Coopers Fire installed four bespoke SmokeStop™ EvacU8® and SmokeStop™ Barriers which are integral to York Minster Revealed (YMR) Smoke Protection system.
what was the client looking for?
York Minster Revealed (YMR) is the UK’s largest restoration and conservation project of its kind. This ambitious transformation of York Minsters visitor experience presented the Cathedral with a number of fire safety challenges that needed addressing prior to the opening of the Cathedrals below ground Undercroft and Treasury exhibition spaces.
Dating back 2000 years, York Minster is a major tourist attraction. However, before it could receive visitors to its new below ground multimedia exhibition spaces, it first had to comply with stringent fire regulations without compromising the building’s aesthetics.
Protecting Heritage Buildings: Smoke Barrier Solutions for the Cathedral’s Undercroft and Treasury
Custom smoke curtains for architects working in historic buildings
From the Tower of London to The Royal Palaces, Coopers Fire is trusted to design, manufacture, and install fire and smoke curtain barriers for some of the world’s most historically significant buildings. With extensive experience in protecting heritage sites, Coopers Fire was selected by architects Arrol and Green (Previously Arrol & Snell) to develop a bespoke smoke control solution for the Cathedral’s Undercroft and Treasury, ensuring safety while preserving the building’s historic fabric.
Challenges of Smoke Management in a Heritage Building
Fire and smoke safety in historic buildings presents unique challenges. The Cathedral’s Undercroft and Treasury required a smoke control system that would:
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Protect visitor safety by allowing safe evacuation routes
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Prevent smoke migration into the main body of the Cathedral
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Blend seamlessly with the Cathedral’s centuries-old architecture
Any installed smoke barrier system needed to be discreet, non-intrusive, and fully functional without compromising the integrity of the historic structure.
The Coopers Fire Solution
To meet these exacting standards, Coopers Fire designed, manufactured, and installed a custom smoke curtain system consisting of:
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Four SmokeStop™ EvacU8® Smoke Barriers – These were strategically positioned to work with the Undercroft’s visitor flow and footfall, ensuring clear evacuation routes while effectively containing smoke.
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One SmokeStop™ Smoke Barrier – Installed to compartmentalise the Chambers, preventing smoke from spreading while maintaining the building’s architectural integrity.
Each bespoke smoke barrier was precision-engineered to deploy in harmony with the Cathedral’s support columns, forming a discreet yet highly effective smoke containment system.
Why Choose Coopers Fire for Heritage Smoke Protection?
Coopers Fire’s experience in fire and smoke safety solutions for heritage and listed buildings ensures that architects, fire safety engineers, and conservation specialists receive expert guidance in protecting historic structures. Our innovative fire and smoke curtain systems provide:
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Fully tested and certified solutions to meet EN and BS standards
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Minimal visual impact, designed to blend into heritage interiors
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Tailored installation methods to suit complex architectural requirements
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Reliable smoke containment, ensuring compliance with fire safety regulations
Safeguarding History with Innovative Fire Safety
By integrating state-of-the-art smoke curtain technology with expert engineering, Coopers Fire successfully delivered a fire safety solution that protects both visitors and the historic integrity of the Cathedral. Our expertise in heritage fire protection ensures that architects and conservation specialists can implement fire and smoke safety measures without compromising a building’s character.
Want to learn more about fire and smoke curtain solutions for heritage buildings? Get in touch with Coopers Fire today.
BENEFITS Of Using Smoke Curtains in HIstoric Buildings
Unique to Coopers, the SmokeStop™ EvacU8® smoke barrier uses a patented system of overlapping panels and deploys to form an effective barrier to smoke migration. In an emergency, visitors will simply WALKTHRU™ the panels to escape to safety. The panels have a patented anti-tangle and realignment configuration so that once evacuees have “pushed” through the barrier they realign.
All four bespoke SmokeStop™ EvacU8® and SmokeStop™ barriers were manufactured and installed and form an integral component of York Minsters smoke protection system, remaining subtly hidden from view until deployed by an alarm condition.
York Minster Revealed’s Director Mark Hosea added, “Coopers Fire developed a unique smoke containment system that ensures our visitors are protected in the event of fire. Furthermore, the Coopers installation team were sympathetic to our ancient architecture and commissioned the project in time for His Royal Highness, The Duke of York’s, opening visit.”
