Smoke vents keep Cardiff college safe and cool
Client: Cardiff and Vale College
Location: Dumballs Road, Cardiff
Overview:
The new city centre campus block for Cardiff and Vale College features innovative green design on a site in the city’s Dumballs Road. The multistorey design will be used by around 4,000 students each year, and features 130 teaching rooms including specialist workshops and IT suites. Much of the accommodation is arranged around a central glazed atrium. The building’s environmental credentials include largely natural ventilation, and the country’s largest array of photovoltaic cells, covering 1,850 sq m. Adexsi was called on to advise on the best way to ensure ventilation and smoke extract in case of fire.
Outcome:
Working with main contractor Willmott Dixon and subcontractor CMB Engineering, Adexsi delivered its Veripower system for installation in the building’s fire cores. This ensures smoke is extracted and key circulation routes remain safe for building occupants to escape. For the atrium, Adexsi provided a Certilight ventilation system that doubles up by helping to control natural ventilation of the atrium on a daily basis and acting to support smoke extract. In the case of a fire in the building, the same components are immediately deployed via the building’s management system, to clear smoke from the interior.
Working with main contractor Willmott Dixon and subcontractor CMB Engineering, Adexsi delivered its Veripower system for installation in the building’s fire cores. This ensures smoke is extracted and key circulation routes remain safe for building occupants to escape. For the atrium, Adexsi provided a Certilight ventilation system that doubles up by helping to control natural ventilation of the atrium on a daily basis and acting to support smoke extract. In the case of a fire in the building, the same components are immediately deployed via the building’s management system, to clear smoke from the interior.