KIBS International School, Hannover

Conversion of an existing building into an international school

Openness to the world, responsibility for the future – KIBS International Bilingual School on 3,300 square metres of PURLINE organic flooring from wineo

Nurturing, challenging and empowering children individually to meet the challenges of global issues – the Kämmer International Bilingual School in Hanover, known as ‘KIBS’ for short, represents a type of school that optimally prepares the next generation for the increasing demands of an ever more interconnected world. The all-day school – from nursery through primary to secondary level – utilises state-of-the-art teaching and learning methods and the content of international curricula, enabling young people to develop their talents and thus master the challenges of a complex global world creatively and with self-confidence. With bilingual teaching from Year 1 onwards, the school fosters teamwork, critical thinking, results-oriented entrepreneurial action and an awareness of pupils’ responsibilities in social, economic and societal contexts.

The principles of social responsibility and critical scrutiny of existing conditions were also applied to the extensively modernised school building. As part of the building’s conversion for use as a school, a resilient floor covering was required that could withstand the extremely high demands of everyday school life, whilst at the same time being simple and cost-effective to maintain and care for over the long term, given the total floor area of 3,300 square metres requiring refurbishment.

The architect had originally planned to use linoleum for the floor. However, following extensive product comparisons, the client opted for PURLINE, the permanently elastic, polyurethane flooring from wineo. The flooring, manufactured in Germany by Windmöller predominantly from natural and renewable raw materials, won over the decision-makers. According to the manufacturer, PURLINE is not only unbeatably sustainable and hard-wearing (NK 43), but also extremely easy to maintain and safe. Although PURLINE has, in addition to numerous international certificates, also received a certificate from an independent, internationally recognised testing institute regarding its durability and cost-effectiveness in maintenance (life-cycle cost analysis), the operator requested its own testing procedure in view of the high levels of wear and tear expected and the flooring’s long service life. Windmöller was happy to comply with the client’s request to fit a sample room in the building with PURLINE, so that intensive soiling and cleaning tests could be carried out according to their own criteria. The three-month trial period and the numerous stress tests proved successful, as expected, with the result that the eco-friendly flooring has now been installed in three different designs in the canteen, the nursery area, the classrooms and a sports hall.

A selection of designs featuring various special finishes was chosen: the dark blue, slightly chipped ‘Blue Lagoon’ design was used for the canteen, whilst the nursery was fitted with the warm ‘Pacific Oak’ wood-effect design combined with the light blue ‘Summer Sky’ design. The gym area was fitted with the light blue ‘Summer Sky’ and marked out with white court markings. As higher impact sound insulation values had to be met in the gym area, PURLINE was laid over the manufacturer’s 2 mm soundPROTECT Eco Plus acoustic mat, which is also made predominantly from renewable raw materials. This reduces impact sound levels by up to approx. >19 dB (decibels) and walking noise by approx. 28 per cent.

Following the tests and everyday experience to date, the operating company is so convinced of the product properties of the organic flooring that further areas (650 square metres) at the KIBS have been fitted with PURLINE.

PURLINE is sustainable and safe

wineo’s PURLINE is odourless. It is deliberately free from chlorine, plasticisers and solvents, and also optimises room acoustics perfectly. PURLINE meets the EN 13501-1 standard for fire behaviour (= Cfl-si – flame-retardant) and, in the event of a fire, emits no toxic gases and very little smoke – ensuring that escape routes remain visible in an emergency.

This polyurethan flooring is sustainable not only because of its material composition, but also throughout its entire lifespan. The PU surface is highly resistant to dirt and chemicals, can be maintained using a standard PU cleaner, and ensures simple, quick and hygienic cleaning. According to the aforementioned study by the Pfiff Institute, PURLINE delivers long-term savings of up to 30 per cent on staff and cleaning product costs compared with other permanently elastic floor coverings, making the use of this flooring exceptionally cost-effective, particularly for high-traffic areas and walkways. Furthermore, its material-specific, thermosetting resilience means that indentations caused by sustained point loads regenerate almost 100 per cent within a short time.

Certifications & Awards

PURLINE is manufactured in Germany. This sustainable flooring has been awarded numerous internationally recognised environmental labels and certifications, such as the Blue Angel, Cradle to Cradle Silver, GreenGuard Gold, EPD, TFI-TÜV Proficert, the Finnish M1 standard for construction products, the Danish Indoor Climate Label and the French A+ label. In addition, the organic flooring has received numerous internationally renowned design awards from architects, including the raumPROBE Materials Award in the Ecology category, the Interior Innovation Award 2014 and the Iconic Award 2014 ‘Best of Best’. The wave of success continued in early 2015: PURLINE digital received the prestigious Interior Innovation Award 2015, organised by the German Design Council.