A strip of gypsum false ceiling collapsed today at 1.50 a.m. at the check-in area of the new Chennai domestic airport terminal. Nobody was hurt and there was no disruption of service. This is the second such incident in the last four months. In May, the false ceiling at the security hold area of bus lounge collapsed.

Today, a strip of gypsum false ceiling along with armstrong ceiling tiles behind the check-in area of East Wing came off the ceiling. The debris were cleared by 3 a.m. It appears that due to heavy condensation, the gypsum board ceiling absorbed lot of moisture. Due to the heaviness of the gypsum, the ceiling collapsed, according to a release issued by the Airports Authority of India, Chennai.

After a detailed study, the AAI has identified vulnerable ceiling areas (mainly gypsum false ceiling provided around the air-conditioning diffusers where condensation is a general phenomenon / contemplated due to variation in temperature).

Today’s false ceiling collapse is one of the areas already identified. AAI will replace these false ceiling areas with lighter non-moisture absorbing false ceiling material such as aluminium metal false ceiling strips/calcium silicate ceiling board.

This replacement exercise will be carried out both for the new domestic and international terminals. This is likely to be completed within two months, the release said.

raja.simhan@thehindu.co.in

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