Promat fire resistant glazing specified in £1.7m refurb

Promat UK’s Systemglas Ligna fire resistant glazing system has been specified 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.

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.

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 2,036mm 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.

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.