Pyroguard products and technical expertise were called on when the regeneration of a historic Spanish convent required a careful balance between sympathetic renovation and adherence to modern fire safety regulations.
Located in the city of Zaragoza, the Capuchino Convent de San Antonio de Padua forms part of a wider historic complex, comprising the Church of San Antonia and an ossuary monument (Sacrario Militare Italiano) built to honour the Italian soldiers after the Spanish Civil War. With the construction of a new social centre on the site, the Convent was also regenerated and underwent functional adaptations.
The project presented teams with many challenges, mainly how to work within the parameters of a historic building and bring it in line with modern-day regulations, all while simultaneously respecting its heritage and aesthetics.
When it came to the building’s compartmentation, an important part of any building’s passive fire protection strategy, the use of glass was key. To ensure that any new glazing was in keeping with the convent’s style and heritage, the Duramen System from AFVidrio was chosen – a timber frame with a varnished oak finish.
A bespoke EI120 fire resistance test was then carried out, using the frame in collaboration with Pyroguard. This fire test was a critical phase of the project and provided assurances of the overall glazing system’s performance. Pyroguard’s technical knowledge was key in helping to design and pass the EI120 fire test, which featured its Pyroguard Protect fire safety glass.
Another challenge of working within historic buildings, as opposed to a new development, is having to adapt the building products to suit the existing structure. On the Capuchino Convent de San Antonio de Padua project, a selection of the glazing units were semi-circular doors and other shaped glass, rather than the standard rectangular panes. Here, Pyroguard supplied bespoke glass components to suit the on-site framework.
Miguel Marin, Project Director at AFVidrio said: “The knowledge and capabilities of Pyroguard’s technical team were instrumental in ensuring both a successful fire test and the subsequent on-site installation of the fire safety glass system. This and the quality of their fire safety glass all contributed to us meeting the end-client’s deadline in a timely manner. We were particularly impressed with the great light transmission that Pyroguard Protect glass delivered – a very important and valuable attribute within the fire safety glass market.”
Pyroguard Protect is Pyroguard’s range of toughened fire safety glass, which can provide integrity and heat insulation protection from 30 up to 180 minutes. Certified to 1B1 impact classification, Pyroguard Protect can also offer high-performance acoustic properties and UV stability.
