Multifunctional architecture is an intensively discussed concept in construction technology. It is less about building forms and more about the question of different uses that complement each other in such a way that everyone benefits equally. For example, Bettina Sigmund writes about the research work "The adaptive habitat" by Sigrid Loch (2009) in an article for the architecture portal of the magazine Detail:

"In the context of the individualisation and differentiation of lifestyles, changing household structures, demographic and ethnic change and the increasingly flexible world of work, user requirements for housing construction are also growing in particular. Standardised floor plans with fixed room uses are often no longer able to meet these requirements. Flexible housing options are becoming increasingly important."

THE CONCEPT OF USER-FRIENDLY ARCHITECTURE

This approach to residential construction can easily be transferred to other types of building. Today, even a football stadium tends to be planned as a multifunctional arena for different uses, while healthcare or administrative buildings are given flexible internal structures that allow for subsequent adaptations and conversions.

One thing is clear: the design of the building elements must also follow a multifunctional approach. This applies in particular to those components that are used for finishing, which is becoming increasingly separate from the construction of the load-bearing structures. In the work cited above, this is described with the term "constructive flexibility".

This approach, which was conceived for residential construction, can be easily transferred to other building types. Today, even a football stadium tends to be planned as a multifunctional arena for different uses, while healthcare or administrative buildings are given flexible internal structures that enable subsequent adaptations and conversions.

One thingis clear: the design of the building elements must also follow a multifunctional approach. This applies in particular to those components that are used for finishing, which is becoming increasingly separate from the construction of the load-bearing structures. In the work cited above, this is described with the term "constructive flexibility".

This idea is also reflected in the fact that components such as façades, windows, doors and gates are now perceived less as products and more as systems. Here too, there are basic structures or modules that can be used to fulfil as many different tasks as possible by adapting accessories and extensions. One example of this is modern office architecture with its open communication and work areas that merge into one another. Here, individual areas or rooms can be adapted to new types of utilisation in the event of changes in processes so that the basic structures do not have to be touched.

Design flexibility is also required in terms of form, material and structure. The fact that building elements such as windows and doors always fulfil several functions is nothing new. However, the old principle of "form follows function" often applied or still applies, according to which you could often tell from looking at a component what it was intended for. Since the system concept, this has often changed, and technical progress has also contributed to this.

Let's take the door as an example. The simple closure of a room opening has become a technical and design object that has to fulfil a wide range of requirements. These include burglary, sound, smoke and fire protection, to name but a few. They are used in the building envelope as well as in the interior as emergency exits, building access or as a connection between different rooms or utilisation areas.

In addition to the features prescribed by the standards and building regulations, there are also other criteria to consider when using these products. How do they fit into the architectural concept in terms of form and materials? What variants and options are available? How sustainable is the system with regard to future adaptations and conversions? All of this must be taken into account at the planning stage in order to be able to realise as many different constellations as possible.

The Novoferm steel door series NovoPorta Premio with high-quality thick rebate and the flush-fitting NovoPorta Plano with flush design are based on an innovative platform approach for doors.

The high-quality functional steel doors can be used for almost all requirements and areas of application, as T30 (_EI2 30), T60 (_EI2 60) and T90 (_EI2 90), fire protection, smoke protection, sound insulation, multi-purpose or security doors. Furthermore, these Novoferm steel door series are available in numerous design variants, decors and colours.

You can also choose from a highly flexible range of accessories and optional extras. Even the available glass sizes and glazing beads are identical in both series - this ensures a uniform appearance throughout the property.

With the platform doors from the Premio and Plano series, doors can now be installed in all areas of a building with an attractive, uniform appearance, regardless of whether they are fire or noise protection, burglar-resistant or design versions. Attractive architecture thrives on design and function - the perfect environment for the Novoferm steel door series NovoPorta Premio and Plano.

Greater flexibility and adaptability of buildings also places new demands on the components used. Prefabricated parts offer the construction industry advantages such as low development and manufacturing costs, simple repair and assembly processes and increased flexibility, as the building can be adapted to new requirements by changing the combination of components.

Transparent building with materials that allow light and views through has become a powerful symbol of an open society, a symbol of modernity and an icon of progress. People have always been fascinated by the old basic idea of architecture, using transparent structures to create magical atmospheres and overarching spatial constellations. Ultimately, the idea of the Gothic cathedral was to create a unity of space and light. Transparency should connect what would otherwise be separated. The generous use of glass elements on and in the building is an attempt to deconstruct solid structures into a floating structure. This is currently the case, for example, in the VW Group's "Transparent Factory" in Dresden, in Ieoh Ming Pei's pyramid in the courtyard of the Louvre in Paris or with the entrance hall to the Apple store in Manhattan/ NYC.

FROM THE CRYSTAL PALACE TO THE APPLE STORE IN NEW YORK

Historical examples from the beginning of modernism in the 19th century show the direction. The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, built in 1851, was one of the first to rethink this form of building: according to architecture critic Edwin Heathcote in the "Financial Times", it was not walls with windows, but walls made of windows. He was followed by a whole series of famous buildings: For example, Pierre Chareau's Maison de Verre, a private residence in Paris (1931) conceived from glass blocks - or the unusually "insightful" Glass House in Connecticut (1949) designed by Philip Johnson.

Transparent construction runs like a red thread through the history of architecture. From the Grand Palais in Paris to Google's new headquarters, under whose gigantic glass domes a multifunctional working landscape is to be created by 2020 - architects have repeatedly succumbed to the conundrum between insight and view, reflection and permeability. Where small openings once narrowly framed the view into the distance, users and residents now have a panoramic view thanks to floor-to-ceiling glass fronts.

Fire protection requirements are best met when the structural designs intended for them also have a certain level of design. And so we know that architects and building owners, particularly in commercial construction, want highly developed programmes in which the individual elements are coordinated in design. For the Novoferm profile frame series, we have created a universal system that fulfils precisely these requirements in the area of doors and glazing.

SPATIAL EXPERIENCES MADE OF GLASS AND METAL

Novoferm profile frame constructions create spatial experiences made of glass and metal. Available in either aluminium or steel, their generous glass surfaces create the transparent structures that are particularly popular in interiors. Tubular frame doors are available in T30 (_EI1/2 30) and T90 (_EI2 90) versions and can be combined with side panels and fanlights. The profile views are always the same, regardless of which fire resistance class they fulfil. All-glass walls in the T30 (_EI2 30) version and fire-resistant glazing in the G30, F30 or F90 versions as translucent window elements also offer open room design.

Open structures are continued in the interior. Rooms are no longer walled up and thus hidden from view. They are open and accessible from the outside and appear wide and boundless from the inside. Storey-high constructions are possible, even in accordance with fire or sound insulation regulations, with only minimal joints and very narrow floor and ceiling finishes. Designed without disruptive glazing bars, as if made from one piece. In order not to be at the mercy of the play of light and shadow without limits, such systems today have a range of technical options to delimit the territory and create private spheres as required: Internal blinds or roller blinds - even "smart" types of glass that can switch between transparent and opaque at the touch of a button.

Profile frame systems for doors can be considered as a supplement in the area of transparent construction. High proportions of glass surfaces and filigree profiles enable light structures here too. Designed in aluminium, steel or stainless steel, they stand for contemporary architecture with an ideal combination of aesthetics and lasting value in conjunction with security and easy maintenance.

Glass is the favoured building material for transparency and openness in architecture. Today, this no longer has to compete with the requirements for structural fire protection. Technical innovations in glass and frame constructions enable solutions that harmonise architectural concepts with the safety requirements of a building. Fire-resistant glass in resistance classes F30 to F120, for example, is readily available and can also be combined with burglary protection, even for emergency exit doors.

Fire protection is becoming increasingly important in building planning. This is because fire can lead to the greatest possible damage. For this reason, industrial and commercial buildings, but also residential buildings, provided they belong to a certain class, or all buildings that fall under the special building regulations, must comply with the general fire protection regulations. The correct planning of fire protection is therefore a central component of any safety concept. In particular, structural fire protection also includes the use of fire protection closures and smoke protection doors so that individual parts of the building can be safely separated from each other in an emergency or escape and rescue routes can be kept free from fire and/or smoke. Fire protection certificates and concepts are now an important part of every building application. Building components are categorised into different fire resistance classes according to their fire resistance duration. In Germany, the classification of building components is currently regulated equally by the German standard DIN 4102-2 and the new European standard DIN EN 13501-2.

FIRE PROTECTION CLOSURES

In Germany, each federal state has its own building regulations. The state regulations and special building regulations determine where a fire protection closure must be installed and with which resistance class. In general, fire protection closures must be installed in the openings of classic partition walls (usually T30 (EI30)) and fire walls (e.g. T90 (EI90)). Fire walls are designed to prevent fire from spreading to other buildings or building sections. Which fire protection class is required depends on the wall and the utilisation of the building. In Germany, closures with resistance times of 30 and 90 minutes are common. Glazing must have the same fire protection class as the fire protection closure.
Fire protection closures must always be self-closing and must not be held open with wedges. If they have to be kept open for operational reasons, there are special hold-open systems that are controlled by independent fire detectors. In order for a fire protection door to be used as a fire protection closure, it must be approved by the German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt). European certificates of usability with corresponding CE labelling have now been added.

Smoke often causes the most damage in the event of a fire. Smoke gases can lead to smoke poisoning, damage equipment and buildings and hinder evacuation. Smoke protection systems offer effective protection. These are self-closing doors designed to prevent the spread of smoke gases. For this purpose, smoke compartments are set up and divided by smoke protection closures, which are designed to prevent the passage of smoke for a certain period of time. Door closers in accordance with DIN 18263 or DIN EN 1154 must be used for self-closing. If the doors are to remain open, hold-open systems designed for this purpose must be used. Fittings, handle sets, locks and locking devices may only be used if a certificate of usability is available for them. The requirements for smoke protection doors are regulated nationally in DIN 18095 Part 1. The European test standard EN 1634-3 must be observed.

The new European standards, which are intended to replace the national regulations in the long term, currently apply on an equal footing with the German standard DIN 4102-2. The harmonisation of technical regulations is intended to facilitate the movement of construction goods within the EU. Some important classifications are

• European standards for the door sector:
  DIN EN 13501-1
  DIN EN 13501-2
  
• European test standards:
  1634-1 and -3
  
• European product standards:
  prEN
  14351-2 "Internal doors"
  EN 14351-1 "External doors"
  EN 16034 "Doors with fire and/or smoke control performance requirements"

As a specialist for steel doors and tubular frame doors, Novoferm offers a wide range of building authority approved fire protection doors in classes T30 (_EI1/2 30), T60 (_EI2 60) and T90 (_EI2 90). The sheet steel doors are available with high-quality thick rebate or flush butt-jointed, for internal and external use, as a basic model or with high-quality special equipment and accessories.

Developed specifically for the European market, they already comply with the European product standard EN 16034, as do the high-quality tubular frame doors made of aluminium or steel.

STEEL FIRE PROTECTION DOORS WITH EUROPEAN APPROVAL
Novoferm is also the first manufacturer to receive a European Technical Assessment (ETA) for the NovoPorta Premio (thick rebate) and NovoPorta Plano (butt-jointed) door series. With this internationally recognised certificate of usability, Novoferm offers users planning security for international projects in all 25 EOTA member states. This is because they can install the tested and almost Europe-wide certified fire protection doors with confidence, even before EN 16034 in combination with the not yet valid EN 14351-2 is fully applicable.

Smoke protection systems with Novoferm doors provide effective protection against dangerous smoke. As European standards are becoming increasingly important, smoke protection doors are already tested not only to DIN 18095, but also to the European EN 1634-3 standard. Steel doors with additional features can be tested to EN 1634-3 at room temperature as tight-closing doors or at a temperature of 200 °C as smoke protection doors. Even at high temperatures and the associated stress on the door elements, Novoferm doors remain tightly sealed. Even in the standard version, Novoferm smoke protection doors are always supplied with overhead door closers, special sealing systems including a lowerable smoke-tight floor seal (RS1) or, on request, a hump threshold (RS2). A selection of tested glazing variants is also available as an option.

Smoke detectors, e.g. in combination with hold-open systems, must be triggered in an emergency. The operator of a smoke and fire door is liable for this (so-called fire closure).

The regular maintenance required for this in accordance with DIN 14677 is carried out exclusively by qualified specialist personnel, e.g. the Novoferm service team.

According to US motivation researcher Steven Reiss, there are four basic categories of motives that drive us humans: Arousal, autonomy, status and security. All of these aspects also play a role, to a greater or lesser extent, in architecture. Those who prioritise stability, order and property in their motives for action belong to the group of people for whom security is the top priority. According to studies, this applies to almost 65 per cent of all Germans. This need for security applies in particular to their own house or flat and their immediate surroundings. It concerns the protection of property as well as the security of components, functional elements or electrically operated systems such as garage doors. It is about security in the private sphere and also in buildings that are used for work, supply or the gathering of people. The feeling of being in good hands is created not least by relying on planning and execution of all types of buildings in accordance with regulations.

BUILDING SAFETY

The term building security describes the totality of all measures to ensure or improve the security of buildings. This includes technical building measures such as video surveillance systems, access controls on doors or burglar alarm systems, structural measures such as burglar-resistant doors and windows as well as regular monitoring of the structural condition of a building to ensure stability and traffic safety. In Germany, this is carried out in accordance with the VDI 6200 guideline on the stability of buildings and the federal guideline for monitoring the traffic safety of buildings (RÜV). Burglary protection plays a prominent role in building safety. The DIN EN 1627 ff series of standards, which regulates the requirements and classification of burglar resistance for windows and doors, should be mentioned here.

Between 2008 and 2015, the number of registered domestic burglaries rose from 108,284 to 167,136. This represented an increase of 54 per cent within just a few years. It was not until 2016 that a decline of around 10 per cent to 151,265 was recorded. This trend continues to this day and is attributed to improved technical prevention, among other things.

This shows once again how worthwhile it is to invest in secure doors.

The longer it takes a burglar to gain access to a room or building, the more likely it is that he will give up. This is precisely the task of a burglar-resistant door: it should resist the intruder for as long as possible. This protection is particularly important for house, flat and cellar entrance doors, for example, but also for doors to warehouses, server rooms and rooms where sensitive documents or medicines are stored.

Regardless of where they are used, all burglar-resistant doors must fulfil certain criteria. To this end, DIN EN 1627 defines various resistance classes, depending on how long a door can withstand a break-in attempt. The following table provides an overview of these resistance classes.

Novoferm security doors are suitable for a wide range of applications, also in combination with fire, smoke or noise protection, mainly in commercial buildings, but also for residential buildings - whether for internal company security requirements, for example in the IT sector, or for tough everyday door use in offices, workshops and storage rooms, or for basement exit doors in private residential buildings.

Novoferm security doors fulfil the performance characteristics of the European-wide test standards for security doors in accordance with DIN EN 1627 - confirmed by a recognised, independent testing institute. Depending on the type, our security doors offer tested security from resistance class RC 2 (WK 2) to RC4 (WK 4); depending on the door type, also available in combination with fire protection T30 (_EI2 30), T60 (_EI2 60) or T90 (_EI2 90). There are also many options for creative door design, e.g. our glazing in the door leaf and for top panels and fanlights - naturally with the same safety performance.

There are also numerous accessories and special fittings for extra security.

There are also many sensitive areas that need to be protected against attacks of any kind. The threat posed by the use of small arms is becoming increasingly real, not only in the military sector, but also in the public and civilian sectors.

For this purpose, Novoferm offers the NovoPorta Premio S-D FB4-NS steel door with bullet and burglar resistance; also available in T30 (_EI2 30) or even against assault rifles to VPAM P6!

The human ear is a sensitive organ. Music, sounds, speech - we perceive numerous signals that determine our feelings and actions acoustically. These stimuli are processed in the auditory cortex of the brain. Purely objective physical stimuli in the form of sound waves can trigger very different states, ranging from pleasant well-being to the "pain threshold".

One thing is clear: people react extremely sensitively to sounds and quickly experience them as disturbing. From a sound pressure level of around 100 dB, we can even speak of physical impairment. However, the range in which you "want to have your peace and quiet" begins far below this level. Soundproofing measures are necessary wherever noise can penetrate a building from outside or be transmitted within a building. According to a representative survey, good sound insulation is one of the most important quality features of a house.

SOUND INSULATION IN BUILDING LAW

The importance of good sound insulation is also evident from the fact that several standards and guidelines deal with it in German law. Firstly, DIN standard 4109 describes the minimum requirements for sound insulation. Supplement 2 of this standard also contains recommendations for increased sound insulation. The VDI 4100 guideline provides information on the three different levels of sound insulation in residential buildings. The catalogue is rounded off by the recommendations of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Akustik e.V. - DEGA for short - which again differentiates between seven levels of sound for new and old buildings.

Compliance with these regulations and recommendations is made mandatory by German case law. In practice, neglecting sound insulation repeatedly leads to legal disputes. In view of the high level of other comforts and the corresponding prices, sound insulation for flats today is expected to go beyond the minimum standard of health protection and only on the basis of this can one speak of increased living quality.

Recommendation 103 of the German Society for Acoustics (DEGA) promises even more transparency in this area, with which a points system has been created for simple labelling of the sound insulation of entire residential units or buildings. Similar to the well-known energy performance certificate, this set of rules can be used to assess and specifically agree on a differentiated and practical evaluation of the sound insulation classes with the help of the verbal descriptions of the increased sound insulation contained therein, which are also understandable for laypersons,
. The classification is divided into a total of 7 levels. The gradations range from class A*, i.e. residential units with very good sound insulation that allow undisturbed living with virtually no consideration for neighbours, to class F for residential units with poor sound insulation that is well below the requirements of DIN 4109:1989-11.

SOUND INSULATION MEASURES

The various sound insulation measures in residential and commercial buildings are referred to as airborne sound insulation and structure-borne sound insulation. Airborne sound insulation is protection against noise typically from the outside, while structure-borne sound insulation often refers to sound insulation inside a building. Airborne sound enters the home primarily through walls, ceilings, windows and doors. Structure-borne noise is transmitted through water, waste water and heating installations, footfall noise, washing machines and similar.

As a manufacturer of doors and gates, Novoferm is primarily concerned with airborne sound insulation using appropriate building elements such as doors, see-through windows, garage doors or industrial sectional doors. One of the most common measures that can be carried out without any problems, both in new builds and retrospectively, is the installation of a soundproof door.

A soundproof door can fulfil two functions:
It can keep the noise where it is generated, for example in commercial machine rooms; or it can shield the noise from outside. In residential buildings, it fulfils the function of protecting people from noise in their private surroundings. The building regulations for soundproof doors are governed by DIN 4109, which specifies the sound insulation values to be complied with, for example for doors in apartment blocks, hotels, schools and hospitals. Frequent judicial decisions in the past have shown that the level of sound insulation owed must be based on the expectations raised by the building specification.

It can be concluded from this that increased requirements that go beyond the minimum level must also be fulfilled.

Not all rooms are the same, and not all doors are the same - which is why DIN 4109 regulates the requirements for sound insulation depending on the external noise level and room utilisation. It is enshrined in all state building regulations and is therefore applicable building law. All minimum requirements defined therein must be fulfilled by the contractor, even if they are not specifically mentioned. Depending on the building project, however, a client may also have higher requirements for sound insulation.

With sound insulation equipment from Novoferm, all elements of the door system (door leaf, frame and high-quality seals) are specially matched to each other. Our soundproof doors have been proven to reduce noise pollution in buildings with just one lowerable threshold-free floor seal. For example, only a few companies with their own production facilities have the luxury of whisper-quiet production plants. Most others protect their employees in neighbouring office and administration buildings as well as the environment with suitable soundproofing measures. Novoferm soundproof doors in the NovoPorta Premio DB-1 Type 50 version with a stable steel door leaf, special sound insulation and a special lowerable floor seal were developed especially for such requirements. These result in a tested and threshold-free sound insulation value of up to Rw = 50 dB; in conjunction with an additional threshold of up to Rw = 53 dB.

The level of sound insulation that is ultimately achieved depends on several factors. In addition to the door leaf, these are primarily the seals, the wall connection of the frame and the joint between the door leaf and floor coverings.

Houses and flats with a higher standard suggest to tenants or buyers that the properties also have increased sound insulation. It is therefore advisable to reach special agreements between the parties in advance regarding sound insulation and not just fulfil the minimum requirements according to DIN 4109.