Frankfurt Exhibition Hall 12.

In cooperation with the Aachen-based architectural firm kadawittfeldarchitektur, a hall was created that not only redefines aesthetics and functionality, economy and sustainability, visitor guidance and comfort. As an ideal venue, it is also an urban planning idea for a new piece of Frankfurt. The striking body of Hall 12 expands the trade fair hall ensemble to the west, sets inspiring accents in the marketplace of global business, and provides new vantage points in Frankfurt's European Quarter. The equipment with innovative room air technology ensures a high level of well-being and safety.

Gigantic airspace

A total of 97,620 m² of walkable space, 33,600 m2 of exhibition space, an order of magnitude of 6 soccer fields. Enclosed space of almost 340,000 m3. A visitor capacity of almost 24,000 people. The new Hall 12 is an exhibition building of superlatives. With so many people emitting CO2 and spreading heat, and with exhibition stands also contributing heat through lighting and technology, the ventilation and air-conditioning system not only has to provide large volumes of conditioned fresh air, but also dissipate high thermal loads.

Energy-efficient ventilation system

The two exhibition levels are air-conditioned with a total primary air volume of approx. 840,000 m³/h, while induction moves a total of approx. 3,500,000 m³/h of air with a cooling capacity of approx. 10 MW. "In exhibition hall 11, we have had extremely good experience with the comfortable climate and energy efficiency of an air-water system," says Anton Heisler, head of the Technical Building Equipment department at Messe Frankfurt, "and have therefore again decided to equip the building with active chilled beams." Two-thirds of the heating and cooling capacity is provided by secondary air through the medium of water. Air-water systems have the great advantage that energy is transported "by water" much more efficiently than via air. By comparison, an air-only system requires three times the primary air flow rate for room cooling. Experience gained in Hall 11, which is similar in width but a full 60 m longer, and the results of energy monitoring there provided the planners with valuable information. As in Hall 11, INNIUS GTD GmbH Dresden carried out complex simulation calculations (CFD - Computational Fluid Dynamics). In order to achieve optimum results and air quality, the planning, design, arrangement, and alignment of the TROX induction diffusers were specified and thus considerably facilitated.

Built sustainably

The client "Messe" attached great importance to sustainable construction. In addition to energy-efficient air conditioning through the air-water system, a photovoltaic system on the roof provides energy generation equivalent to the average annual consumption of 241 four-person households. With an expected coverage of 1.5 MW, solar energy will generate around 20 % of the electrical base load.

Virtual planning

Brendel Ingenieure, the planning office responsible for the project, used state-of-the-art methods to design the air-conditioning, fire and smoke protection systems. A virtual 3-D model of the technical building equipment was created.

Fire tests

If a fire breaks out, it must be ensured that up to 25,000 people leave the hall quickly and safely via smoke-free escape routes. The digitally networked TROX fire and smoke protection system with its components ensures that one thing meshes with another. The proof for safe escape and rescue routes was provided by comprehensive CFD analyses of smoke gas propagation, taking into account the complex room geometry and the three-dimensional flow conditions. With the help of the fire simulation, the problem areas were identified and a solution proposal was developed that could be implemented in terms of plant engineering. This guarantees compliance with the set protection targets under the existing boundary conditions. For this purpose, smoke extraction air volumes of 1,000,000 m³/h were realized in the two exhibition halls and 400,000 m³/h in the two foyers, and hot gas smoke tests were carried out in accordance with VDI 6019 Sheet 1 to ensure low-smoke layers.

INTELLIGENT FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION CONCEPT

In the extremely high foyers West and East, the necessary air can be discharged from the exhibition hall via TROX overflow dampers, since only one fire event can be assumed at a time. TROX X-FANS fans with the optional DAX casing meet the thermal insulation regulations according to EnEV, save costs, and ensure controlled smoke removal via the roof. In the lower level of Hall 12, smoke and temperature are removed via smoke extraction ducts for individual sections that lead laterally into the functional rooms via the EK-EU smoke extraction dampers and from there by means of smoke extraction ducts for multiple sections via the roof through the X-FANS BVD smoke extraction fans. On both levels, X-FANS AXN and DRV-EC supply air fans provide the necessary air flow into the exhibition halls via AH ventilation grilles. The upper level of Hall 12 is directly connected to the 50 X-FANS roof fans type BVD.

16 stairwells around the exhibition hall enable smoke-free escape from both levels thanks to the pressurized ventilation systems (DBA). Positive pressure - supply air fans transport the required total volume flow into the stairwell - ensures that smoke does not enter the stairwell from the fire floor. Outside air is drawn in via EK-JZ smoke extraction dampers at the intake opening, since fire events from outside are also taken into account, and thus fire transfer into the building can be averted when the damper is closed.

The intelligent X-FANS fan diagnostics system

The TROX X-FANS installed in exhibition hall 12 are equipped with the intelligent fan diagnostic system and a volume flow measuring device. The volume flow measuring device is used to determine the operating volume flow. The volume flow rate can be measured without great effort, for example, at the connection of on-site ductwork. This considerably speeds up adjustment work. Annoying discussions between people involved in construction, e.g. about measuring points or measuring methods, are a thing of the past. During the test runs prescribed every six months, the system reports the status of the smoke extract fans and, in particular, the motors. This ensures permanent and safe operation. Maintenance of the fans must only be carried out after the diagnostic system has reported the condition. The grease and bearing replacement intervals recommended by the manufacturers can also be omitted when using the diagnostic system and only need to be carried out after the system has signaled. Especially in the case of smoke exhaust fans, this is a decisive advantage over the previous practice of periodic inspection and ensures a noticeable saving in maintenance.

Digital intelligence creates safety and cost advantages

With intelligent solutions such as the TROX X-FANS fan diagnostics system, the actual condition of the fan with regard to wear and performance can be assessed in a very short time and stored and compared in the software supplied. This makes it easy to optimally tune the fan performance and adjust it to the duct system in relation to energy-efficient use. The intelligent networking of the fire protection and smoke extraction components ensures the decisive functional reliability of the system in the event of a fire.

Construction data

Client: Messe Frankfurt Venue GmbH
Planner: Brendel EngineersFire protection expert: Peter Vogelsang
Architects: kadawittfeldarchitektur
Responsible persons at the fair: Anton Heisler and Stephan Hahn
Area: 16,800 m² per hall level, lower hall level variable
Hall interior dimensions: 211.90 x 79.50 m
Clear hall height: 10 m on both levels
Maximum number of people: 11,800 per level

On the roof of exhibition hall 12: TROX X-FANS BVD roof smoke extract fans are equipped with the intelligent fan diagnostics system.

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