Francis Douglas Memorial College Redevelopment

The Francis Douglas Memorial College Gym in New Plymouth is a multi-purpose facility designed to accommodate both sporting and performance use. Designed by Boon Architects and constructed by Clelands Construction, the building includes large open spaces and circulation areas requiring consistent interior linings.

Fire-Rated Plywood Application

Plywood was selected as the primary lining material across walls and ceilings to provide a continuous and durable interior finish. Large-format panels were used to maintain alignment across surfaces and support efficient installation in a high-use environment.

Light weight and easy to machine, Flameshield Poplar was the ideal choice for the wall and ceiling linings. Flameshield Poplar helps to streamline projects where fire ratings are required to meet the building code. The intrinsic nature of Flameshiled Poplar allows for perforation without losing the key fire rating element, allowing Clelands Construction to create acoustic ceiling panels. A key element for a large space which will be frequented by large and often loud groups of students and guests.  

Specifying Fire-Retardant Ply

A key requirement of the project was achieving compliant fire performance, particularly within circulation spaces requiring Group 1 surface ratings. Maintaining a consistent plywood finish across these areas required a solution that addressed fire performance without introducing alternative materials.

This was achieved using Plymasters Flameshield Poplar, which meets a Group 1S fire rating in its raw state. A clear polyurethane finish was then applied to achieve the desired appearance while maintaining the fire rating.

By resolving fire performance within the material, the project was able to maintain a consistent lining throughout, including in areas with higher compliance requirements.

The result is a robust interior solution that meets performance requirements while maintaining material consistency across the project.

Fire-Rated Plywood for Education Settings

Plymasters’ Flameshield Poplar was chosen for its high fire resistance, as educational buildings have strict compliance obligations to meet.  The state-of-the-art Francis Douglas Memorial College gym will be a sporting and performance venue holding 900-plus people at once. Adherence to strict safety requirements is crucial for the safety of patrons. Plymasters fire rated plywood offered reassurance of achieving group1S while also offering a natural product to create a welcoming learning and communal space for students.