Arts centre underlines treated timber fire performance

Treated timber's performance under fire has been demonstrated by the use of Duplex oak boarding treated with Arch Timber Protecton's Dricon fire retardant in the renovated Pier Arts Centre in Stromness, Orkney,

The centre, which houses a collection of British fine art donated by author, peace activist and philanthropist Margaret Gardiner, features 150m² of Dricon-treated boards in the stairwell wall linings and upper balustrade section, the ground floor main entrance wall and ceiling linings, and the ground floor concealed cupboard doors.

Arch said that the use of fire retardant timber throughout the centre was "testament to its trusted performance" in a "natural and traditional atmosphere".

"The specification of fire retardant treated timber, particularly for the staircase, is testament to its trusted performance in a fire," said Richard Adams, fire retardants manager at Arch.

"This is the main route linking the upper and lower ground floors, and the safety of the thousands of visitors passing through the centre every year is obviously paramount."

The Pier Arts Centre was reopened in July 2007 after a two-year, £4.5m lottery-funded redevelopment.