Fire and smoke curtains safeguard Coopers Cross building in Dublin Ireland, enhancing fire safety and maintaining architectural design
Background
Coopers Cross is an expansive mixed-use development spanning six acres, featuring office spaces, public green areas, residential apartments, and retail spaces across two buildings. Building 1 offers 93,100 sq ft of Grade A office space, while Building 2 boasts 287,700 sq ft of similarly high-quality office space. The architectural design prioritizes natural light, comfort, and collaboration, creating an exceptional user experience for occupants.
Coopers Fire collaborated with Fire Consultancy Maurice Johnson & Partners and Architectural Practice Henry J Lyons on developing fire safety solutions throughout the building that are designed to save lives in the event of a fire.
Application
The deployment of fire and smoke curtains in Coopers Cross Commercial Buildings 1 & 2 serves multiple crucial functions:
- Maintaining Compartmentation: Fire curtains are strategically placed to compartmentalize different areas of the buildings, limiting fire spread and minimizing damage.
- Protecting Escape Routes: Ensuring the safety of occupants, fire curtains safeguard designated escape routes, allowing for swift evacuation during emergencies.
- Separating Adjoining Escape Routes: By creating barriers between escape routes, fire curtains prevent the spread of fire and smoke, maximizing safety.
- Safeguarding Firefighting Access Routes: Fire curtains protect access routes used by firefighting personnel, facilitating their efforts to contain and extinguish fires.
- Protecting Dual Entry Firefighting Lifts: Critical firefighting equipment like dual-entry lifts are shielded by fire curtains, ensuring their functionality during emergencies.
Fire Strategy
- Boundary Protection: The buildings are equipped with fire and smoke curtains to protect boundaries and facades, minimising the risk of fire spread.
- Egress and Cross-Corridor Separation: Escape routes are carefully separated to facilitate safe evacuation during emergencies.
- Compartmentation: Fire curtains play a vital role in compartmentalising different areas of the buildings, containing fires and limiting their impact.
- Smoke Control: Smoke seals integrated into the fire curtains prevent the spread of smoke, maintaining visibility and ensuring safe evacuation routes.
- Stairs and Escalators: Fire safety measures are implemented to protect staircases and escalators, ensuring unimpeded access for building occupants during emergencies.
- Lifts and Lift Lobbies: Fire curtains safeguard lift lobbies and access routes to lifts, ensuring the availability of critical firefighting equipment.
Benefits of Fire/Smoke Curtains on this Project
- Flexibility in Design: Fire curtains enable flexible design options, allowing for the creation of centrally located cores and maximising glazing areas while maintaining fire safety standards.
- Preservation of Open Spaces: Large-span fire curtains preserve open-plan reception areas and lift lobbies, enhancing the aesthetics and functionality of the buildings.
- Enhanced Fire Protection: By providing comprehensive fire protection measures, including smoke seals and compartmentation, fire curtains contribute to the safety and wellbeing of building occupants and property.
Conclusion
The deployment of fire and smoke curtains in Coopers Cross Commercial Buildings 1 & 2 is integral to ensuring compliance with fire safety regulations and maintaining a safe environment for occupants and property. By strategically placing fire curtains throughout the buildings, the project achieves a balance between architectural design, functionality, and fire safety, creating a world-class destination that prioritises sustainability, wellness, and innovation.
