References to the education system

Where transparency and aesthetics are a top priority, even functional security systems have to fulfil high design requirements. For the numerous fire and smoke protection doors in this major project, the decision was made in favour of glass tubular frame doors made of steel from Novoferm.

Particularly in heavily frequented areas, such as here in public spaces with frequently changing public traffic, these doors prove their high quality and resistance even under extreme continuous loads or frequent operating errors.

In addition, limited surface damage can be repaired quickly and easily. Despite its robustness, the structural properties of steel allow for unrivalled filigree structures with slim profiles and strikingly narrow face widths.

This enables particularly generous glass surfaces in line with the transparent structures desired by the client in the interior. This gives contemporary architecture a very special touch.

Around 300 fire and smoke protection doors from the Novoferm fuego light or presto systems were installed in the Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences. In addition, there are further fire protection closures and special constructions flush with the façade. The internal building access to the university of applied sciences is partly routed via cross-storey air spaces. In order to prevent fire flashover and the spread of smoke across the individual storeys, while at the same time maintaining the spaciousness of the design, F30 glazing was installed across all storeys up to three or four storeys high.

The individual elements are each supported on the storey ceilings, the front sides of which were panelled in the system. This created visually continuous glass façades with maximum transparency across all storeys.

With tested fire protection safety, as a special construction from the highest building inspectorate.

In order to optimise the incidence of light, the stairwells of the extension were planned on the outside and clad with a glass façade. The planners' aim was to effectively channel the daylight from the outside far into the neighbouring corridors by means of clever light control. Specialised solutions were required.

The decision was made in favour of the filigree single and double-leaf NovoFire T-30 aluminium glass frame constructions with wall-enclosing glass side sections and fanlights. The exceptionally large dimensions of the installed door leaves and side panels are particularly striking. This allows extra-large glass surfaces - with full security - so that daylight flows brightly and cheerfully from the stairwell right into the feeders.

Another remarkable feature of this property is the sophisticated technical equipment of the individual fire and smoke protection doors. All of them are equipped with an electromechanical hold-open device with a network to the smoke alarm. This means that the doors can remain permanently open and only receive the closing impulse at the door closers via the smoke detector in the event of danger.

SOLUTIONS

Monumental school buildings with dark, interior corridors and grey felt floors, from which classrooms lead off to the left and right, are a thing of the past. Schools are increasingly becoming learning and living spaces.

Today, modern educational facilities are characterised by open-plan designs with flexible, bright rooms that support pupils' learning. Behind this are changed forms of learning, away from frontal teaching and towards work in small groups or individualised learning, increased time commitment from pupils and teachers and the blending of teaching and recreational phases.

Accordingly, Education Senator Ties Rabe praised the new vocational centre as a "future-proof school with a room concept for modern, new learning methods and excellent facilities."

Building in existing structures is increasingly becoming the core task of modern building culture. The combination of historical building fabric with modern, transparent fire protection from Novoferm is particularly attractive. In accordance with the new fire protection sections, all school corridors were fitted with ^NovoFire® aluminium T30 doors in double-leaf design, including matching fanlights and side panels.

With a profile wall thickness of 4 mm and only one fire protection core anchored in the centre, these doors are particularly stable and compact in design and also have a uniform face width. The former round arches in the corridors were filled with drywall plasterboard.