Fire-rated solution

No matter how innovative an interior design concept, it can only come into being when all the regulatory boxes have been ticked. And this applies to open stairwells, such as the sculptural staircase in the new Lion offices in Homebush, Sydney.

Normally such stairwells need fire-rated doors on each landing, which would negate the benefits of a staircase designed to encourage interaction and allow a sense of transparency.

The design team at Project Control Group came up with an ideal solution, however, which met the provisions of the Building Code of Australia. They specified custom-built Won-Door Fireguard180 doors with smoke control on each floor.

Ray Pickles of Won-Door New Zealand says the firm designed, supplied and installed a custom solution with the Won-Door FireGuard doors stored out of sight in pockets.

"When a smoke detector or fire alarm is activated the doors close off the stairwell, but still allow a means of egress for anyone caught on the stairs."

Pickles says eight of the openings were approximately 9m wide by 2.8m high, while the ground-floor opening was approximately 23m wide by 2.8m high. The doors follow a curved track, with the ground-floor doors curving a full 180° to form a U shape around the stairwell.

"Because of the curves it was not possible to use a light beam to monitor the opening and ensure it remained clear so that the doors could close in event of a fire. The solution was to programme the built-in microprocessor on each door to run an obstruction test in the early hours of each morning."

Won-Doors can be manufactured up to 8.4m high and 40m wide. The firm says that after 30 years and tens of thousands of installations, there has never been a report of a failure of a door to close in a fire situation.

For details, contact Won-Door New Zealand, 1/29B Alfred St, Onehunga, Auckland 1643, phone (09) 634 2242, freephone 0800 688 555, mob 021 445 582. Email: ray@won-door.co.nz. Website: www.won-door.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas