Overview
English Heritage is a charity trust set up to care for collections and sites across the nation. The trust was founded in 1983 and is responsible for over 400 sites.
One of these sites is Osbourne House, which has been owned and managed by English Heritage since 1986. The Victorian house was originally built in 1851 as a summer holiday home for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and currently remains as a popular tourist attraction located on the Isle of Wight, with its original design still preserved to this day.
Brief –
Due to the historical value of the estate, there was a requirement for effective fire compartmentation throughout the property. Global needed to improve the original elements of the property by updating the fire protection without damaging the historical elements of the property, within a timeframe of 3 weeks to complete the work.
Situation
The client required the original aesthetics of the building to remain, yet the fire rating of the building needed to be improved. Concerns were raised with the Fire Officer at English Heritage as in the Durbar Wing, the historical cross-corridors required fire safety measures to be put in place.
Challenges –
Working on a historic building presented as a challenge due to needing to protect the heritage of the site whilst also ensuring that it met regulations. For example, because the house was built in the 1850’s, replacing the doors with fire rated doorsets was not an option. Therefore, a proactive approach needed to be used to ensure that damage didn’t occur to any of the paintings, so the Royal Collection was booked in to remove paintings and sculptures near where Global’s work was taking place, they also ensured that areas were clean screened to minimise dust damaging the important objects.
Solution
Instead of replacing the doors with new doorsets in the Durbar Wing, Global carried out remedial works to the cross-corridor doors, as we value working collaboratively with our clients to create fire safety works that meet their requirements and regulations. We also replaced the existing vision panels on the doors in the building with fire rated glazing and fitted intumescent combination seals to create compartmentation.
To further improve the integrity of the doors, we hardwood glazed panels to the doors and loft lights and added a 3-part envirograph intumescent coating to doors and timber. As well as completing door remedial works, we also replaced the existing fanlights and added fire rated boxing around electrical consumer units.
Results –
- Compartmentation created through door remedial works
- Fire resistance through passive fire works
- Compliance with regulations
Summary
The team were able to complete door remedial works to create compartmentation, and to ensure that the fire rating of the building was improved and met regulations whilst maintaining the Victorian aesthetics of the building.
By prioritising the client’s requirements, the team at Global were able to deliver a high standard of work alongside maintaining exceptional customer service over the course of the project.
