Frankfurt Airport
Fraport AG, based in Frankfurt am Main, is among the internationally leading companies in the airport business. With Frankfurt Airport, it operates one of the most important air transport hubs in the world. Measured by passenger numbers, Frankfurt Airport ranked fourth in Europe in 2014, and first among European airports in the freight sector. Where more than 60 million people depart, land, or transfer every year, the topics of fire prevention and smoke control are of very special importance.
On the basis of System Schröders door and gate constructions, custom solutions were developed and implemented for Frankfurt Airport together with the partner Hodapp.
Special requirements for safety closing zones
Large crowds of people, suitcases left standing around, trolleys, and other objects are particularly problematic in the event of a fire alarm.
In order to guarantee safe closing of fire resistance doors and gates at all times, special structural measures were taken. These include, among others, specially marked zones indicated by floor markings. In addition, optical and acoustic signal transmitters ensure that sufficient time is available to remove obstructing objects in good time.
Custom-made fire resistance gates and doors
An airport requires large passage corridors in order to cope with the enormous flows of people.
Since the newly acquired Airbus 380 flight operations at Frankfurt Airport gave rise to construction measures, the opportunity was used to install fire resistance doors and gates that deviate considerably from the "normal" dimensions.
Size, type of installation, and design required an individual approval from the supreme building supervisory authority before construction began.
Fire resistance gate over 9 metres wide
A double-leaf hinged gate in the airport's handling area with a width of over nine metres is a prime example. All products installed here comply with fire resistance class T30 and the smoke control functions according to DIN 18095. In the open state, the gate forms a flush-mounted unit with the wall together with the two escape doors. Other gates are not visually perceptible during normal airport operations. For example, the telescopic sliding gates disappear completely behind a steel sheet cover. Safety comes first.
Additional safety through escape doors
When the large gates start moving, this is announced by acoustic and optical warning signal transmitters. Despite the size and weight of the gates, it is ensured that even minor resistances bring the closing process to a halt. Once the obstruction has been removed, the gate leaves resume movement automatically without manual intervention. Even when the gates are closed, the double-leaf escape doors remain passable in order to ensure safe use of the escape route for many people as well.
All fire resistance doors undergo regular functional testing and maintenance to ensure that they perform their duty flawlessly in an emergency.