Seminar: Structural Fire Protection and Accessible Design

This seminar provides an initial overview of two complex subject areas that have a significant impact on the structure, functionality, and quality of life in buildings. Attendance at both submodules in a single semester is mandatory. The topic of fire protection is covered weekly in a seminar format, while accessible design is addressed in a intensive weekend course in May.

Structural fire protection establishes important requirements for building structures—knowledge of these requirements forms the basis for design. Firefighter Klaus Mierke is a fire safety technical consultant for the Kassel City Fire Department and has extensive expertise in communicating fire safety issues and in linking legal principles to architectural design work.

The accessible design of buildings and public spaces is becoming increasingly important against the backdrop of an aging population and the growing independence of people with disabilities. The seminar provides a brief overview of the regulations and legal frameworks necessary for planning accessible construction and highlights examples of accessible buildings. The in-depth intensive seminar, which includes an awareness-raising component and takes place over a weekend in June, enables participants to creatively apply the knowledge they have gained in impromptu design exercises. The overlaps between the two topics will be discussed in a joint session.

Gudrun Jostes (B.Eng.)
Klaus Mierke (Senior Fire Department Official)

This course is offered regularly during the summer semester.