Wright Style's advanced bullet-resistant glazing systems undergo the test.
Wright Style, a UK-based steel glazing specialist, has called on architects to reassess their approach to the use of glass in airport construction.
The firm believes that recent developments in steel glazing systems are now having a major impact on how and where glass can be used - both aesthetically and to perform other functions.
''Investment in airport facilities, both refurbishment and new-build, continues to rise,'' says Tim Kempster, commercial manager. ''For example, China alone is to buy 400 planes and build 43 more airports over the next five years - taking the total number of Chinese airports to 172.''
''By 2010, it is estimated that there will be 1.1 billion passengers travelling to, from and within the Asia/Pacific region,'' he points out.
Wright Style offers a range of systems which is said to be well suited to airport applications.
''The inherent strength and durability of steel gives architects and specifiers the option to have large spans of glass, in areas previously thought of as unsuitable for glazing,'' Kempster says.
In the past six months, Wright Style has launched a number of innovative products that have particular application in airports. These, according to the company, are:
120/120 integrity curtain-walling
''The dry-glazed curtain-walling system requires no welding and has fully documented weather performance. The 120/120 fire test was glazed using 50 mm Pyrostop glass in a nonwelded shear block construction,'' explains Kempster. ''The radiant heat insulator is easy to install on site, which has obvious reduced cost implications. The system has been approved to BS476 part 22.
''This selfdraining, gasket glazed, pressure equalised curtain-wall and roof glazing system is easy to manufacture. It has an insulated frame for 120 minutes, using mineral high expansion fibre graphite. Whatever degree of insulation is required - from 30 to 120 minutes - the method and product remain the same. The insulator is easy to install, which has reduced onsite cost implications,'' Kempster adds.
Managing director Denis Wright comments: "Achieving 120/120 insulation integrity for curtain walling is a significant step forward in delivering greater safety allied to installation cost savings."
Multipane glazing system
The multipane glazing system was tested in conjunction with Vetrotech Saint Gobain UK using four panes of 8 mm Pyroswiss Extra glass, each 1,250 mm by 1,250 mm in size.
The glazing system is said to offer a new level of fire integrity for a range of external and internal applications, and is both versatile and easy to install.
''The frame incorporated Wright Style 50 series profiles, tape glazed with beads fixed using hidden studs - and therefore no unsightly bead fixings. This also makes the system easier to install or to carry out glazing repairs,'' Kempster says. ''The Warrington Fire Research Centre test surpassed 120 minutes integrity with the furnace being turned off after two hours and 20 minutes - a 10 per cent safety margin - with the frame and glass still intact.
''The system, which has a welded construction, has been tested and approved to BS476 part 22 1987. Steel sections are available in selfcolour or pregalvanised from stock as standard and wide range of steel profiles is offered for variable sightlines.''
Ballistic-resistant glazing
Whilst ballistic-resistant glasses have been available for many years, the framing system has always been the weakest point for overall protection offered, according to Kempster.
He continues: ''In addition, the products available until now have tended to be secondary systems, architecturally unattractive, complicated to manufacture, and restrictive in the protection that they can offer.
''As part of the firm's continuous programme of product development, Wright Style recognised that using steel in the glazing system would offer customers a much-enhanced level of protection.
''In addition to added security, the newlylaunched Wright Style ballistic systems are identical, in appearance and finish, to the standard product range - therefore retaining the architectural qualities required in modern building design.
''Incorporated within the framing systems is a unique combination of steel profiles designed to absorb and disperse high-velocity impacts, while offering total protection to the safe side.''
Successful certification has been undertaken at the Wiltshire Ballistic Laboratories' testing range on a wide range of doors, windows and curtain walling to satisfy the requirements of BS5051 1986 & EN 1063, according to him.
Samples tested used various glass makeups of polycarbonate and laminated glass as supplied by Romag UK and GGI Sharjah.
"At Wright Style we recognise that form and function are both important considerations in new product development. Our new ballistic glazing systems offer a very high level of protection whilst being aesthetically pleasing," says Kempster. Citing other key features and benefits, he says:
The new ballistic systems have been recently and successfully installed on projects in the UK, Hong Kong, Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Russia.
Pivot window
What is believed to be the world's first pivot window was installed at the Dubai International Hotel - at Dubai International Airport.
The successful fire test was carried out at The Loss Prevention Council Laboratories in the UK, where the window achieved 71 minutes integrity to BS 476: Part 22 (1987), according to Kempster.
The test sample was 1,270 mm in diameter and constructed from Wright Style 50 series pre-galvanised stop-bar profiles, glazed with 6 mm Pyran - supplied by Schott Glass- and using Wright Style's special dry-glazed fire-resistant gaskets.
The window system has since been assessed for use with any 30 or 60-minute integrity fire resistant glass, offering a unique product with a range of applications both in the UK and overseas, he adds.
Focusing on the key features and benefits of the system, he says that:
Automatic sliding door
The world's first fireresistant automatic sliding door to achieve 30 minutes integrity was tested in Norway to ISO 834 standard, and has subsequently been assessed to BS476 Part 22 by the Loss Prevention Council Laboratories in the UK, he states.
The doors form part of Wright Style's ground floor range of fire and security systems. The new system has been developed to incorporate single leaf, or biparting automatic doors, using a standard propriety electromechanical overhead gear.
For the successful test undertaken at the SINTEF laboratories, a standard Besam EMD 3000 operator was used. ''The system incorporates a number of specially-designed interlocking fireresistant gaskets which, in a fire situation, seal the vulnerable areas between the meeting stiles of the door leaves, and the door to frame or structure interface,'' he explains.
The new automatic door system has been recently and successfully installed on projects in the UK, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Moscow and Hong Kong.
"International growth in air passenger and cargo traffic, coupled with more stringent fire and safety regulations, mean that architects must constantly reassess what new materials and products can be cost-effectively used to meet aesthetic and regulatory demands," Kempster says.
These demands include, protection from fire, ballistics, blasts, or requirements for acoustic performance, as well as other specifications such as thermal performance under extreme weather exposures.
Wright Style offers a 48-hour estimating service.
Besides the circular pivot windows at Dubai Airport Hotel, the firm's recent and current projects include:
Wright says: "We already provide our customers, through our network of fabricators, with a comprehensive range of glazing solutions for every application. However, we remain committed to further research and development to fulfil the changing demands of customers worldwide."
