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CTICC Fire Curtain System Upgrade at Cape Town International Convention Centre

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Table of Contents

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Project Overview

The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) is one of Africa’s leading venues for large-scale conferences and exhibitions. Its expansive layout divided into CTICC 1 and CTICC 2, demands rigorous life safety systems, including fire containment and safe egress pathways. Apex Engineering, in collaboration with Solution Station Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd, led the replacement of three large-scale vertical fire curtains using Coopers FireMaster® Plus2. The aim was to upgrade fire resilience infrastructure and align it with modern international safety standards.

Client

CTICC

Location

Cape Town, South Africa

Product Installed

Coopers Firemaster Plus2

Quantity

3 Units

Sizing

8200m x 6800 mm (Drop)

Fire Rating

120 minutes integrity (E) 60 minutes radiation control (EW)

Standard Compliance

BS 8524-1

Consulting Engineers

Solution Station (PTY) Ltd

Fire Engineers

Reynier Oelofsen, PR.ENG
Portrait of fire engineer Rey Oelofson beside the Solution Station logo and credentials, highlighting his consultancy role on Apex Engineering’s CTICC projects.

Fire Strategy

The fire strategy implemented at CTICC2 is designed around the Progressive Horizontal Evacuation model—an approach that emphasizes compartmentalised movement of occupants away from fire-affected areas into zones of relative safety. This strategy is especially critical in high-density public facilities where immediate vertical evacuation is not always feasible.

Fire curtain applications

– Create fire-rated separations between fire compartments and across corridors.

– Protect critical escape paths until final discharge.

– Support phased evacuation logic where safe areas must remain tenable while fires are being managed.

To effectively support this evacuation model, the fire curtain must

– Deploy rapidly upon alarm activation, using fail-safe motors that remain operational during power failures.

– Maintain integrity for 120 minutes (E120) to prevent fire breakthrough.

– Limit radiant heat to < 10 kW/m² for at least 60 minutes (EW60), ensuring people can pass safely in proximity.

– Contain smoke to protect visibility and breathable air in escape paths.

The selected FireMaster® Plus2 system meets these requirements through BS 8524-1 certification and performance-tested materials specifically engineered for large-scale, public-use environments.

Application and Function

application and function point 1

Maintaining Compartmentation

Large curtain barriers restore passive fire compartmentation, limiting fire propagation across functional areas.

application and function point 2

Separating Adjoining Routes

Barriers isolate separate means of egress, preventing cascading failure of multiple escape systems.

application and function point 3

Protecting Firefighting Lift Lobbies

Key firefighting infrastructure—including dual-entry lifts—is shielded from radiant heat and smoke ingress.

application and function point 4

Protecting Escape Routes

Curtains guard designated escape corridors, enhancing the survivability of these paths during active-fire scenarios.

application and function point 5

Safeguarding Firefighting Access

Curtains protect access for emergency services, maintaining integrity and visibility in response zones.

Technical Performance

COOPERS FIREMASTER® PLUS2 IS A HIGH-PERFORMANCE FIRE CURTAIN SYSTEM OFFERING:

• BS 8524-1 compliance for active fire curtains

• 180 minutes integrity (EI180) & 60–90 minutes radiation control (EW)

• Total Gravity Fail-Safe (TGFS) for secure deployment during system or power failure

• Tenable Zones, reducing radiant heat below safe exposure thresholds
Each fire curtain measures 8.2 meters wide with a 6.8 meter drop, deployed in a Wide Single Roller configuration—an engineering feat in itself due to the scale and uniformity required for operation under fire conditions.

Project Outcome

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Improved fire compartmentation integrity

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Evacuation safety aligned with fire engineering strategy

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Life safety maintained under extreme fire conditions

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System certified to BS and EN standards

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Reduced long-term liability and increased fire resilience

Fire strategy is not only about code compliance—it’s about protecting lives in real emergencies. Our integration of the FireMaster® Plus2 into the CTICC’s life safety design helps ensure that, in the event of a fire, occupants can evacuate progressively, safely, and efficiently.

Reynier Oelofsen, Solution Station Consulting Engineers

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