Ciel Tower is Dubai’s newest landmark making headlines. Standing at 365m, the high-rise development is set to become the world’s tallest hotel, containing 1,042 luxury suites and serviced apartments set across 82 floors.

Its award-winning, sculpture-like design has been conceived to embrace the benefits of vertical living, with a glass curtain wall façade offering panoramic views across the city, whilst its gently curved form reflects the everchanging daylight.

To ensure this striking design achieved the necessary passive fire safety, specifying fully tested and certified perimeter fire barrier system solutions from an experienced manufacturer was essential.

Design and specification

The skyscraper’s beautifully curved unitised glass façade presented an interesting challenge when it came to specifying suitable passive fire protection. In line with the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code, the curtain wall elevations required a perimeter fire containment solution comprising a firestopping system installed continuously between the floor slab edge and spandrel panel at each floor, with protection to the spandrel zone. The solution had to provide a 2-hour minimum (EI 120 or FT 120) fire rating.

What’s more, the specification called for the use of perimeter firestopping seals that could maintain their integrity  around the curved elements of the design, and that would be able to continue providing the required fire resistance should sections of the façade collapse. It also stated that any firestopping assembly should be procured from a single manufacturer with at least 3 years’ experience in the market.

With over 50-years’ experience in the development, manufacture, and supply of passive fire protection products, Siderise were ideally placed to meet this strict criterion and our enhanced perimeter fire barrier system was specified from the outset.

The chosen system used Siderise CW-FS120 Curtain Wall Firestops to provide a 2-hour fire resistance for both the floor-to-floor horizontal compartmentation and zone-to-zone vertical compartmentation at each partition and curtain wall interface.

For the protection to the spandrel and vertical mullions at each level, a single layer of Siderise CW-FB Curtain Wall Fireboard provided the requisite 2-hour fire resistance.

The UAE Fire and Life Safety Code compliant system designs for this project was based on two tested and certified systems, one to EN 1364-4: 2014 and the other ASTM E 2307.

The EN 1364-4 test included movement cycling of the Siderise CW-FS120 to EAD 350141-00-1106, which sets out the rules regarding the test requirements. Subjecting the firestop to mechanically induced movement before the fire test allows it to demonstrate how well it be able to tolerate constant façade deflection without deteriorating.

CW-FS120 easily accommodates this movement thanks to its unique precompressed vertical-fibre Lamella construction. This inherent property also makes it ideal for ensuring integrity within the curved elements of the construction, as its compression enables it to fit tightly against the floor slab and curtain wall, even in areas with an inconsistent void gap.

Installation and inspection

Installation quality is fundamental to the performance of passive fire protection products. To ensure this was achieved on this project, our UAE technical team along with GIG’s site services team carried out comprehensive installation training onsite. This included constructing a façade mock-up assembly to clearly demonstrate how to properly install the spandrel protection system and illustrate the expected standard of work. In the circumstance where works do not meet the high standard set, our inspection services team will identify the corrective actions that need to be taken before sign-off by the project consultant.

Summary

Ciel Tower exemplifies what can be achieved when artistic vision combines with technical knowledge. The stunning design is not only a draw to Dubai’s visitors and residences but has been realised in line with the strict UAE Fire and Life Safety Code — including ensuring effective passive fire protection — to create a building that will serve the region and its people for decades to come.