The Louvre Abu Dhabi, an architectural masterpiece designed by acclaimed architect Jean Nouvel, stands proudly on Saadiyat Island, UAE. For this prestigious project, Coopers Fire collaborated closely with their local distribution partner, Dosteen Doors and Shutters, to deliver cutting-edge fire safety solutions.
As an art and civilisation museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi opened its doors on November 8, 2017, and is part of the Saadiyat Island Cultural District. Spanning approximately 24,000 square meters (260,000 sq. ft.) with 8,000 square meters (86,000 sq. ft.) dedicated to galleries, it is the largest art museum in the Arabian Peninsula. This awe-inspiring museum, a sister institution to the Louvre in Paris, required innovative fire safety measures that would integrate seamlessly with its open plan, “floating domed” design.
Coopers Fire was tasked with creating a fire curtain system that would meet the museum’s fire safety requirements while maintaining the architectural vision.
Coopers Fire collaborated with BuroHappold to deliver state-of-the-art fire protection using the FireMaster Horizontal and FireMaster Vertical fire curtains. These curtains ensured fire compartmentation and boundary protection without compromising the museum’s open plan layout.
The innovative FireMaster Plus2 fire curtain, which offers both integrity and radiation performance, was also utilised to create safe zones. In total, 20 Simplex and Duplex FireMaster Horizontal fire curtains and 110 FireMaster and FireMaster Plus curtains were installed by Coopers Fire’s UAE partner, Dosteen Doors.
The horizontal fire curtains were primarily fitted in the museum’s gallery rooms, positioned beneath large skylights that flood the spaces with natural light. Vertical fire curtains provided compartmentation between rooms and served as boundary protection over windows. All fire curtains were discreetly integrated into the design, remaining hidden until deployed in case of fire.
Dosteen Doors collaborated closely with contractors to ensure that fire safety solutions adhered to all regulations. By managing the entire project, they ensured that the installed fire curtains not only met safety standards but also upheld the high-quality finish required. Coopers Fire’s products are independently third-party certified for both product testing and installation.
Coopers Fire’s fire curtains are a modern alternative to traditional firewalls, fire doors, and fire-rated glazing. They provide architects with the flexibility to design open, contemporary spaces while maintaining robust fire safety standards. Increasingly, these curtains are chosen for large, open-plan designs due to their ability to blend seamlessly into modern architecture.
As a turnkey provider, Coopers Fire offers comprehensive design and manufacturing services from their facility in Havant, Hampshire, UK, ensuring full product provenance and quality control.
