Special challenges due to architecture and desert climate

Since 1967, SIMON PROtec have been a pioneer and specialist when it comes to electrical smoke and heat extraction (SHEV) or ventilation and window automation - in particular, the manufacturing of window opener units. "The folding arm actuators supplied for this project are used to electrically open a total of 578 front windows for air intake and exhaust," Weber explains. 505 windows of these are each equipped with two folding arm actuators that are operated synchronously with each other. An additional 73 windows each have only one single actuator. The opening width is set to meet the respective requirements for the geometric opening area. The windows are driven via a central building management system (BMS) to control the natural ventilation. Wind speed and direction are monitored, and humidity and temperature sensors enable the windows to be opened automatically if condensation is expected.

The integrated SICO BUS technology takes care of synchronous operation and precise positioning control. "This way, SIMON PROtec ensure that natural ventilation is possible within a few seconds in the Zayed National Museum, with the special challenges of a desert state, and also fulfils all the requirements for preventive fire protection in smoke and heat extraction," Weber is pleased to report. Due to the geographical location and the prevailing climatic conditions, it was also a project-specific requirement that no sand (dust) be allowed to penetrate the window opener unit itself and that it be protected against water - both of which are made possible by the IP65 protection class of the folding arm.

Other special features are the cable routing, which runs exclusively within the window frame and is therefore invisible. The folding arm is perfectly integrated into the overall visual concept via a special and dirt-resistant colour scheme in basalt grey (AKZONOBEL RAL 7012).

With their German development and production quality, SIMON PROtec ensure that one of the most ambitious cultural projects in the Far East can count on the highest precision when opening and closing the 1083 windows. Somehow it all sounds a bit like a fairy tale from the Arabian Nights.