RIEDPARK IN LAUCHRINGE, GERMANY

The 60 minute fire rating requirement of the buildings had to be met without having the lower timber surface of the CLT slabs covered with gypsum board. The non-standard configuration of the mechanical penetrations made the design of the right firestop solution even more challenging. Our solution was a joint fire test with the manufacturer Lignotrend. All mechanical and electrical penetrations were tested on their floor. For the mechanical applications, our CFS-C EL endless collar was used. Our CFS-BL P firestop blocks were selected to seal the large cable penetration openings.

Since 2015, legal changes in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg allow the use of wood materials in tall buildings (up to building class 5) without the additional insulation with non-combustible gypsum boards. Architect Jörg Kaiser had originally planned a hybrid construction made of reinforced concrete and wood, as the risk of fire in a massive wood class 4 building was still a major concern.

Riedpark had a fire rating requirement of 60 minutes and both buildings have been designed without covering the lower CLT surface of the slab with gypsum board, which theoretically reduces the resistance in a case of fire. Despite the changes in the regulations, the lack of internationally approved solutions for firestop in wood creates uncertainty in meeting the high fire safety standards. In addition, the complexity of the mechanical penetrations that were in a non- standard configuration (waste water pipes in the corner, elbow pipes), made the firestop design more challenging for M&E planners and firestop engineers. Also, sound insulation was a key concern for the architect.