Pyroguard delivers five-star service to luxury Indian hotel
When the Indian Hotels Company commissioned the design of its Vivanta by Taj – Dwarka, the latest luxury five-star business hotel just outside New Delhi, fire safety regulations scuppered the use of lifts which opened directly into the corridors of the hotel.
With the architects hoping to realise their vision of space and light on the ground floor, but the fire officer demanding fire safety partitioning around the base of the lift shafts, the manufacturer of fire-resistant glass, Pyroguard, tendered a stylish solution.
Striking a balance between practicality and aesthetic excellence
Taking on-board the design aspiration of the team at Indian Hotels, combined with the fire-safety requirements needed for design approval, Pyroguard envisaged a lobby encased in glass and steel, capable of delivering best-in-class performance credentials and aesthetic appeal.
Working closely with steel frame and glazing specialist Pacific Fire Controls, Pyroguard designed a modern glass wall, with a glazed door and stylish, thin steel frames which were independently fire tested by Efectis France. The scheme amendment was accepted by both the architects and the fire officers, reportedly declaring Pyroguard as its manufacturer of choice for this flagship leisure development.
Meeting the highest of standards
A subsidiary of India’s largest business conglomerate, the TATA Group, the Indian Hotels Company is said to be known for its relentlessly high standards, which are visible across its portfolio of hotels. Meeting this quality benchmark head on, Pyroguard supplied 390m2 of ultra-thin lightweight Pyroguard Integrity Plus, which is said to offer protection from flames, smoke and radiant heat for between 30 and 120 minutes.
This EW-classified product is said to be UV-stable and offer exceptional light transmission, making it the perfect solution for encasing the lift lobby, which still needed to be flooded with light. The toughened glass was installed in fire-resistant steel screens and door frames around the lobby, providing protection for hotel occupants making their escape in the event of an emergency.
Upon completion of the project, the main contractor congratulated Pyroguard on its excellent levels of customer service, citing that their timely follow-ups and rapid response to queries were critical in driving the project forwards.
Ritesh Chhadwa, sales representative for Pyroguard India, said: “Specifying Pyroguard products for such a prestigious hotel environment is a real testament to our quality standards and showcases the aesthetic finish that can be achieved with a product which is essentially designed to save lives.
“Protecting the lift entrances from fire risk at ground-floor level was essential for ensuring that, in the event of a fire, flames and smoke did not rise up through the shafts to the floors above. This doesn’t mean the client should have to compromise on style though, as demonstrated so well with this project.”