Heathrow works out how to replace lamps in T5
Work to replace high-level downlights in Terminal 5 is to be carried out by high-wire artistes — no other way to carry out the work having been identified. A story on the web site of Exaro News (See link below) reports that since 2008, 60% of the downlights above the departures concourse have failed, making the concourse quite dim.
Exaro has obtained a copy of an e-mail sent to staff by a senior manager that explains the problem. It was sent by Vicki O’Brien, head of Heathrow customer services at British Airways and explains that high-wire artists will take nearly four months to replace the light sources with LEDs to last at least five years.
Options that were considered include gondolas and high-level cherry pickers, but nothing was considered practical or safe. The light fittings are at heights of up to 36 m.
T5 has an enormous lighting-control system with 120 000 light fittings and 2600 sensors to switch off lights when no motion is detected.
There is no information on how much the work will cost.
