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COMBINING SAFETY AND AESTHETICS AT NEW DUTCH ACADEMY

  

When it comes to constructing schools, colleges and universities, it’s important to balance

aesthetic design with building safety. It’s about creating spaces that are not only safe

and functional but also welcoming and inspiring for both staff and students.

The new Academy Tien in The Netherlands strikes this balance perfectly,

with Pyroguard’s fire safe solutions playing a pivotal role throughout.

 

Designed by Wiersema Architecten and de Architecten CIE, the Academy Tien is a beautiful new school building near the centre of Utrecht. Catering for students between 10 and 18 years old, the academy has been constructed with a contemporary open plan layout, to maximise the building’s natural light transmission.

 

Contracted to deliver the fire-resistant steel interior partitions and frames on the project, was JM Van Delft & zn, a specialist in glazing system solutions. Ruud van Dal, Sales and Operations Manager at JM Van Delft & zn, said:

“Throughout this project, it was important that both aesthetics and safety were considered and well balanced. There was a clear requirement for keeping the school’s interior spaces light and open, while simultaneously providing a safe environment for students, staff and visitors to work and learn in. As a result, fire safety glass was chosen as the perfect material for installation within the building’s internal partitions, doors and central atrium.

“Pyroguard Protect EW60 was installed within the doors, sidelights and designated escape routes. While Pyroguard Protect EI60, offering the highest level of protection, was installed between classrooms and the central atrium, creating a series of fire safe compartments.”

 

This process of compartmentation can form a key part of any building’s passive fire protection strategy, working to split the building up into a series of fire safe zones. As well as helping to limit the spread of a fire, this can also provide both a safe route of escape for occupants and a means of entry for the emergency services.

 

Ruud continued:

“Pyroguard Protect’s high visual appearance helped to maintain the light and open interior that the architect desired, while its multi-functional capabilities proved key in delivering improved acoustic control and impact resistance – something which was a clear priority when designing the new academy.”

 

Pyroguard Protect is a toughened fire safety glass, certified for use in steel, timber and aluminium profiles. Providing 30 to 180 minutes of protection against smoke and flames, 1B1 impact resistance, and UV stability, Pyroguard Protect ensures that both design and safety requirements can be achieved.

 

The Academy Tien opened its doors to students in January 2024.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PYROGUARD

 

 

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England still lags behind other countries in building safety, warns experts

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The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published its response to the government’s Building a Safer Future consultation, which proposes reforms to England’s current building safety regulations.

The RIBA called for a complete overhaul of the building regulations in the immediate aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and welcomes many of the proposals, in particular tighter regulation of higher risk residential buildings of 18m or more in height (rather than 30m plus which was originally recommended by the Government’s 2018 Independent Review of Building Regulations on Fire Safety).

However, the institute is concerned that England still lags behind other countries, including Wales and Scotland, in putting in place base line regulatory standards to ensure that high rise and other higher risk buildings are safe for the public. The institute urges the Government to:

  • widen the scope of the new regulatory system to apply to non-residential buildings – the new building regulatory system should apply to other higher risk non-residential buildings at any height, including places where vulnerable people sleep, such as care homes, hospitals, hotels, hostels, prisons, as well as schools and places of assembly, during the design and construction phase.
  • make significant changes to the responsibilities for all dutyholders – dutyholders based on the Construction (Design and Management) regulations model are essential. However, the duties proposed are not clearly defined and are not currently workable as set out in the consultation, particularly on design and build projects.
  • designate the Architect’s Registration Board (ARB) to oversee enhanced competence requirements of architects – as regulator the ARB should be responsible for the accreditation and licensing of architectural qualifying bodies, including the RIBA, who will hold registers for competent architects to work on buildings in scope of the proposed regulatory framework.
  • ensure all technical guidance issued to industry is improved by the new Building Safety Regulator –this should include setting baseline prescriptive requirements for fire safety and reviewing all relevant British Standards guidance documents, particularly those relevant to fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings.

Jane Duncan, Chair of the RIBA Expert Advisory Group on Fire Safety, said “Although a step in the right direction, the government’s proposals do not go far enough to protect the public and more work is needed, particularly to more clearly define the statutory duties of all involved in the industry. There have been many failings in England’s building safety regulations, exposed by the Grenfell tragedy two years ago, but we hope the government will act on their commitment post-Grenfell to ensure residents are safe, and feel safe, in their homes.”

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EPIC is the first trade body to support ‘100% Hackitt’

Engineered Panels in Construction (EPIC) has thrown its full weight behind the ‘100% Hackitt’ campaign to help drive the industry to adopt all 53 recommendations from ‘The Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety’.

“EPIC members manufacture highly-engineered, thoroughly-tested building elements which can be relied upon to perform predictably in service,” says EPIC general secretary Chris Pateman. “So Dame Judith Hackitt’s insistence on seeing high-rise buildings as complex systems, selecting materials in the light of proven engineering performance and resisting ‘quick-fix’ solutions, absolutely resonates with everything EPIC has been striving to achieve for the last 15 years.”

‘100% Hackitt’ is an initiative launched in October 2018 by two building specialists, British Board of Agrément (BBA) and Local Authority Building Control (LABC). It aims to bring together individuals and organisations, ranging from architects to fire fighters, to support Dame Judith Hackitt’s vision of “a radical rethink of the whole system”. Within the 159-page report, she argues that an immediate and extended implementation of the whole plan is necessary to create a robust regulatory framework. That, if the industry cherry-picks its actions, it “will fail to achieve the systemic change sought. The framework operates as a mutually reinforcing package and requires the implementation of its interdependent components in order for this to be achieved”.

“EPIC is proud to lend its support to ‘100% Hackitt’ which strives to achieve a proper, balanced, engineering approach,” says Chris Pateman. “We hope to see more companies and organisations joining us to reinforce the importance of this message, to lobby the Government for swift and effective change, and to help support the industry transform the way it works to ensure safe, future-proofed buildings.”

As a major contributor to UK and European consultative groups, EPIC has been actively involved in fire testing and research for over a decade. It contributes important information and proven data about the fire performance of insulated panel systems to specifiers, contractors and fire professionals. EPIC and its management team has consistently advocated for root-and-branch reform and not ‘quick-fix’ solutions.

To read more about ‘100% Hackitt’, or offer your support, visit www.100-hackitt.co.uk

EPIC is the voice of the polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulated panel manufacturing industry in the UK, promoting fire safety, energy efficiency and sustainability best practice. It provides clear guidance, information, support and inspiration for those involved in the design and construction of buildings using high performance insulated panel systems.

For further information, please contact EPIC on Tel:0330 221 0499 Email: info@epic.uk.com Web: www.epic.uk.com
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Aico Alarm Interface used in high risk fire safety systems

Fire safety start-up company Lite4Life has adopted Aico’s unique Ei414 Fire / Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarm Interface into its Multiwatch tower block fire safety system and AlightforLife Directional Way Finder Safety Light. The Ei414 is being used to alert these systems in the event of an activation from Aico Fire and CO Alarms. In the case of AlightforLife it activates LEDS pointing to the nearest exit.

Andy Cunningham, Managing Director of Lite4Life, selected the Ei414 based on its ability and Aico’s reputation in the marketplace: “It is so much more user friendly than anything else on the market. We are finding that using the Ei414 to send messages and signals to report on alarm status at the earliest opportunity gives us valuable minutes in the protection of people and property from a potential devastating fire. The recent Hackitt report for High Risk Residential Buildings (HRRB), recommends that high risk buildings are to be managed and our product, using the Ei414, can provide the solution for many of the points identified by Dame Judith Hackitt. We at Lite4life, feel it archaic to rely on a member of the public to notify the fire rescue services, often after the fire has been alight for some time. A fundamental change must be highlighted in the way we can approach fire protection in high rise residential buildings and Aico go a long way in supporting our vision.

“All of our future projects, including those addressing the HRRB standard, will be using Aico products. We are aligning ourselves with tried and tested companies to deliver demonstrable cost saving with innovation. Working with Aico has been fantastic; with our relationship with Andy Speake [National Technical Manager] and the Regional Specification Managers, why would we use anyone else?”

The Ei414 Fire/CO Alarm Interface from Aico provides a dedicated connection between Aico Smoke and CO Alarms and third party safety systems. It is frequently used to connect alarms to Telecare/Warden Call systems, Sprinkler systems and BS5839 Part 1 panel based Fire Alarm systems. The connection can be made wirelessly with Aico’s award winning RadioLINK Radio Frequency (RF) technology or hard wired directly between the two devices.

The Ei414 can be powered directly from the mains or from a 12-24V DC supply and has built-in tamper-proof rechargeable Lithium Cells which will power the device in the event of any mains failure. Reliable, easy to install and use, it features a ‘test’ setting to test the entire system including a signal being transmitted to the third party system.

Aico, an Ei company, is the market leader in residential fire and CO protection in the UK. All alarms are designed and built in Ireland specifically to meet the UK standards and regulations. For more information please visit www.aico.co.uk or contact Aico on 01691 664100 or email enquiries@aico.co.uk.
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ROCKWOOL unveils new product at Firex International 2018

ROCKWOOL is pleased to announce that as the world’s largest producer of non-combustible stone wool insulation, it will be unveiling its new FirePro® DuctRock® system at Firex International 2018 at ExCeL London between 19th – 21st June.

Visitors to the ROCKWOOL stand A285 will be able to view a demo model and installation video of the new FirePro® DuctRock® system. Fully tested to EN1366-1 and EN1366-8 for Fire Resisting Ductwork and Smoke Extract Systems, it incorporates a suite of easily installed, cost effective solutions to provide up to 120 minutes fire resistance. The system will provide contractors with the widest range possible for rectangular ducts, ensuring a solution for all eventualities. As well as the DuctRock® system, ROCKWOOL will also be exhibiting a wide selection of other solutions from the comprehensive FirePro® range.

The FirePro® range of products provides firestopping and fire resistance solutions to protect throughout the building, slowing the spread of fire, protecting escape routes and allowing valuable time for safe evacuation and firefighting.

Beyond ROCKWOOL insulation’s inherent fire-resistant qualities, ROCKWOOL’s specialist range of products and technical tools help installers, contractors and specifiers conform to current fire regulations. The specialist FirePro® range incorporates solutions for building applications such as: structural protection, penetration seals, linear joints, cavity barriers, HVAC and smoke management systems.

ROCKWOOL’s stone wool insulation is capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 1000°C and has been awarded the highest possible European classification: A1 non-combustible. It provides vital fire protection in buildings, keeping people safe, as well as minimising damage to valuable assets.

ROCKWOOL is committed to enriching the lives of everyone who comes into contact with its solutions. The company’s expertise is perfectly suited to tackle many of today’s biggest sustainability and development challenges, from energy consumption and noise pollution to fire resilience, water scarcity and flooding.

For more information, visit ROCKWOOL on stand A285, or visit www.rockwool.co.uk.
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New Promat SYSTEMGLAS® options provide more EI fire rated frameless glazing solutions

Striking the optimum balance between aesthetics and fire safety in glazed partitions is a reality with new additions to the SYSTEMGLAS® range from passive fire protection market leader Promat UK.

Utilising the proven fire resistant material PROMATECT® H, two new Promat SYSTEMGLAS® options give designers and contractors the scope to create frameless, butt-jointed glazed screens that maximise light transmission, whilst offering fire integrity and insulation (EI) fire protection for 30 or 60 minutes.

SYSTEMGLAS® Celare is an EI30 and EI60 rated system that can be concealed in the floor, ceiling and side wall structures to give a virtually frameless result. And for applications where a visible frame is preferred, SYSTEMGLAS® Advenerat provides a solution to the same fire-rated standards whilst allowing for powder coated steel over-cladding or painting.

The fully certified systems – CERTIFIRE CF5452 – provide an alternative to metal or timber framing systems. Dependable fire protection for all products in the SYSTEMGLAS® range is guaranteed through Promat UK’s 360 degree wheel of assurance, where passive fire protection experts work with customers at every stage of the supply chain.

Promat starts by providing guidance on the right approach at the design and specification stage, and manufacturing consistency is assured as the system produced in-house. This ensures all cutting and processing is completed to the correct standard. Finally, Promat inspects SYSTEMGLAS® on completion to check that it has been installed in accordance with its recommendations and provides a certificate of conformity for installation.

Ian Cowley, General Manager at Promat UK says: “SYSTEMGLAS® Celare and Advenerat are innovative in the way we have combined advanced fire resistant materials to provide both integrity and insulation (EI) protection of up to 60 minutes in a system which can appear ‘frameless’.”

“As experts in fire protection, our R&D team leads the market. These new systems stem from our heritage, with our experience in manufacturing PROMATECT® H – a calcium silicate based material with excellent fire resistance properties – applied in a way that to enables architects and clients to benefit from this advanced product. And there’s more to come later in the year, with our timber framed SYSTEMGLAS® Ligna and steel framed SYSTEMGLAS® Ferro set to provide even more passive fire protection options.”

Promat provides assurance because it is in complete control of the design and manufacture process, and it has in-depth knowledge of the installation requirements. This means supply chain risks, such as product substitution or poor installation, can be eliminated. The resulting installation is peace of mind for building owners and users that they are protected as planned, should a fire incident occur.

Part of international building product manufacturing group the Etex Group, Promat UK has been producing fire, thermal and acoustic protection solutions for more than 30 years. In addition to its range of fire resistant glass, the company manufactures market leading high performance solutions which are used in numerous hi-tech, engineering and industrial sectors.

Find out more at www.promat-glass.co.uk.
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ROCKWOOL® and Rockpanel® partner in award-winning Midlands development

ROCKWOOL® and Rockpanel® have joined forces in developing a high performance, fire resilient cladding project which has transformed three high-rise residential towers for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council.

The Challenge

The Crofts in Smethwick consists of 270 homes within Ashcroft, Birchcroft and Elmcroft houses.

This development is located on a major arterial route into the city of Birmingham within a district that ranked 12th out of 326 in terms of deprivation in a 2010 study of the country. The three tower blocks, originally constructed in the 1960s, were in universally poor condition, showing signs of major wear and tear to the building fabric, windows, roofing and balconies. In the absence of any wall insulation, they were also proving very difficult to heat and especially challenging to keep warm for those tenants living in fuel poverty.

Refurbishment at The Crofts also offered an opportunity for Sandwell Council to rejuvenate not just these high-rise homes but also the wider area as they sought to bring a renewed sense of pride in their surroundings to residents and the local community.

The Solution

This two year, £11 million project for contractor, Keepmoat Regeneration, has involved a dramatic, top-to-bottom renovation of each tower at The Crofts.

Substantial improvements have included flat-to-pitched roof conversions with solar panel installations, new windows and striking new balcony enclosures, redecorated communal areas, asbestos removal and the installation of a highly efficient, aesthetically attractive and non-combustible insulated cladding solution supplied by sister brands, ROCKWOOL® and Rockpanel.

ROCKWOOL’s RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB® is the non-combustible dual density insulation board fitted at The Crofts. It offers a robust outer surface and a resilient inner face designed specifically for application to this type of high rise development. Made from stone wool, RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB® is A1 fire rated for optimum fire resilience. It also has the benefit of high resistance to wind and rain during construction, which, together with the minimal number of fixings required, makes installation quicker and easier for contractors. At The Crofts, the product has been tightly butt jointed, knitting together to deliver effective thermal insulation at 0.035 W/mK at the same time as it minimises any heat loss that could arise from gaps between insulation boards.

For the exterior cladding the extra fire safe façade board Rockpanel FS-Xtra has been used to provide the attractive aesthetic finish on the project. Applied on top of an aluminium supporting structure and fixed with blind rivets, these Rockpanel ‘FS-Xtra’ boards, in combination with ROCKWOOL’s RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB®, meet the requirements for European fire classA2-s1,d0. The boards also weigh very little compared to other board materials and can be easily worked with on site, with no special tools required. This saves installation time and costs. Installed on this project by Astley Facades, Rockpanel FS-Xtra boards are available in a wide range of different finishes and colours. A mixture of vibrant Rockpanel Colours, such as RAL 3009 and 5011, has been supplied at The Crofts.

The Result

“We’re extremely proud of the work we have been able to do here at The Crofts,” said a spokesperson from Sandwell Council. “These improvements have made a massive impact on both the internal and external appearance of the blocks, as well as the local skyline. And, the much improved insulation offered by the eye-catching cladding will help reduce fuel bills for tenants.”

A huge uplift in energy performance will result from these improvements. In fact, Sandwell Council estimates that, in total, approximately 9,600 tonnes of carbon will be saved every year.

The Crofts has picked up two awards for corporate social responsibility, including a Bronze in the 2015 International Corporate Social Responsibility Awards and a first prize in the Delivering Social Value category at the 2016 National Federation of Builders Awards.

Ultimately, the project has made a significant impact in the local community. These three tower blocks are not merely visibly transformed, they are more energy efficient residences and they are also beacons of hope for tenants and the community of Smethwick.

For more information please visit www.rockwool.co.uk and www.rockpanel.co.uk.
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Promat Glass delivers fire and acoustic solution for luxurious Trinity properties

A multi-million pound project to create an exclusive residential development in a Cheshire conservation area, which has given a new lease of life to a beautiful unused Victorian church, has demonstrated how Promat UK’s high performance, fire-resistant glass range represents the assured choice for developers.

The Trinity development at Bowdon near Altrincham by Hale Estates has created nine luxury residences in a variety of configurations and sizes from one to three bedrooms. The project has converted the former Trinity United Reformed Church, which dates from 1872 but was last used as a place of worship in 2004. Designed by award-winning architects Ollier Smurthwaite, the new properties sensitively respond to the material and detailing of the impressive Grade II listed building, with new components sitting sympathetically within the volume of the historic structure, taking reference from existing forms and fabric.

One of the building’s key features, given its ecclesiastical heritage, is the 3m wide communal corridor which passes through the centre of the church. This gives views up to the church roof and allows the original clerestory windows to provide natural light into the centre of the building. Maintaining this spectacular communal aspect with its original features and window shapes, whilst delivering superior quality properties with assured levels of fire protection and acoustic insulation, was the brief met by Promat UK, whose Glazing for Life® ethos is centred on delivering assured passive fire protection.

The 45mm glazing units provided by Promat UK were required to achieve strict acoustic and fire protection standards, in numerous shapes consistent with the Gothic style windows. The solution was a sealed unit specification incorporating EI60 fire rated insulated glass units. These are fitted into oak frames to deliver high quality windows which reflect the high-end specification of the development.

This sealed unit specification ensures the windows provide assured passive fire protection to EI60 – 60 minutes minimum for the window’s integrity as well as insulation from the heat of any fire. This protects the communal areas to provide a safe, sufficient window of opportunity for residents and visitors to exit the building safely in the event of a fire.

In addition to the fire protection dimension, the glazing units also work to provide residents with insulation from unwanted external noise in the communal areas. This is achieved through the glass types used and their thicknesses, to deliver windows with an acoustic sound reduction level of a minimum of 43db.

Cath McLean, Segment Manager – Glass at Promat says: “The team at Promat worked with Hale Estates at an early stage to provide specialist guidance through the design and specification stages of the project, and we continued to work closely with them right through to installation. This ensured we were able to provide a high quality solution that met the full specification criteria and stringent fire ratings in what is ultimately a stunning residential development by Hale Estates.”

Promat UK is one of the country’s leading manufacturers of fire, thermal and acoustic solutions. Its extensive range of glazing products are widely used in residential, public and commercial buildings, providing passive fire protection in both integrity only (E) and integrity with insulation (EI) from 30 to 120 minutes. It is also the only company providing specifiers with the assurance of a complete fire-rated system in SYSTEMGLAS®, which is checked for fire safety compliance at every stage; design, manufacture and installation.

Find out more about Promat UK’s fire-resistant glazing solutions at www.promat-glass.co.uk.
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Life Is Sweeter with Advanced Protection

The Chocolate Quarter, one of the UK’s most stylish retirement complexes, is now protected by industry-leading fire panels from Advanced.

Originally the home of Fry’s chocolate, the iconic collection of 1920s buildings has been sympathetically developed by KWL Architects and Andrew Wilson Developments for Bristol-based charity, the St Monica Trust. The result is an impressive complex of high-spec apartments, elegant living spaces and a range of leisure facilities. As well as protecting the multi-tenant retirement apartments and care home, the Advanced system also covers a doctors’ surgery, offices, spa, retail space and car park.

MFS designed, installed and commissioned the Advanced system, which comprises a network of 19 MxPro 5 single-loop, four-loop and repeater panels with Hochiki smoke and heat detectors, multi-sensors and heat detection cable.

The installation of MxPro 5 means that the fire system is also linked to the site’s DECT using an ESPA interface, which allows live fire system status information to be passed to staff pagers.

Speaking about the installation, Rick Coles, Managing Director at MFS, said “The project required complicated cause and effect because of the buildings’ wide variety of uses. The sheltered accommodation and extra care areas needed a completely different approach to the communal areas, shops and restaurants. The complex also has a spa and hydro pool, so we faced an entirely different set of challenges in those areas.

“We chose Advanced panels because of their reliability and the high level of flexibility and ease they offer when programming cause and effect. Although useful for any project, this versatility really comes into its own on large multi-use sites with many different demands. We also had to link the fire system with the site’s DECT, which is very straightforward to do using Advanced equipment and an ESPA interface.”

Phil Calvey, Advanced Sales Manager for the South West, commented “Advanced’s MxPro 5 panels are particularly suited for use in residential and care home settings. The Chocolate Quarter is a demanding site with a wide range of uses. Many of its residents are elderly and false alarms can cause considerable confusion and distress, so the installation had to offer the highest levels of protection and peace of mind.”

The MxPro 5 is the leading multiprotocol fire panel range available and offers high-performance fire detection and alarm control across multi-panel networks and multiple sites. MxPro 5 panels are EN54 parts 2, 4 and 13 approved. They can be used in single loop, single panel format or easily configured into high-speed, 200-panel networks covering huge areas.

MxPro offers customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network, backed up by free training and support. Advanced’s ease of installation and configuration make MxPro customisable to almost any application.

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The legendary performance, quality and ease of use of its products sees Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single-panel installations to large, multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

More details can be found on the website at www.advancedco.com.
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First cladding system to pass government fire tests

A cladding system using stonewall insulation has become the first to pass new fire safety tests ordered by the government since the Grenfell tragedy in June.

The fourth in the government’s series of large-scale fire safety tests, that will allow experts to better understand how different types of cladding panels behave with different types of insulation in a fire, has been completed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE).

This fourth test was of a wall cladding system consisting of Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding with a fire resistant polyethylene filler (category 2 in screening tests) and stone wool insulation (a form of mineral wool). This combination of materials has passed the test.

The government’s Expert Panel advise that the results show that this combination of materials can be compliant with current Building Regulations when installed and maintained properly. It could therefore offer a possible solution for some buildings with other cladding systems which have been identified as a hazard.

However the Expert Panel note that cladding and insulation materials can vary between manufacturers and can have different calorific values. The way materials have been fitted and maintained can also affect the safety of the cladding system.

Therefore the clear advice from the Expert Panel is that building owners need to continue to take professional advice as to whether any remedial work is necessary to ensure the safety of their building. The test results will help inform this work but they must also take into account the specific circumstances of their building.

13 buildings over 18 metres tall in England are known to have this combination of ACM with a fire resistant polyethylene filler (category 2) and stone wool insulation. Following initial screening tests, government issued advice to building owners detailing immediate interim safety measures that needed to be undertaken. These measures have been completed for all 13 of these buildings.

The Department for Communities and Local Government concluded “The clear advice from the Expert Panel is that building owners need to continue to take professional advice as to whether any remedial work is necessary to ensure the safety of their building.”

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