensive system that protects both critical assets and facility infrastructure.
This collaborative effort combined advanced technology with deep industry expertise to create a solution capable of meeting the demands of one of aviation’s most complex environments.

Positioning for long-term resilience

With a modernized fire protection system in place, the SuperBay hangar is equipped to support safe, efficient operations well into the future.
The project demonstrates how advanced suppression technology, combined with expert system design, can help large-scale aviation facilities enhance safety, reduce environmental impact, and maintain operational continuity—without compromise.