Promat delivers fire resistant glazing solution for Victorian Market refurbishment

Promat UK’s SYSTEMGLAS^® Ligna fire resistant glazing system has provided the ideal solution for the internal doors and arched glazing feature for one of the entrances to the newly refurbished Victorian Market in Inverness.

The £1.7m refurbishment project by Highland Council has involved an internal strip out of the market hall, which first opened its doors in 1870, to create new shop units and upgraded customer facilities, plus a contemporary new European-style food hall. Whilst the existing market hall was popular with local people and tourists, the council saw an opportunity to create a new social venue for the community where the best of Highland food and drink could be showcased, in a bright and spacious space filled with natural light.

The design by Threesixty Architecture included a new arched entrance into this new dining space, consistent with an existing original feature, to maximise fire safety, and it was here where Promat was approached to help.

This new entrance/exit required two double timber doorsets, featuring side lights to the left and right with a narrow fixed light between them, along with a butt-jointed arched glass screen above. The specification demanded a fire rating of EI60 (integrity and insulation) with a design that was sympathetic to the historic building.

The SYSTEMGLAS^® Ligna timber frame glazing system was proposed and a design was developed by the Promat team to meet the architect’s brief. Each of the 2036mm wide doorsets features two vision panels, metal plates for added durability at the bottom and opening edges, plus panic bars complete with vertical bolts.

The sidelights and overhead arched glass screen are all created using timber frames in line with the specification of SYSTEMGLAS^® Ligna, complete with fire resistant glass supplied by Promat, along with the required seals and other components. The performance capabilities of this system are such that it allows for butt-jointing of individual glass panes to maximise light transmission without compromising fire performance.

Installation of the doors and glazing was completed by Promat SYSTEMGLAS^® approved installer Rated Solutions. Despite being based 650 miles away in Folkestone, Kent, the team took the time to visit the site on several occasions to ensure the project would be successfully delivered in line with the project schedule and to the high standards demanded by the client.

The system is also backed up with Promat UK’s 360-degree ‘wheel of assurance’ which means complete traceability is provided at all stages of the supply, manufacture and installation. This ensures a golden thread is provided and the client has the additional benefit of a certificate of conformity, which demonstrates that the glazing and doors have been checked post-completion by Promat.

Cath McLean, Sales Manager Glass at Promat UK said: “The architects and Highland Council have done an amazing job in transforming the Victorian Market and we are delighted to have been involved by providing an important feature that had to balance fire protection with aesthetics. We originally started work on this project more than two years ago, working with the architect to develop a design using a timber frame for the new EI60 rated arched entrance, and the end result is fantastic thanks to the quality of installation by Rated Solutions.”

The Ligna timber frame system is just one of the EI30 to EI120 fire resistant glazing options available in the Promat SYSTEMGLAS^® range. This also includes a steel frame system – Ferro – and systems that allow for the frame to be concealed within surrounding walls and floors or painted/over-clad, as well as walk-on glass floors, super-slim metal frame doors and more.

Find out more at www.promat.com/en-gb/industry/technologies/fire-rated-glass/.