FIRE SAFETY
n North Medical Centre, Estonia The scope of this healthcare project involved extending the largest hospital in Estonia with a new 14,000 m² building. Keeping stable temperatures in the oncology department was key when planning the HVAC equipment. For the insulation of the cooling system, the general
contractor Merko Ehitus Eesti specified ArmaFlex Ultima. The BL-s1,d0 classified material guarantees reliable condensation control and energy savings in the long term. Insulation contractor Koda Ehitus protected pipes with diameters from 18-89 mm, with tubes and sheets in various insulation thicknesses. To improve safety, ArmaFix Ultima pipe hangers were used to mount the pipes. All in all, more than 6 km of ArmaFlex Ultima tubes, around 500 m² sheet material and 6,200 ArmaFix Ultima pipehangers were installed in this project.
One project involved extending the North Medical Centre hospital in Estonia with a new 14,000 m² building.
compromised health, making it essential that they can evacuate safely in the event of a fire. As a result, healthcare facilities are subject to stringent regulations regarding fire safety.
Below are some recent case studies that have used our products. Tom Merton
Tom Merton is a Technical manager at Armacell UK, a global manufacturer of thermal and acoustic insulation for use within the construction industry. With over 10 years’ experience in insulation for building services, Tom works with consultants and contractors to ensure greater energy efficiency of building services through the correct specification and application of insulation materials, driving towards the UK’s Net Zero targets. He is also involved in standardisation committees working on the development of standards covering insulation for pipework, ductwork, vessels and mechanical service equipment.
n New Stavanger University Hospital, Norway Positioned on the hill of Ullandhaug in the scenic surroundings of Lysefjord, the new University Hospital is one of Norway’s largest, and serves a population of 400,000 in South-Rogaland. The project called ‘SUS 2023’ set out to provide a modern, specialist healthcare solution, that prioritised the future needs of its patients. The university hospital is designed as a garden city with four rectangular buildings connected by glass bridges over inner courtyards, with nature flowing freely between them to support patients’ recovery. All in all, around 67,000 metres of cooling pipes had to be protected against condensation and energy losses. For the insulation of pipes running in escape routes, the engineering consultancy COWI AS (Oslo,Norway) specified the BL-s1,d0 classified ArmaFlex Ultima. The construction was carried out as a Building Information Modelling (BIM) project with industrialised processes and digital collaboration. The buildings are connected to a district heating network which provides space heating via underfloor heating, whilst a cooling system provides comfort cooling. Chilled water is primarily provided by seawater from the Hafrsfjord. A team of 65 people from Sig
Halvorsen (and Finn Midtbøe, Stavanger) insulated the cooling equipment with the support of around 20 insulators from Kaefer Norge. As an energy intensive building, insulating the mechanical equipment with ArmaFlex is an easy and efficient way of saving energy. Our insulation materials had to meet the most stringent environmental requirements and save specifiers time by being accredited in the main green building schemes.
New insulation materials are helping to create a safer, more energy efficient healthcare environment.
134 Health Estate Journal October 2025
n Turku University Hospital T3, Finland The extension of the Turku University Hospital (TYKS) in Finland was built over the railway and the E18 motorway. With a total area of 54,000 m² over eight floors, T3 joins the various parts of the hospital to create one functional building. The visual appearance of the hospital refers to the nature of the Finnish archipelago and a lighthouse island. For this project, ArmaFlex Ultima elastomeric foam insulation was specified for the insulation of the cooling equipment by the general constructor. The insulation contractor, Teollisuuseristys Sorri Oy, installed more than 12 km of ArmaFlex. Ultima tubes and 1000 m² of ArmaFlex Ultima sheets with insulation thicknesses of 13 and 19 mm on pipes, with diameters ranging from 15-89 mm, were used.
The role of insulation in fire safety We can see that insulation materials play a crucial role in healthcare design. They not only help to regulate temperature and improve energy efficiency but also contribute to the overall safety of building occupants during a fire. The choice of insulation can significantly impact the amount of smoke produced during a fire event. Our ArmaFlex Ultima uses patented ArmaPrene
technology, meaning we offer a complete range of B/BL-s1,d0 classified tubes and sheets. In comparison to a standard elastomeric product, the flame-resistant insulation material reportedly develops 10 times less smoke and offers increased safety in the event of a fire. Unlike traditional insulation materials that may release toxic smoke during combustion, these materials are designed to emit minimal smoke, enhancing visibility and
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184
