D-BAUG - Departement Bau, Umwelt und Geomatik - ETH Zürich

Key Article ▪ New Monte Rosa Hut SAC
44 ▪ D-BAUG Annual Report 2009
Fire Safety of Guests and Hut’s Crew of First Priority
The choice of structural timber for the new Monte Rosa Hut necessitated an object-spe-
cific fire safety concept. In it the safety objectives and all measures were specified that
were required to achieve it. The safety of guests and the hut’s crew are of prime impor-
tance. Quality control ensures the implementation of the concept.
by Hansbeat Reusser, Holzbaubüro Reusser GmbH, Winterthur; Mario Fontana / IBK
The standard concept for Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) huts
normally applies the fire protection guideline «Abgelegene
Beherbergungsbetriebe» der Vereinigung Kantonaler
Feuerversicherungen (VKF) – «Operating Remote Hostels»
of the Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers. If a project involves
more than two storeys, for the whole structure and
the fire compartments a non-combustible construction is
required. The selected method of timber construction
using prefabricated elements for the new Monte Rosa Hut
necessitated a specific fire safety concept for the building.
Fire protection objectives and special features
The safety of guests and the hut’s crew was of paramount
importance in the formulation of the fire protection objectives.
Thus the occurrence of fires and explosions should
be prevented using technical and organisational measures.
The spread of flames, heat and smoke is limited by constructional
measures and the creation of fire compartments
while also ensuring the structural stability of the
building for a specific period of time. The protection of
neighbouring buildings is not a factor here due to the remoteness
of the location. The intervention of the fire service
is made impossible by the lack of access and the insufficient
supply of fire-fighting water. On the other hand,
it may be assumed that because of the location of the hut
high in the mountains, the hut’s visitors are agile, physically
fit and quite used to the mountains. However after a fire
they must be protected against icy weather conditions.
Concept
Besides the short and convenient escape routes from all the
rooms to a safe place, the concept provides each guest room
with a secondary escape route using a fixed outside emergency
stairs. According to the VKF regulations the new Monte
Rosa Hut is defined as having four storeys. Therefore, the detailed
design of the timber structure accorded with the building
rules for four-storey timber structures with living accommodation,
working areas or rooms for educational purposes.
Quality Control
Quality control was considered to be of prime importance
in relation to fire safety. The assigned quality control level,
agreed upon with the fire safety authority, was Q3 in accordance
with the Swiss Timber Industry Lignum documentation
«Brandschutz» – «Fire Safety». In general, the
work of the fire safety specialists involved the preparation
of a fire safety concept in agreement with the fire safety
authorities, advising the planners, supervision of the call for
tenders, production (prefabrication) as well as periodic
checks during erection and the final checks with the authorities.
Thus, throughout all phases of the project it was
required to act as consultants for the components relevant
to fire safety from planning and execution right up to the
putting into operation as well as supervising and accompanying
the work. This also required close cooperation
with the architects and site management personnel.
Technical Fire Safety
The hut is fitted with an automatic fire detection and
alarm system with continuous monitoring in all rooms.
The system controls the ventilation dampers, the fire doors
and the smoke and heat venting system. Emergency
lighting facilitates safe escape. The energy is supplied by
solar and battery power. For fire fighting, because of the insufficient
supply of water, hand-held fire extinguishers
and fire buckets with spraying devices are available.
Organisational Fire Safety
A special feature is the provision of 120 bivouac bags outside
the hut. These are necessary so that after a fire with
a quick successful escape people are not left without protection
in the case of icy weather conditions.