Founded in 1935, Marr College in Troon, Scotland, is a Category B listed secondary school. It is of special historic interest, both due to its architectural style and because it was created with the financial backing of local coal merchant, Charles Kerr Marr. Serving the local community for more than 80 years, an overhaul and expansion was recently required to allow for increased accommodation.
A balancing act
Listed status meant any expansion would need to accommodate modern demands without losing its heritage.
As part of this, meeting the necessary safety requirements of today’s building regulations was crucial and something which could be achieved by specifying materials appropriately.
Improving circulation
With increased numbers of students now attending Marr College, improving building circulation was critical. This involved a change of use of two existing courtyard spaces to create large multi-use atria, made possible with the installation of an Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) roof.
Fire-rated screens
Steel fabrication specialists, Martec Engineering provided the steelwork within the courtyards, including Schueco Jansen fire-rated glazed screens. Pyroguard supplied a variety of fire-rated glass solutions to sit within the new screens.
Acting as minimal secondary glazing, these screens allow the building’s original 1930s Crittall style metal windows to remain in the spotlight. The screens are designed to have the smallest visual impact possible whilst providing the required protection to the rooms beyond, adhering to EI30 and EI60 ratings as required.
To ensure a product that could meet all the fire and loading requirements was specified, Pyroguard provided technical guidance to cater for the project’s constraints of working within a listed building, helping with the specialist design of additional fire-rated glazing to be incorporated in existing timber windows and doors.
Due to the ambitious nature of the project, more than 300 sqm of Pyroguard toughened glass, including Pyroguard Integrity Plus T EW30/6, Pyroguard Rapide Plus EI30/EI60 and Pyroguard Protect T- EI60, was chosen. Protecting against flames, smoke and radiant heat, the selected glazing range has the advantage of providing Marr College with additional radiant heat control and greater fire protection. In tests this glass demonstrates the ability to maintain the amount of radiant heat to below 15kW/m2 on the unexposed face, protecting critical evaluation routes for occupants.
Keith Milne, Design Manager at Martec Engineering, said, "The information and guidance from the technical team at Pyroguard was invaluable on this project, particularly in regards to creating a custom detail for the fire protection within the existing timber windows and doors. We worked hand in hand with Pyroguard through the whole project ensuring the correct specification and design of products to provide the safety and security that this building required.
Preserving the courtyards’ architectural features
Milne points out the key requirement of their steel secondary glazing fire screens, was for them to “fade into the background and not detract from the character of the building. This was achieved with our manufacture of high quality steel frames with minimal sight lines and Pyroguard’s fire-rated safety glass”.
The result of this collaboration was the creation of a space which is light, airy and elegant, providing all safety protections in the event of a fire without impacting on the architectural language of the original building.