Designed by leading architects Fosters + Partner, the SSE Hydro has quickly established a reputation as one of the world’s premier entertainment venues. Designed to be cutting edge, Fosters + Partners utilised a sequence of translucent cushions to form the SSE Hydro’s unique exterior walls and provide Scotland with a new, distinctive landmark.
Designed by leading architects Fosters + Partner, the SSE Hydro has quickly established a reputation as one of the world’s premier entertainment venues. Designed to be cutting edge, Fosters + Partners utilised a sequence of translucent cushions to form the SSE Hydro’s unique exterior walls and provide Scotland with a new, distinctive landmark.
At the centre of the SSE Hydro’s interior is its large, open plan atrium purposely designed to complement the venue’s unique exterior looks. However, ensuring that the SSE Hydro’s open plan designs meet stringent fire regulations required a modern alternative to traditional fire protection equipment.
As the leading manufacturer of fire and smoke curtains, Coopers were appointed to develop a smoke curtain system to provide an unintrusive method capable of controlling smoke migrating from the lower floors. It was also necessary to protect the un-insulated glazing installed above the atrium’s reception area with an approved fire curtain barrier system approved to provide a 2 hour insulating zone.
Coopers manufactured, installed and commissioned two SmokeStop™ smoke curtains developed to control smoke generated in the event of fire and effectively channel it away from occupants during evacuation. Coopers installed both SmokeStop™ smoke curtains in the ceiling above the atrium’s glass elevators to deploy in the event of a fire to form an integral component of the SSE Hydro’s life safety system.
Additionally, Coopers installed two FireMaster® Plus² fire curtain barriers to deploy vertically to protect the atriums angled glazing situated on the first floor. Developed and installed to meet fire regulations, the FireMaster® Plus² fire curtain barriers will provide the SSE Hydros’ un-insulated glazing with an insulating zone approved to protect a means of escape for up to 2 hours.
From specification to full commissioning, Coopers were able to work with the SSE Hydro’s appointed building contractors to ensure that stringent fire regulations were met without compromising the building’s unique open plan design. Furthermore, Coopers ensured that both fire curtain and smoke curtain systems remained sympathetic to the property’s design by concealing the curtains within the ceiling until required.
Increasingly specified by designers as an integral component for facilitating open plan environments, Coopers fire and smoke curtains are recognised as the modern alternative to firewalls, fire doors and sprinklers, giving designers the freedom to design modern, open plan spaces without compromising fire safety.
