Convento P.P Capuchinos San Antonio de Padua, Spain - Pyroguard Protect

Pyroguard’s technical expertise recently proved vital on the regeneration of the Capuchino Convent de San Antonio de Padua in Spain; a project which required a careful balance between renovating the historic building, ensuring modern fire safety regulations were met and being respectful of the Convent’s heritage.

The Challenge

The project presented teams with many challenges, mainly how to work within the parameters of a historic building and bring it in line with modern-day regulations, all while simultaneously respecting its heritage and aesthetics.

When it came to the building’s compartmentation, an important part of any building’s passive fire protection strategy, the use of glass was key. To ensure that any new glazing was in keeping with the convent’s style and heritage, the Duramen System from AFVidrio was chosen – a timber frame with a varnished oak finish.

The Solution

A bespoke EI120 fire resistance test was then carried out, using AFVidrio’s frame in collaboration with Pyroguard. This fire test was a critical phase of the project and provided assurances of the overall glazing system’s performance. Pyroguard’s expertise and technical knowledge was key in helping to design and pass the EI120 fire test, which featured its Pyroguard Protect fire safety glass.

Another challenge of working within historic buildings, as opposed to a new development, is having to adapt the building products to suit the existing structure. On the Capuchino Convent de San Antonio de Padua project, a selection of the glazing units were semi-circular doors and other shaped glass, rather than the standard rectangular panes. Here, Pyroguard again demonstrated its technical expertise, supplying bespoke glass components to suit the on-site framework.