Date: 6 June 2012
The Museumpark in Rotterdam, is the first of its kind in introducing Fire safety systems in its parking lot. This is one such project where beauty and utility blend seamlessly to create a masterpiece landmark.
While the park itself is more than eight decades old, what is new is the spectacular parking garage that was officially inaugurated on the 27th of November, 2011. With glazing solutions by Vetrotech Saint-Gobain, it was only natural that Museumpark would get a classy makeover in glass.
Fire Resistant Glass - Museumpark in Rotterdam
To stand up to the high expectations set by Museumpark’s original design by the leading firm OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture) and architect Rem Koolhaas, the task of designing the new parking lot was administered to the Amsterdam architect firm Paul de Ruiter. And when it came to glazing, Vetrotech Saint-Gobain was the obvious choice.
The architectural layout of the building was designed in such a way that allowed adequate light and space, where users felt safe, at ease, and not intimidated by the underground set-up. Sprawled over three levels, the parking garage could accommodate 1150 cars. The park also boasts of the largest underground water storage unit in the Netherlands, with a capacity of 10 million litres of water.
Following a recent spate of fires in the parking lots of public buildings, the issue of fire safety was of paramount importance in Europe. Vetrotech Saint-Gobain’s expertise in fire resistant glass products clinched the project and gave it a whole new dimension. The Contraflam Lite glazing solution was used to deliver the highest standards of fire resistance.
Rotterdam Museumpark uses Fire Safety Glass
The Contraflam Lite glazing complies with the EW30 classification (stability and radiation reduction). The EW60 variant has been used along the escape routes and it conforms to the EI15 class as well. In doing so, it meets the requirement of 15 minutes of temperature insulation, which is a high score in fire resistance, combined with transmission and escape route qualities. What also makes the project exceptional is the dimensions; the Contraflam Lite was tested for dimensions of 2300 by 3800 mm, the largest tested product in the Netherlands.
In addition to Contraflam Lite, Contraflam Lite Contour safety glazing is used for curved panes with silk screen printing. Saint-Gobain is one of the few companies that can manufacture contour safety glazing products. Today, as Museumpark welcomes its visitors, they can finally park all worries of fire safety behind and marvel at a new, modern art – glass.
Read more on Fire Resistance Glass and Fire Safe System
Add new comment