Throughout Europe: Fire resistant glazing with SCHOTT PYRAN® S combines reliable functionality with architectural aesthetics

Fire resistant glazing with PYRAN® S from the German specialty glass producer SCHOTT has many talents.They comply with the common European fire resistance categories and can be used in applications ranging from roof and facade constructions to partitions, smoke screens and doors*. SCHOTT is presenting its product portfolio at BAU trade show in Munich from January 19 to 24, 2015 (booth # C2 139).







Meeting point “Espace Culturel Aimé Césaire” in Gennevilliers: The interior layout is clearly visible from the atrium-style foyer. The rooms above and the staircase with elevator are protected from smoke and flames by E30 fire resistant glazing using the specialty glass PYRAN^® S from SCHOTT. Photo: Ville de Gennevilliers/SCHOTT



“Several acclaimed building projects in Europe recently installed fire resistant glazing based on our PYRAN^® S specialty glass. Thanks to the high quality of our material, architects and planners can use it in a variety of ways without having to compromise on functionality or aesthetics“, says Helmut Kugelmann, Head of Sales at SCHOTT in Jena. SCHOTT, an expert for fire resistant glass with more than 20 years of experience, continues to improve its products. Just recently, SCHOTT introduced its PYRAN^® S specialty glass to the market in XXL format (1800 mm x 3600 mm) in the class E 30. It is considered to be the largest sheet format in its class in Germany.





The new center “Bálna” in Budapest integrating shopping, culture and restaurants is known simply as “the whale” to the locals. Photo: SCHOTT

 

“Our product ISO PYRAN^® S can be used wherever requirements are needed in addition to protection from fire. It is ideal for facades and roof glazing due to its stability upon exposure to UV-radiation, fluctuations in temperature and direct sunlight,” Kugelmann explains. Transparent fire-rated partitions provide protection in case of fire while at the same time allowing day light to flow freely from room to room. Smoke screen systems that use

PYRAN^® S do not need frame constructions at all. This is the result of a perfect symbiosis of glass panes connected to each other by joints that are barely noticeable and point mounts and brackets that secure the glass panes to a strong, but light, supporting structure.





Meeting point “Espace Culturel Aimé Césaire” in Gennevilliers: The lounge on the second floor looks out onto the foyer. The fire resistant glazing allows visitors an unobstructed view to the fantasy world depicted on the walls of the foyer. Photo: Olivier Amsellem/SCHOTT

 

Maximum transparency and reliable fire resistance inside the building



The newly built cultural center "Espace Culturel Aimé Césaire" in Gennevilliers, just north of Paris, is open to all – as a communication center and meeting point, but also as a host to cultural events. The building’s façade is striking in its design with an irregular pattern of windows which seem to have been torn open, similar to a lantern. At night, the illumination from within the building radiates outward commanding attention despite the closed façade. The spatial organization of the building is clearly visible from the foyer of the ground floor and can be experienced directly as one stands in the interior of the “lantern” looking out onto the expanse of the light-flooded room which extends from the ground floor to the roof of the building.



The rooms grouped around the light-flooded interior are closed off from the roof-high foyer by E30 fire resistant glazing. The specialty glass used for the design is PYRAN^® S from SCHOTT. The 1300 mm wide x 3000 mm high glass panes are fitted together in a frameless butt joint construction. These extend one floor up with no vertical mullion profiles to obstruct the view. The floated, thermally-toughened borosilicate glass is tested and approved for application in fire resistant glazing in a variety of countries in accordance with national and European standards, and could be used in this building without any further tests.





Meeting point “Espace Culturel Aimé Césaire” in Gennevilliers: After dark, the building attracts attention as it radiates like a lantern. Photo: Olivier Amsellem/SCHOTT

 

Glass roof construction combines special aesthetics with protection from fire and sun



In the new center “Bálna” in Budapest which integrates shopping, culture and restaurants, PYRAN^® S specialty glass is used in the building shell. Those sections covering escape routes were required to meet fire protection regulations E 30. This is where SCHOTT’s PYRAN^® S was installed. Two melting valves were fitted into the spacer bar between the insulating glass panes. In case of fire, these valves melt to create an opening through which the air that is trapped between the panes can escape to the outside. Melting valves are used whenever the counter sheet to the fire resistant glass is made of toughened glass.



The suitability of this special design had already been proven in two successful fire tests using both horizontal and inclined positions. The structure of the panes combines fire protection inside with an outer solar control glass. PYRAN^® S is also suitable for applications with multifunctional requirements such as thermal and solar protection, and noise control. Together with its systems partners, SCHOTT Technical Glass Solutions GmbH designs structures with PYRAN^® S, which are internationally approved and outstanding for applications in glass and steel facades, as is illustrated by “Bálna” in Budapest.





“Bálna” in Budapest: The areas which cover escape routes, must meet fire protection requirements E30. This is where the specialty glass PYRAN^® S from SCHOTT was installed. Photo: SCHOTT


For the full report on “Bálna”, please visit:



http://www.schott.com/architecture/english/download/balna_budapest_engl_final.pdf



For more information, please visit: http://www.schott.com/architecture/english/products/fire-rated-glass/pyran.html



PYRAN^® is a registered trademark of SCHOTT AG.



* Whether fitted in timber or steel structures, SCHOTT in cooperation with system partners develop doors with PYRAN^® which are excellently suited and approved for sale in markets outside of Germany. The German building code does not list G (E) doors.





SCHOTT is an international technology group with 130 years of experience in the areas of specialty glasses and materials and advanced technologies. SCHOTT ranks number one in the world with many of its products. Its core markets are the household appliance, pharmaceutical, electronics, optics and transportation industries. The company is strongly committed to contributing to its customers’ success and making SCHOTT an important part of people’s lives with high-quality products and intelligent solutions. SCHOTT is committed to managing its business in a sustainable manner and supporting its employees, society and the environment. The SCHOTT Group maintains close proximity to its customers with manufacturing and sales units in 35 countries. Its workforce of 15,400 employees generated worldwide sales of 1.84 billion euros for the 2012/2013 fiscal year. SCHOTT AG, with its headquarters in Mainz (Germany) is owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation. www.schott.com