Students home, Louvain-La-Neuve

Site

Students’ residence Louvain-La-Neuve

Assignment

• 100 doors that are also fire-resistant (AND 1634-1 - category EI1 30 - Benor/ATG 2673), acoustic (ISO 717-1 - 37 dB) and burglar-proof (AND 1627 + 1628 + 1629 + 1630 - class 3).
• With wooden frame that could be finish painted

Problem

The combination of the different functionalities in combination with a wooden frame did not previously exist. Doorsolutions developed a new product that satisfied the requirements.

The client

“For a students’ residence, I needed doors that combined different functions”, states Sebastien Van Newenhoven. “They had to be burglar-proof, i.e. withstand a burglar equipped with a crowbar. Moreover, they had to retain the seat of a fire for 30 minutes, and also be capable of suppressing a noise level of 37 decibels. However, the real problem was that the frame also had to be manufactured from wood, whilst most suppliers could only supply such doors in a metal structure. Christoph could also not supply us with a tailor-made solution, but was immediately prepared to look for a suitable solution.”

Business Manager Christoph Baete from Doorsolutions:

“I do not like to disappoint customers. So, together with the architect, the general contractor, the contractor and the subcontractor, we immediately started looking for a solution that satisfied the requirements of the architect. Based on the technical knowledge that we had collated during the development of our existing door cores, we developed a new product and allowed it to be tested by the 'Wetenschappelijk en Technisch Centrum voor het Bouwbedrijf' (WTCB). The first test, with a frame in MDF, was a failure. We only received the necessary certificates after a modification using hardwood, and were able to start production.”

Conclusion

Christoph Baete: “By listening to the problems of our customers, and thanks to optimal collaboration with the interested parties, we succeeded in developing a new product. From now on, we will be able to deliver this type of door without problems with a wooden frame. This saves time for the joiners who have to install the doors. From now on, they will be able to take care of the finish by themselves, and will no longer be dependent on a third party supplier of metal frames.”

Test reports

• WTCB PV 4635 (acoustics)
• WTCB PV 10290 (forced entry)