New Maggie’s Cancer Centre in North London
The latest Maggie’s Cancer Centre at the Royal Free Hospital in North London features a unique design by Daniel Libeskind.
This structure, which lacks vertical lines and flat surfaces, presented complex challenges for the contractors involved.
Middlesex Ltd., responsible for fire-stopping, utilised FIREFLY fire barriers to protect the multidirectional form of the walls and soffits.
As reported by FIREFLY, this project demonstrates the UK construction industry’s ability to realise imaginative architectural concepts.
The year-long build was managed by Sir Robert McAlpine, a consistent supporter of the Maggie’s charity, with Middlesex Ltd. installing the façade and drywall elements.
The fire-stopping division of Middlesex used various FIREFLY products, including Zeus Lite, Titan Lite, and Collaroll, to cover the steelwork and other main structure elements.
Challenges and solutions
Simon Coldwell, Site Manager for Middlesex, commented on the difficulties posed by the building’s shape: “Because of the shape of the building, whose walls lean and curve in three directions, it would have been impossible to carry out conventional fire-stopping operations using fire boards and fire batts without extensive fire testing: so the FIREFLY products have proved ideal.”
He highlighted the support from FIREFLY’s technical representatives in ensuring compliance and addressing special areas like the wall/soffit junctions.
Coldwell added: “As well as the fire-stopping internally, all of the exterior to the walls at ground and first floor level are wrapped in FIREFLY.
“The barriers have been installed over the main frame and are then covered by 200mm of insulation, a Tyvek breather membrane, and then the timber cassette cladding panels.” He praised the experienced team of Middlesex Fire-Stopping operatives, who had undergone FIREFLY training, for their effective work on the project.
Past and future projects
A spokesperson for Sir Robert McAlpine stated: “Each designed by a world-renowned architect, Maggie’s centres are some of the most distinctive buildings in Britain.
“As such, they are often incredibly challenging to construct.
“It was this complexity that led to our initial involvement with the charity at the award-winning, Kisho-Kurokawa-designed Maggie’s Centre at Singleton Hospital, Swansea.”
The spokesperson further mentioned the company’s ongoing involvement with the charity, having overseen the construction management of Maggie’s centres at multiple hospitals since the Swansea project.
This ongoing commitment underscores the collaborative effort required to bring these architecturally unique buildings to life.
Technical aspects of FIREFLY products
FIREFLY Zeus Lite 90:30 provides 90 minutes of integrity and 30 minutes of insulation, exceeding the minimum requirements of the Building Regulations’ Approved Document B (Fire Safety).
The product’s certification covers the inclusion of service penetrations, a feature not all fire barriers possess.
The FIREFLY range, made from woven and non-woven glass, is designed for optimal resistance to flame and smoke while offering heat protection in various scenarios.
These barriers are easily installed horizontally or vertically using a complete selection of FIREFLY ancillary products, ensuring a fully tested and certified system.
This flexibility and reliability make FIREFLY an ideal choice for complex projects like the Maggie’s Cancer Centre.