VALMIERAS STIKLA SKIEDRA : Our fabric in the tallest building in Seoul

In the tallest building in Seoul, South Korea, and the fifth highest in the world - the Lotte World Tower skyscraper, glass fibre fabric produced by Valmiera Glass Group has been used to provide the high fire safety requirements in the high-rise building. The fabric is used as a fireproof smoke and fire curtain or as a fireproof barrier, which is an effective type of protection in emergencies associated with the origin and spread of fire in the premises.

Oto Grīnbergs, Valmieras stikla šķiedra JSC Sales Region Manager: "Participation in the Lotte World Tower project is the result of several years of work. This was achieved in close cooperation with our partner in South Korea, which covers our high silica glass fibre fabric with a fireproof polyurethane covering. As a result, the fabric serves as a fireproof barrier that delimits separate rooms and even floors, protecting people from the flames and smoke, as well as facilitating the work of rescue services. The fabric is sewn according to a set certain size and shape, attached to a motorized system and built into ceilings. When the fire alarm is activated, the fabric barrier is lowered almost to the floor. Each barrier also employs an exit to allow people to escape from the danger zone. This is just one of the several buildings in which our fabric is used."

The fire safety curtains are used for dividing rooms into fragments of area with the aim of preventing the entry of fire and smoke into potential ignition zones. As a result, such equipment can significantly reduce the damage caused by the fire and ensure an immediate and timely evacuation of people, which is especially important in high-rise buildings, so that people can also feel safe on the upper floors of the building.

The undeniable advantage of the fireproof curtains is their invisibility and compact placement. They are wound on a shaft and placed in a compact fireproof box. Until the alert is heard signalling the origin of fire, the curtains are visually invisible. When the alarm is triggered, a signal is given to the control module and the curtain is automatically lowered by locating the area of ignition or smoke spread.

Jānis Ķikuts, Head of Product Group of Valmieras stikla šķiedra JSC: "The Valmieras stikla šķiedra JSC client's ability to define the final product specification at the beginning of the project development was very important, since the project architects had planned to use a special-shaped structure of fire-prevention curtain. Requirements were addressed and the client and the designers were educated. In 2012, at the starting phase of the project (and even now), the South Korean market offered various technical solutions, even at three times lower costs. The durability indicators of our silica fabric at high temperatures and the small remaining fabric shrinkage were the main parameters for the selection of the fabric KA-600P (124) TA1 from Valmieras stikla šķiedra JSC. Our long-standing experience in the Japanese market has also given our client confidence that our fabric can be used in such an important project. It is a good reference both for us and for our client, in order to successfully attract new project partners in the future and develop new markets."

The gigantic, vertical skyscraper, at 555 meters height consists of 123 floors, and was open to the public at the beginning of this year. The Lotte World Tower is primarily intended for leasing premises to various companies and corporations. For a tourist experience the high-rise building contains an extensive shopping mall, a six-star hotel Signiel Hotel with a restaurant that has been awarded with three Michelin stars, and a viewing platform located at the top of the tower at more than 500 meters height with a stunning panoramic view of Seoul. It is estimated that the cost of building the tower amounted to about .5 billion.