Apr 19 2007
Pupils from a school on the Wirral are learning in safer surroundings thanks to the most up to date fire-resistant and impact safety glazing from Pilkington. The new family centre at Mount Primary School, in New Brighton, features Pilkington Pyrostop™ in the circular feature windows and Pilkington Pyrodur™ Plus in the fire doors.
Bradshaw Rowse Harker Architects specified Pilkington Pyrostop™ for the feature windows within the fire-protected corridors which offers high levels of fire protection whilst at the same time maximising the available levels of natural light and visibility. Meanwhile, Pilkington Pyrodur™ Plus was specified for the fire doors in the centre for its durability.
Sheila Plunkett from Bradshaw Rowse Harker Architects said: “The low level of the circular windows reflects the importance of the children to the centre by giving them the ability to see out of the windows and interact with the rest of the building. Because of this, safety and security was a huge priority and Pilkington Pyrostop™ was specified as it adheres to high safety levels.
“Fire-resistant doors need robust glass suitable for the rigours of the school environment. Despite being only 7mm in thickness, Pilkington Pyrodur™ Plus complies with all European test standards, and has given children and adults a secure defence against the possibility of fire.”
Pilkington Pyrodur™ Plus is an impact-resistant glass that offers integrity only fire protection for 30 minutes, together with full insulation for a short period of time, which is crucial during evacuation of a building. It also turns opaque when it reacts to heat, thus blocking the view of the blaze and helping to minimise panic.
In the event of fire, Pilkington Pyrostop™ also turns opaque when reacting with heat, providing both the integrity requirements of a barrier to hot gases and flames, as well as a very effective insulator from the heat of a blaze. As such, Pilkington Pyrostop™ complies with the very precise temperature criteria defined in European test standards.
The Family Centre at Mount Primary, which opened in September 2006, provides an open platform for agencies and organisations from social, health, career and parenting backgrounds to address children, families and the general community. It is a facility that will become a compulsory addition to all UK primary schools by 2010.