Industry news
Clean and fresh air is not just for humans!
One of the oldest zoos in the world, the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden has been operating since 1866, and many of its 87 buildings are listed as historic monuments. The zoo is undergoing a decades-long, ongoing reconstruction programme, during which state-of-the-art building services systems are being installed behind the historic walls. The institution is open every day of the year and welcomes 1 million visitors annually.
Recently, among the renovations, the most popular among visitors, but also one of the most sensitive areas, the House of Great Apes, was renovated.
Gorillas have been living at the institution since 1989, and even the youngest member of the five-strong team is eight years old. Orangutans have also been delighting visitors with their presence for almost four decades. Both species are critically endangered, and their special environmental needs are met by modernising the building's cooling and ventilation system. The project was implemented by Novoterm-96 Kft. using solutions from Lindab.
Postmodern building, home to human-like creatures
There are only a few thousand individuals of these two species living worldwide. In the zoo, the right microclimate for gorillas and orangutans is not only a matter of comfort, but also of quality of life and even survival. The aim of the new system is to provide them with fresh air, a constant temperature and a noise-free environment. The site of the project is the House of Great Apes, which was built in 1987 based on the designs of Mária Beöthy. The postmodern-style building, which serves as a home for Sumatran orangutans and gorillas, has undergone several renovations in recent decades.
The health and comfort of the animals was a key focus during construction.
The Novoterm-96 Kft. has previously been used in renovation work at the zoo. In their current assignment, they did more than just mechanical work during the modernisation of the air handling and entire ventilation system. They reinforced the supporting structure, repaired the reinforced concrete surfaces and created a new concrete base to provide a durable and safe structural foundation for the ventilation system.
The work carried out to ensure the comfort of the primates required special attention. During construction, a dust extraction system was used to maintain air quality, and quiet working practices were employed to ensure that the animals' behaviour and daily rhythms were not disrupted.
Lindab solutions: quality, durability, precision
An important element of the project was the installation of a complex ventilation network manufactured and supplied by Lindab, which simultaneously provides fresh air supply, exhaust, air treatment and noise reduction. Lindab's solutions combine reliability, sustainability and simple implementation, which is essential in animal housing facilities. The square cross-section Lindab air ducts provide excellent stability with their trapezoidal reinforcement design, while being easy to fit to the air handling unit located in the machine room.
The ease of installation was a huge factor in the success of the project, given the location.
Challenge: harmony between technology and nature
Lindab Safe air ducts were also used in the project. Components with SR pipe diameters between 100 and 500 millimetres run under the flooring of visitor areas and in ventilation shafts. With its outstanding air tightness, the Lindab Safe ensures energy-efficient and even distribution of fresh air. Air volume control is performed by Lindab DRU controllers, which regulate the air flow so that the required amount of air reaches every zone.
An important part of the system are the sound-absorbing elements, for which solutions from a Swedish ventilation technology company were chosen. A leader in the field of Lindab acoustics, the company develops its products based on results measured in its own laboratory.
The zoo has installed Lindab SLRS sound attenuators, which offer exceptional sound attenuation values even on the domestic market. The aerodynamic, teardrop-shaped design of the products reduces air resistance, while laboratory measurements show that they offer one of the best sound attenuation performances in their category.
Another important part of the system are the Lindab fire dampers, which close automatically in the event of a fire, preventing the spread of flames in the ventilation ducts and thus protecting the animals.
Energy-efficient, sustainable operation
With the new system, the House of Great Apes has been equipped with modern, high-quality ventilation technology. The precise fit of the Lindab components, their airtightness and low pressure loss contribute to minimising energy consumption, while the excellent quality ensures that the system remains stable and durable in the long term. As a result of the modernisation, the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden now has an international-standard animal housing facility that
It simultaneously serves the welfare of the animals, the comfort of visitors and the energy efficiency goals of the operator.
Balance between tradition and technology
The renovation of the ventilation system in the House of the Apes is a worthy continuation of the zoo's reconstruction programme, which combines the preservation of historical values with modern building engineering solutions.
Lindab, one of Europe's leading aerospace companies, is particularly proud of this project, which contributes to the comfort of not only people but also endangered animal species. In all segments of its operations – innovation, manufacturing – it pays special attention to sustainability and protecting our environment. The company is a pioneer in reducing its ecological footprint and sets an example for the entire industry with its efforts.
Source: Link
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