A newly introduced advanced fire-proof architectural system will be a highlight of the impressive line-up of curtain-walling, doors, windows and sliding solutions that Reynaers, a leading European architectural aluminium solutions provider, intends to showcase at The Big 5 in Dubai this month.

The extensively enhanced CS 77-FP combines superior fire-proofing solutions for doors and partitions with vast design and aesthetic potential and ease of production and installation, according to Ali Khalaf, managing director of Reynaers Middle East, the Bahrain-based regional office of the Belgian architectural solutions specialist.

“This highly integrated state-of-the-art solution offers two ranges to retard fire for 30 and 60 minutes, both designed for inside and outside application,” he says.

The CS 77-FP has been designed as an extension to Reynaers’ standard CS 77 system. “It provides a high-quality flush door and partitioning system that combines elevated requirements with regard to fire resistance, stability, safety and thermal insulation, while offering the comfort of the use of standard profiles and components. In addition to its fire-resistant qualities, it also incorporates features that enhance burglar resistance, access control, panic and emergency exit functionalities and smoke-tightness,” he says.

Elaborating on its features and the tests conducted to ensure its integrity, Khalaf says: “The CS 77-FP has been certified by various internationally recognised laboratories throughout Europe and is fully compliant with EU regulations, achieving EI30 and EI60 classification for fire resistance. It was exposed to fire under controlled conditions in order to determine the stability, thermal insulation and radiation insulation over a certain length of time. This was done with glass and hardware of different suppliers, resulting in the widest possible range of approved solutions.

“The system uses well-insulated profiles with cooling inserts and intumescent strips to achieve its outstanding fire- and smoke-resistant performance. The intumescent strips expand substantially in volume when exposed to heat, sealing every gap, while the cooling inserts control the maximum temperature increase of the element’s surface, thereby containing the fire for 30 or 60 minutes with the EI30 and EI60 variants respectively.”

The CS 77-FP doors can be combined with burglar resistance to RC 2 grade, in line with European testing standards EN(V) 1627-1630, and an emergency or panic function to permit users to open locked doors from the inside in case of danger.

While designing the system to deliver the best possible fire resistance and safety solutions to the construction market, architectural versatility, aesthetics, superior quality and ease of construction were not neglected, he points out. The CS 77-FP door and partitioning system also accommodates fixed windows, while its extended range of flush doors is available for all inward and outward opening door types. It is designed to accept a full line of door locks and hinges to fit all types of locking requirements, ranging from standard single-point locks to motorised multi-point locks, as well as fully integrated solutions in building management systems.

“The doors can be used in different compositions and in combination with fixed glazing to create limitless glass walls and to increase light and transparency in the building. Both single and double leaf doors are available up to a maximum door leaf size of 1.3 by 2.75 m, making it possible to design extra-large doors. The system is compatible with most of Reynaers’ gear and stylish Purity design handles.

“The CS 77-FP glazed partition walls and fixed window elements are available with heights up to 4.4 m for the EI30 variant and 3.8 m for the EI60, carrying glass sheets of up to 2.1 m wide and 3.5 m high, depending on the classification selected. This allows the architect to create glass walls of practically limitless lengths. Maximum glass surfaces of 6.85 sq m (EI30) and 4.45 sq m (EI60) can be accommodated,” Khalaf says.

Cross-section of the CS 77-FP ... a fire-proof solution.

Reynaers has been a regular participant at The Big 5 Dubai for several years now and its impressive display at this year’s show includes a practical mix of its most popular systems and newly-launched systems. These include the CW 50-SC, a functional façade and roof system that offers virtually unlimited design freedom and allows maximum transparency; and the insulated and aesthetic CW 86 system, which complies with the requirements of large building projects.

Among its sliding doors, the newly launched Hi-Finity, a ‘door with an infinite view’, will be presented for the first time at The Big 5. This latest innovation features an ultra-slim design which creates large transparent surfaces, with a light, sleek and elegant appearance. Despite the minimal visual sidelines, the system’s high strength allows Hi-Finity to carry large glass pane weighing up to 500 kg.

The CP 130 and CF 77 are among the other sliding systems to be showcased at The Big 5. The CP 130 is a highly insulated slide and lift-slide system, which meets the highest requirements with regard to insulation, stability and safety, whereas the CF 77 combines high insulation and comfort with maximal transparency and elegant look.

Reynaers’ windows line-up at the show will include the CS 68-SO (Soft Line) and Sensity. The CS 68 is a universal system offering stability, thermal insulation and security and is available in a variety of styles – Functional, Renaissance, Soft Line and Hidden Vent. Sensity (CSW 86-HI), which combines the best of aluminium and wood, is a highly insulated aluminium system for windows based on the technologically refined Reynaers CS 86-HI system, guaranteeing a comfortable interior climate, he continues.

“Our stand at The Big 5 will allow visitors to experience the functionality and mechanisms of the various systems displayed. A larger team of Reynaers’ sales and technical staff will be present at the stand to answer the queries of visitors and we hope to emphasise on the company’s ever-growing capabilities and the innovative strategies taken up over the years of operation specifically in the Middle East,” says Khalaf.

The company is celebrating 10 years of operations in the Middle East this year and has announced the launch of a warehouse facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, which will begin operations in early 2015.

Reynaers is a leading European specialist in the development and marketing of innovative and sustainable architectural aluminium solutions for windows, doors, curtain-walling, sliding systems, sun-screening, conservatories, skylights, screens and systems to incorporate blinds and ventilation grids. Established in 1965 and headquartered in Duffel, Belgium, Reynaers has offices in more than 30 countries worldwide. Besides offering an extensive range of standard solutions, the company also develops solutions that are tailored to individual projects.

Reynaers Middle East was established in Bahrain in 2004 to provide hi-tech aluminium architectural solutions for the growing construction needs in the region.

The company will be exhibiting at Stand F111, Zabeel Hall, at The Big 5.