Providing the ideal combination of visual appeal, thermal insulation and fire protection, UK-made CONTRAFLAM® integrity and insulating (EI) glazing from GLASSOLUTIONS has been used to create a stunning atrium within the newly completed extension to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

The project is one of many that have benefitted recently from the CONTRAFLAM range of fire resistant glazing, all of which is manufactured by GLASSOLUTIONS. In addition to commercial and domestic doors and windows, the product range suits a wide variety of applications including partitions (even butt-jointed), screens and floors.

A range of fully insulating, clear, fire-resistant safety glass, CONTRAFLAM offers from 30-120 minutes of integrity and insulation (EI30-EI120). It is the only product of its kind made in the UK. The products consist of two or more sheets of toughened safety glass with the cavity between the sheets of glass filled with a transparent intumescent gel interlayer which reacts when exposed to fire. Several specialist versions are also available:

• CONTRAFLAM LITE® is a range of partially insulating, clear, fire-resistant safety glass, offering 30-120 minutes of integrity and partial insulation (EW30-EW120).
• CONTRAFLAM DOOR LITE® is a special product for use in doors and is only 11mm thick. It offers 30-60 minutes integrity and partial insulation protection (EW30-EW60).
• CONTRAFLAM STRUCTURE® is a product which enables fire-rated frameless glass solutions for internal applications. It offers 30-120 minutes integrity and insulation fire-resistance (EI30-EI120) and combines an aesthetically appealing, minimalistic appearance with the highest standards of performance.
• CONTRAFLAM STRUCTURE LITE® offers 30-60 minutes integrity and partial insulation fire-resistance (EW30-EW60).
• CONTRAFLAM STRUCTURE CORNER® is for fire resistant corner solutions. It enables more transparency than ever before, due to the lack of corner profiles, and offers 30 minutes of integrity and insulation fire-resistance (EI30).

To see the fire protection provided by CONTRAFLAM, take a look at this video:



Conference call

CONTRAFLAM is used in prestigious construction projects across the UK and the Edinburgh International Conference Centre extension demonstrates its appeal.

Designed by BDP Architects and completed by main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine, with project management by Mace Group, the extension adds a new dimension to the already iconic building.

Installed by leading façade designer and contractor Charles Henshaw & Sons, the fire rated glass atrium provides protection from the first floor through to the roof level, and helps to create a light and spacious area.

Manufactured by GLASSOLUTIONS Solaglas, in conjunction with sister-company Vetrotech, at their dedicated Coventry production facility, two formats of CONTRAFLAM were supplied for the EICC project to suit the different requirements within the new atrium. Henshaw installed 1,500m2 of EI30 CONTRAFLAM (30 minute integrity and insulation) in screens within the main atrium and 250m2 of EI60 CONTRAFLAM (60 minutes integrity and insulation) in screens on the ground floor areas.

In addition to the CONTRAFLAM glazing, GLASSOLUTIONS also supplied designed, manufactured and installed five rooflights, one of which is used in the roof of the atrium, utilising SGG COOL-LITE® solar control glass.

Graham Chung, sales director at Henshaw said: “The EICC was already a landmark Edinburgh building, but the impressive new extension makes it very special and it’s a project we’re proud to have been involved with. CONTRAFLAM has enabled us to meet the brief extremely well thanks to the unique unit construction that utilises toughened glass which assisted in meeting the guarding loads and acoustic reduction value.”