Start from the landing area and its approach, then check that the structure, exits, fire protection, fueling, and any hangar shown on the architectural, structural, and fire protection drawings describe the same facility. AI can flag conflicts; the designer, the aviation authority, and the authority having jurisdiction decide compliance.
What does NFPA 418 cover?
NFPA 418 is the Standard for Heliports and Vertiports. NFPA’s page states that it establishes fire safety requirements for operations at heliports and rooftop hangars for the protection of people, aircraft, and other property. The page also notes that NFPA 418 has moved from the Fall 2028 to the Fall 2027 revision cycle.
NFPA’s official NFPA 418 page identifies the 2024 edition as current when checked on October 8, 2026. Confirm the edition, local amendments, and project scope that actually govern the work. The publisher’s newest edition does not establish local adoption.
Aviation agencies publish their own heliport design guidance, so record which documents the owner and the authority require alongside this standard. Rooftop facilities are part of the building, so the IBC Chapter 4 guide and the IFC guide apply where adopted. Large aircraft hangars follow the NFPA 409 guide.
Gather the landing area and the building below it
Collect the heliport or vertiport plan with the landing and safety areas, the roof framing and structural drawings, the building sections, the exit stairs and paths from the deck, the fire protection drawings including any foam or hose systems, the fuel system drawings if fueling is provided, the drainage plans for the deck, the lighting and electrical drawings, and the specifications.
A helipad may be drawn by an aviation consultant on a separate sheet series. Upload those sheets with the building set so the deck can be compared with the floors and structure under it.
Follow the landing area through the building
| Review question | Sources to compare | Decision to record |
|---|---|---|
| Landing area | Heliport plan, roof plan, structural framing | Confirm the deck location and size agree between the heliport, roof, and structural drawings. |
| Exits from the deck | Heliport plan, floor plans, stair sections | Check that the exits shown from the deck connect to stairs drawn on the floor plans. |
| Fire protection | Fire protection plans, heliport plan, specifications | Match the deck’s fire protection equipment and its locations between sources. |
| Fueling | Fuel system drawings, heliport plan, specifications | Confirm whether fueling is provided and that every discipline shows the same arrangement. |
| Deck drainage | Plumbing or civil drainage plans, heliport plan | Find drains or separators one source shows and another omits. |
| Hangar or storage | Floor plans, heliport plan, fire protection plans | Identify a rooftop hangar or storage room whose protection is missing from any discipline. |
Hospital helipads are common in hospital projects, and helicopter facilities at airports belong with the NFPA 415 terminal guide. Use the structural drawing checklist for the deck framing.
Example: the helipad moved but the stair did not
Hypothetical example. During design, a hospital’s rooftop helipad is shifted toward the other end of the roof to clear a mechanical penthouse. The heliport plan shows the new position, while the roof plan and stair sections still show the exit stair at the old deck edge.
The heliport plan places the landing deck at the opposite end of the roof from the earlier design, while the roof plan and stair sections still show the deck exit stair at the old location. Please confirm the deck position and coordinate the exits, structure, and fire protection.
The architect, the aviation consultant, and the structural engineer confirm the deck and update the exits. Compliance is decided by the design team and the authorities.
Review a heliport package with Groundbook
Upload the current project PDFs and relevant specifications to Groundbook. Identify the governing issues and add the applicable NFPA 418 reference from a copy you are licensed to use, where the license permits uploading it. State the edition, amendments, review area, and known exclusions in your instructions.
Compare the heliport or vertiport plan with the roof plan, structural drawings, building sections, stair plans, fire protection drawings, fuel system drawings, drainage plans, electrical drawings, and specifications. Flag landing areas, exits, fire protection, fueling, drainage, and hangar details that differ between sources. Use the supplied NFPA 418 edition where applicable and cite both sources.
Groundbook links each potential finding to the sheets involved and the reference you uploaded.
Document review does not design the deck, assess flight paths, or approve the facility. Those decisions remain with the design team, the aviation authority, and the authority having jurisdiction.