As the UK’s senior music conservatoire, central London’s Royal Academy of Music – 100 years-old this year – plays host to nearly 600 students from over 50 countries.
Given that much of the internal building structure is of old timber, the in-house facilities team perceived a need to include some form of fire resistance to block the spread of any unwanted blaze that may occur.
With this in mind, fire-resistant glazing system designer Vetrotech Saint-Gobain was brought on board to supply SGG Fivestar glass for eight timber-frame internal doors. In total, 72 panels of SGG have been supplied (and installed by Ashburn Glass and Glazing) as part of the fire protection and security upgrade.
Fivestar glazing is both light and very thin (measuring only 5 mm in width), yet is said to provide “high mechanical stability with tempered glass safety characteristics”.
The glass is clear, acting as an economical alternative to wired glass and has been rated to Class A at BS 6206 standards.
Successfully tested to the new Euronorm for fire-resisting doors – EN 1634-1 – to 30 minutes’ integrity (E30), in the event of fire Fivestar will prevent the passage of smoke, flames and hot toxic gases – yet remains fully intact and transparent. Unlike wired glass, it will provide a much higher degree of protection for end users.
