Havenhuis, Port of Antwerp, Belgium

Sharpfibre were invited to advise and then install for the best way to achieve the 120 minute fire rating to the Euro standard (more rigorous than British Standards) for a system that could be applied off-site at Victor Buycks steel fabrication facility in Ghent. Application was to be to pre-constructed large segments of half a floor plate each. These were then to be shipped by barge to Antwerp before being lifted into place in a number of massive lifts. Once in place touch up and repairs were carried out to the fire protection. The fire protection system used was Monokote MK-6/HY by Grace. Used for its lightness, which was a significant factor in the choice of material.

This was one of the most challenging projects Sharpfibre have carried out in our 31 years in the business.

Cementitious fire sprays may be applied within environments where limited exposure to the elements is likely throughout the building phase of the project. They can also be used for applications to steel and concrete frames, metal floor or roof decks, as well as return air plenums. The new building symbolises the dynamic, reliable, ambitious and innovative nature of the Port of Antwerp. The Port House is the daily workplace of 500 employees of the Port Authority and it acts as a meeting place for the many international contacts of the Antwerp port community. The new Port House repurposes, renovates and extends the derelict fire station into a new Headquarters for the Port. The old fire station on the site, a protected replica of a former Hanseatic house had to be integrated in the new project. The alternating transparent and opaque panels are intended to visually break up the scale of the structure. They also provide ample daylight, shade and views out to the Scheldt river, city and port for workers.