16.1      Baggage Handling Systems (BHS) General Codes and Criteria

A.     BHS equipment shall be designed to meet OSHA, NEMA, NFPA, FAR requirements, as well as all local codes.

B.     For all Baggage conveyor projects involving Baggage Security Screening, obtain and comply with the latest version of the TSA document, ‘Planning Guidelines and Design Standards for Checked Baggage Inspection Systems’ (PGDS).

C.      Designs shall be based upon key parameters and metrics such as:

1.      Federal Aviation Administration’s Terminal Area Forecast (TAF) and specific airline-user flight schedules

2.      Airline’s Passenger Level-of-Service and operational procedures

3.      Current and future EDS technology and TSA requirements

4.      Airport development/master plans

5.      Airport and Passenger characteristics

6.      Aircraft Models

7.      Passenger Arrival Curves

8.      Bags per Passenger

9.      Load Factors

10.   Gate Utilization

D.     Checked Baggage Inspection Systems (CBIS) shall be designed to be efficient and cost effective. CBISs shall be designed to maximize equipment utilization and minimize systems jams, faults, and errors. All designs shall provide ample clearance for equipment replacement and maintenance while maximizing conveyor layout economy.

E.      The BHS shall be capable of processing standard baggage sizes up to 54” in length, 34” in height and 34” in width respectively. The smallest piece of luggage that a standard BHS must accommodate is 12” long, 3” high, and 3” wide; all baggage under these dimensions shall be processed in tubs, provided by the airlines. The maximum weight for standard luggage is 100 lbs.

F.      The BHS shall be specified to be installed with industry standard conveyor components, with 39” Between Guide (BG) segments for the transport of standard sized baggage.

G.     The BHS must accommodate oversize (O/S) baggage not exceeding 72” in length, 42” in height, 42” in width and 150 lbs in weight.

H.     Conveyor right-of-way envelopes shall be no less than 4.5’ wide and 4.5’ high without catwalk, and no less than 7’ wide by 4.5’ high with catwalk. Catwalk height clearance should be as tall as possible.

I.       Refer to the confined space sections (Volume 7, Chapter 2 Confined Spaces) within this manual with regards to classifying the catwalk spaces.

J.       All proposed baggage claim devices installed at BWI Marshall Airport shall be designed to prevent unauthorized access from the non-secure areas into the SIDA while the device is unattended. If the installation does not characteristically prevent such access, the design shall provide a “bag cage” or similar enclosure on the SIDA side. The design shall specify the enclosure be configured to open and close via CASS and all controls shall be incorporated into the belt control logic.

Consultant shall meet with MDOT MAA Security at concept design phase to obtain approval of method(s) used to prevent unauthorized access from baggage claim devices to the SIDA.