Promat’s Durasteel fire barriers are playing a central role at the Westfield London regeneration project in White City, West London. The tallest ever Durasteel firewall in the UK is providing protection for power plants within the refurbished Grade ll-listed west DIMCO building, a central component of the regeneration. Durasteel is also being installed as part of a major upgrade of London Underground facilities at the site.
Westfield London is a retail and leisure development by property group Westfield in partnership with London Underground, whose land has been leased by Westfield. When it is completed in 2008, the GB pound 1.6 billion development will contain the largest shopping centre in Europe along with leisure facilities, a 14 screen cinema, a spa and gymnasium, bars, restaurants, new transport links and affordable housing.
Promat Durasteel is a complete passive fire containment system, and is being installed by contractor Sharpfibre. “It’s a very versatile material, offering a high level of fire protection.” says project architect Lisa Pemberton of Ian Ritchie Architects who have designed the public transport infrastructure for the development. “The fire barrier comes as a complete system, so you don’t need to specify an additional fire stopping material for services penetrations. The contemporary aesthetic of the Durasteel complements the industrial character of the DIMCO building.”
Built into the fabric of a building, Durasteel creates a physical barrier to contain heat and the spread of smoke and fire. It is a composite sheet made with a core of fibre cement, sandwiched between mechanically bonded galvanised steel facings.
A Durasteel barrier provides 120 minutes fire compartmentation protection for the electricity sub-station which supplies power to the new development.
Other Promat fire protection products have also been used at the Westfield London development. Around 150,000m2 of Promat 250 and Promalit is currently being installed by Sharpfibre to encase structural steelwork for the buildings inside the 200,000m2 shopping centre. Promat’s Vermiculux board was used to provide 4 hours’ fire protection for higher risk areas.
