Featured Project
Well-ventilated consumption

There are many advantages to shopping in a mall: You have a large selection of stores in a central location, outlets where you can stop for a snack or coffee, and since the mall is covered weather plays no role at all. However, being able to have a relaxed stroll around the stores requires good ventilation, which quickly removes the used air while keeping the temperature inside the center at a constant, pleasant level. Colt International has just fitted out the 56,000-square-meter shopping center Docks in the north of Brussels (developed by architecture studio Art & Build and client Equilis) with a sophisticated fire ventilation system.

Colt International developed a customized combination of the products Airlite, Firelight, Apollo and Coltlite for the center, which comprises eight adjoining buildings. Some 509 Airlite louvered ventilators were fitted into the center’s roof, which ensure not only the automatic removal of rising heat, but also smoke removal in emergencies, which is critical to saving lives. Specifically, 28 Apollo natural flap ventilators and six aerodynamic Firelight flap ventilators were installed on the roof and 49 Coltlite window louvres in the façades, which together ensure the natural extraction of smoke and heat in all areas. Compared with customary systems Airlite offers markedly lower heat and air leakage loss, in other words the unwanted entry or discharge of heat or oxygen in the system. To ensure the ventilation system maintains its initial high level of performance, Colt International will also be responsible for the long-term service and maintenance of the fire protection equipment in the shopping center. (am)