Art Gallery of NSW
Fire Engineer - ARUP
Architect - SAANA & Architectus
Contractor - Richard Crookes Construction
Model - FireGuard (-/60/-)
Spec - Straight | Single Parting | Narrow Lead Post
Size - 4.02m wide x 2.64m high
Won-Door were tasked with supplying and installing a bespoke fire separation solution for the Tank, a repurposed World War II oil bunker at Sydney Modern. The Won-Door team worked closely with Arup fire engineering and Architectus to retain Sydney Modern Project’s architectural vision, with the specification of a concealed, motorised horizontal sliding fire door.
Alistair Morrison, Principal & Australasian Service Lead – Fire Engineering, Arup comments on the projects fire safety design and the specification of the Won-Door. “The fire safety challenges included large population numbers, flexibility of use and fuel loads, interconnected spaces, and the sustainability challenge of adapting existing structure and minimising mechanical demand.”
“The Arup Fire Safety Engineers responded to the unique design characteristics by radically reducing the need for fire stairs and removed all smoke exhaust in the building. Arup were able to demonstrate safe conditions for egress, by using the sloping site to provide direct exit to outside at most levels and detailed analysis of multiple uses to demonstrate design resilience.”
“The unique challenge of the Tank gallery meant considerable egress capacity was required using the 4m wide accessible entry opening in the tank wall that also formed part of the fire and smoke compartmentation strategy. Testing reports and close design collaboration meant that evidence was available to demonstrate the performance objectives could be achieved and the team were able to make a well-informed decision about the best design solution. This led to the adoption and successful commissioning of the Won-Door system,” concludes Alistair.”
“To do this Arup needed to maintain the architectural vision of retaining the opening as a beacon for patrons within the darkened atmosphere, which meant conventional doors and frames would have a negative aesthetic even with hold open devices. The design team therefore reached out to Won-Door to help achieve the need for fire and smoke performance, combined with a resilient re-opening and closing function and intuitive signage and functionality, whilst being hidden from day-to-day view.”
As is standard on all Won-Door FireGuard doors, the green “push to open” Fire Exit Hardware panels allow egress through the opening and out of the Gallery in the event of a fire. The Won-Door is wired into the building AC Power supply and has its own 12v back-up battery in the event of a power failure.
Read full project bio here