Fire-safe living and working in the Veem

With the completion of Het Veem, the former UWV office and grain warehouse in Hengelo has been given a sustainable third life. The 1900 building has been transformed into an impressive residential building with 93 two-room apartments and approximately 600 square meters of commercial space in which - thanks in part to the professionals at WIHA Fire Prevention - fire-safe living and working is possible.

The fire-resistant provisions of WIHA Fire Prevention ensure that fire and smoke cannot spread unrestrictedly through a building. This limits the damage and consequences for the building, people, animals and the environment, explains director Jeroen Tempels. "Our range of services includes the fire-resistant cladding or coating of steel structures, the installation of fire-resistant walls and ceilings and the fire-resistant sealing of penetrations in fire separations. This eliminates weak links in fire separations and limits fire and smoke developments to a single compartment or dwelling."

In Het Veem, WIHA Fire Prevention was commissioned by Winkels Techniek to fireproof all piping and installation work between the residences, from the residences to the corridors and in the floors. The same applies to the piping and installation work in the deck from the commercial space to the residences. As a result, all fire separations maintain their fire and smoke resistant function, Tempels said. "To effectively seal all leaks in the fire separation, we utilized Mulcol's complete range of products. From fire sleeves to bandages, rock wool shells, filling pastes and coatings, which were applied entirely in-house." In the process, WIHA Fire Prevention's professionals faced some challenges. "As in any repurposing project, we were also faced with unexpected issues in Het Veem, which we resolved neatly and in close consultation with Winkels Techniek, contractor Van Wijnen Eibergen and Mulcol. As a result, both the building owner and all residents are assured of a fire-safe and smoke-proof building in which people can live and work in a fire-safe manner. When an unexpected calamity occurs, it is also possible to escape safely. After all, all escape routes remain intact."