Universität Klagenfurt increases knowledge with Firescreen®
Every year, more and more students are studying at the University of Klagenfurt, so in 2016 the university began renovating two buildings. This not only made much more space available, a new glass façade and staircase also drastically increased the natural light inside. However, it did mean that the traditional fire separation of the outer wall was breached, and this is where Firescreen® offered a solution.
The challenge
The new design of the two main buildings involved demolishing the old outer walls with small windows, and building a new staircase with a fully glazed façade. This gave the building an open character, and turned a dusty, poorly lit hallway into an open, inviting space full of sunlight.
However, the new open staircase breached the fire separation in the old outer wall. Traditional fire separations would require a glass wall or doors, which would limit air flow in the building or cause the open character to be lost.
The solution
In cooperation with the architect at our local partner, we took on the challenge to apply flexible fire separation in the form of Firescreen® Radiation fire curtains. These fire curtains are normally concealed in the plenum. As a result, a large open space has been created, and daylight is not compromised. At the moment a fire alarm sounds, the curtains fall down and take the place of the old façade, so that the original fire compartment is maintained. To finish, all parts in sight are finished in the same RAL colour, so they are barely noticeable.
