Gulf Construction Online - Drainage champ keeps fire at bay

Security & Safety

Drainage champ keeps fire at bay

01 January 2006

ACO Group – a pioneer in surface drainage technology and also a major provider of building technology – says that its fire-protection gullies, which have been gaining in popularity, have already been used in several high-specification projects across the globe.

“Our product developments regularly open up new and more effective solutions, such as for fire protection in buildings, which must comply with very strict regulations in Germany,” says Peter Fröhlich, managing director of ACO Building Technology.
“ACO has already earned several architectural prizes for its innovative fire protection gullies. In the most recent references, the gullies were used in major projects all over the world for international fire protection solutions,” he adds.
Gullies are essential wherever wastewater has to be drained from floors and removed via drainage pipes. In buildings with special functions such as hotels, hospitals, airports and industrial complexes, the gullies also have to meet very high safety standards. This is because gullies in drainage pipes can potentially be a major safety risk if they allow fire and smoke to spread from one floor of a building to the next.
“ACO solved this dangerous problem with a special system that prevents fires from spreading in both directions: from the lower floor to the next higher floor and vice versa. The solution is the use of non-flammable gullies equipped with a fire protection set. ACO has a choice of two materials: the cast iron gully product line Wal-Variant-Selecta (see right); and the stainless steel product line Variant-CR,” says a company spokesman.
“The gullies and fire protection sets successfully passed independent tests under extreme smoke pressures. The fire protection set consists of a foul air trap with a heat protection shield and a fire protection cartridge containing an intumescent foam. At high temperatures, the intumescent foam expands and seals the gully between the floor and the ceiling – preventing the spread of fire and smoke. ACO holds a patent for the product combination ‘Gully plus a fire protection system’,” he adds.
ACO Building Technology covers drainage as well as separating and pumping. The grey water treatment segment is currently undergoing major expansion. Customised solutions can be made available for all product lines, concludes the spokesman.
More information can be obtained from www.aco.com or from the Aco branch office in Dubai.