GEZE at the football World Cup: Preventive fire protection in stadiums
Large parts of the traffic and hotel infrastructure were newly built in the run-up to the football World Cup in South Africa - including the Cape Town Stadium and the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. GEZE implemented tailor-made RWA systems and solutions for preventive fire protection in both stadiums.
State-of-the-art stadiums with maximum fire safety and RWA requirements
A complete makeover for the World Cup: five new sport stadiums alone were completed in the run-up to the 2010 football World Cup in South Africa. The new buildings - including the 'Cape Town Stadium' in Cape Town and the 'Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium' in Port Elizabeth – required the highest levels of functionally, safety and design. Designed by the top team of German architects Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) to accommodate 68,000 football fans, the outer shell of the Cape Town Stadium reflects the incoming daylight in a dazzling array of colours. gmp also designed the 42,000-seat stadium in Port Elizabeth, with a roof construction that arches towards the middle of the pitch like petals. The architects and builders opted for state-of-the-art door and window technology from GEZE for both projects.
Preventive fire protection through natural smoke extraction
Preventive fire protection was an essential aspect in the planning of the Cape Town Stadium.
A fire is the worst case scenario in sports stadiums of this size; smoke gases render emergency exit signs unrecognisable in seconds. Efficient smoke and heat extraction systems (RWA) are essential in safeguarding escape and rescue routes. In the Cape Town Stadium, still known as the 'Green Point Stadium' during the 2010 World Cup, an ingenious smoke and heat extraction system (RWA) by GEZE extracts smoke as soon as it occurs; the warm smoke rises through thermal momentum, while fresh air streams in through air supply openings (windows and doors) in the lower area of the stadium. GEZE has equipped the exhaust air windows with fully developed electric RWA system drives. As well as their smoke and heat extraction function, the systems also help with the daily ventilation of the stadium. The emergency power supply control unit is the ‘brain’ of the RWA system: it takes over the supply, coordination and monitoring of all the connected opening systems and alarm components.
GEZE door closers: safety and convenience in all areas
A whole host of visual and technological solutions have been realised in the entrance areas and interior doors of both stadiums with the GEZE door closer portfolio. For example, GEZE overhead door closers with integrated closing sequences for fire and smoke protection doors help to close the door leaves in the right order, so that two swing door leaves close tightly and act as a safe fire closer. An electromagnetic hold-open function for the door leaves, with variable opening angles, guarantees that large numbers of spectators can pass comfortably through the stadium doors. Together with a smoke switch, the detection mechanism contributes to preventive fire protection; in the event of a fire, the hold-open function is suspended and the door closes automatically. The floor springs by GEZE are particularly unobtrusive; they are almost invisibly integrated into the floor, making them perfect for the heavily-frequented stadium doors. Naturally, the door closers are also suitable for use with fire protection doors.
Elegant door convenience for exclusive hotels
State-of-the-art window technology in an exquisite design: the Oyster Box Hotel in Durban.
It is not only planners and operators for football stadiums who rely on the first-class quality of GEZE door and safety solutions. The various door closers from the GEZE product series are also used in the 5-star luxury resort, the Oyster Box Hotel. The magnificent building in the north of Durban which overlooks the Indian Ocean, was reopened at the end of 2009 following several years of renovation.
World Cup fans were able to enjoy all kinds of comfort here, before sharing the excitement at the matches in the nearby Moses Mabhida Stadium - against an acoustic backdrop of vuvuzelas.
Discreet elegance: GEZE door closers ensure ease of access
The traditional colonial architecture of the Oyster Box Hotel forms an appealing contrast to its contemporary interior. The perfect environment for the integrated GEZE Boxer door closer, which is completely integrated into the door leaf and offers an incomparably discreet door appearance. The 15 on Orange Hotel - named after its location in the centre of Cape Town - was also renovated just in time for the World Cup. It is not only the elegant, consistent aesthetics of the GEZE door closer that come into play in the city's consummate boutique hotel. Automatic designer glass sliding doors also help to shape the inviting, transparent atmosphere at the 15 on Orange hotel. Sleek GEZE Slimdrive SL drive units, at just 70 mm high, move the fine-framed door leaves quietly and elegantly.
GEZE door technology for the new World Cup airport
A World Cup is inconceivable without a perfectly functioning aviation infrastructure: about a month before the beginning of the World Cup, the new King Shaka International Airport in the south of Durban commenced operation. Just like the stadiums and luxury hotels in the World Cup host country, the new airport used state-of-the-art and innovative door closing technology by GEZE to transport football fans and teams safely, quickly and comfortably between cities and continents.
GEZE products in the New Green Point Stadium (Cape Town), the Oyster Box Hotel (Durban) and in King Shaka International Airport (Durban)
- Smoke and heat extraction systems (RWA)
- Electric RWA drives
- Overhead door closers with integrated closing sequence control for fire and smoke protection doors
- Electromagnetic hold-open function
- Integrated GEZE Boxer door closer
- Floor springs
- GEZE Slimdrive SL sliding door system
