A new class of international kindergarten <NOBR>has been built</NOBR> in Olomouc using FERMACELL materials

A record number of children who were unable to enroll in kindergartens in Olomouc after last year's admissions has led the Olomouc city hall to set an ambitious goal of increasing capacity by up to 260 children within one year. New classes have been and will be opened not only in public kindergartens but also in church and private facilities. The city hall financed the construction of a new building for the private Czech-British International School and Kindergarten, s.r.o., on Roosevelt Street. The kindergarten for 20 children was completed at the turn of August and September 2011, and Steico beams, clad with FERMACELL fiber cement boards, were used in the wall and ceiling structures.

A new standalone single-story building was constructed within the grounds of the kindergarten and primary school on Roosevelt Street in Olomouc by the Statutory City of Olomouc with financial support from the EU (Regional Operational Program Central Moravia). The new class of the Czech-British International School and Kindergarten became part of the city’s integrated plan "Attractive and Competitive Olomouc". The project was developed by the design office of Ing. Karel Doležal, with Carman a.s. from Uničov being the general contractor and builder. Approximately 1500 m² of 12.5 mm FERMACELL fiber cement boards were supplied by Spikas Olomouc.

The structural system using FERMACELL fiber cement boards combines the basic advantages of these boards and wooden I-beams - energy-efficient and environmentally friendly construction with perfect insulating properties, high stability, load-bearing capacity, strength, impact resistance, and fire resistance of the walls and structures with these materials. The structures with FERMACELL fiber cement boards and beams or wood fiber thermal insulation are certified and have successfully passed fire tests.

With the STEICO-FERMACELL construction system, construction was also very fast, allowing subsequent tradesmen to begin their work without long waits for wall drying. "Electrical, installation, and other conduits could be installed economically into the structures. As a result, the time for internal construction work was shortened, and the building was ready for the 2011/2012 school year.", said Pavel Ončo, regional manager for the Morava region from Fermacell, who was responsible for the entire project with the largest European manufacturer of fiber cement boards and added: "Not only are speed and an ecological method of construction with a focus on health typical for FERMACELL materials. In schools and kindergartens, their "practicality" and high durability and strength are also valued - the cladding with FERMACELL boards withstands impacts from people and objects and can easily support shelves for books and toys or a television screen or clothing hooks."

The new kindergarten building is heated by a heat pump and meets the requirements for passive standards. Blower Door testing successfully confirmed the airtightness of the external cladding. When selecting the construction system and building materials, the investor considered not just energy efficiency and speed of construction, but especially the maximum safety of children, their health, and acoustic comfort inside the classroom. Therefore, great emphasis was placed on certified and non-toxic building materials and systems during the construction of the new building, and excellent fire and acoustic properties were also required. The used construction system with FERMACELL fiber cement boards met all the demands.