Tecnalia is taking part in the "NoFire project" (within the EU 7th Framework Programme), in which rapid opening and closing fire doors that are safer and more economic are being developed. Amongst the bodies participating in the project are four companies linked to the safety and construction of rapid fire doors —Portes Bisbal S.A. (Spain), Complex (Poland), Cedes GMBH (Switzerland) and Fegemu Automatismo (Spain)— and two technological centres from two different European countries: the Instituto Giordano (Italy) and Tecnalia (Spain).
The prime objective of the project is to save human lives in case of fire, as well as to provide new market opportunities that can offer important economic benefits and boost innovation in European companies in the field of safety. To this end, and within the remit of the established tasks, new materials are being investigated and fast-acting fire doors developed — in non fire conditions they have a rapid opening and closing cycle and when there is a fire they act to compartmentalise or isolate sectors.
It should be pointed out that the present project fills a gap in the current European market as regards these rapid opening and closing, fire-resistant doors, as well as their components — at a reasonable price.
Meeting at Tecnalia
A meeting of the "NoFire" project recently took place at the premises of Tecnalia in Azpeitia, in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa. Notable amongst the items dealt with at the meeting was the introduction of the prototype to current partners, enabling an evaluation of the possibilities offered by these new systems.
The new systems on which research is being carried out in this project increase safety, reduce maintenance costs, enhance thermal and acoustic performance and develop more competitive market products that comply with the strictest fire safety and prevention requirements in accord with the regulations.
The development of this type of door and its components —light barriers and contact bands— is innovative and contributes to the creation of new business opportunities in the field of fire safety, reducing as it does the risk of accidents in case of fire.