The objective of VK architects+engineers was to translate the desired training scenarios of the fire brigade into a reference design and to define the design, structural and installation-technical preconditions that would guarantee the sustainable safety of the site.
An important part was to clearly define the resulting boundary conditions and restrictions. In this phase, VK's input, based on its experience with the architectural design of industrial sites, was essential in order to concretise, in close consultation with the parties involved (various Vesta campus departments, Antwerp fire brigade zone), the exercise objectives as a safe exercise site that is maximally in line with a real industrial site.
Equally important was getting to know and understand the intervention methods used by the fire brigade: here too, VK was able to provide input from its experience with active fire protection on industrial sites. The interaction at a complementary level of knowledge on all aspects of fire protection and emergency response between stakeholders and designer is therefore essential for the realisation of the project objective.
In a second phase of the assignment, VK acts as a moderator between the client and the contractors, monitoring the conformity of the execution with the reference design and checking the proposed alternative versions and whether or not they can be taken into consideration.
The following areas of expertise are dealt with in an integrated way: Building expertise on fire safety // Fire simulation of various fire sources // Fire scenarios and resulting intervention methods // Collection and reuse of fire fighting water // Active fire protection // Passive fire protection
