Interview with Harmeling on RAUKANTEX fire.protect

"True creators of interiors" sums up the Harmeling brand. Based in the city of Rijssen in the Netherlands, the unique aspect of this company is how it reflects the individual identity and personal needs of its customers as it designs one-of-a-kind interior concepts and executes them down to the last detail with passion and perfectionism. Offices, hotels, shops and schools are subject to strict fire safety regulations. We spoke with Innovation & Process Manager Mitchell Rodhouse about all the challenges this presents in terms of material selection and production.

Mr Rodhouse, the Harmeling brand has made a name for itself across Germany and internationally for custom interior design combined with high-quality craftsmanship. What makes Harmeling so attractive for its customers?

When a customer trusts us with their space, we promise success. This could be an office that invites employees to give their best. A store where a customer chooses to spend an extra 15 minutes to enjoy their shopping experience. Or perhaps a luxurious, comfortable home that was previously just a house that the customer lived in.

Local partners and top national and international brands have been relying on this promise of success for years. They choose us because we think one step further: where others stop, we keep going. And we do this with over 130 colleagues. Our down-to-earth, personal style of communication gives our customers that small-business experience. Combined with the tools of a big business, this more personal approach is the reason why customers choose Harmeling.

You guarantee your customers success and craftsmanship at the highest level – what’s behind this quality promise?

This quality is reflected in the impeccable machining, the solid construction and the use of high-quality materials – you can smell the real wood when you enter our buildings. We deliver true craftsmanship from the hands of dedicated specialists such as designers, technical drafters, planners and carpenters. We are only as good as the fitter that tightens the final screw.

Mitchell Rodhouse
Innovation & Process Manager at Harmeling

Headquarters in Rijssen, Netherlands

What role does fire protection play in your designs? How do you integrate the requirements into your processes?

The most important thing is outlining the requirements for each location right at the start of a project. In close coordination with the customer, we determine the requirements and discuss the various possibilities for sounding out the customer’s demands. It is obvious that certain materials are less suited because they simply do not meet the relevant fire protection requirements. In this case, we try to find alternative options that are better suited. At the start of the project, we provide the customer/fire protection officer/landlord with a full overview of the materials that we plan to use. This summary is fully documented in a complete certificate brochure. This allows the customer/fire protection officer/landlord to check the materials we use and issue provisional approval.

Some manufacturers decide to use thinner edgebands to avoid fire protection requirements. Why is that not an alternative for you?

Even a thin layer of ABS releases toxic substances into the air when burned. We want to take responsibility and ensure a safe environment for people. And we do so not just to meet the relevant customer/firefighter/landlord requirements but also to guarantee the safety of people. I think this is one thing that makes Harmeling special – we go that little bit further where others stop.

REHAU manufactures edgebands for passive fire protection precisely for these special requirements. Which standard classifications apply to you?

We don't have any real standard or a so-called minimum classification. We just go off the requirements of our customers. RAUKANTEX FP currently meets classification B-s2, d0 (EN-13501-1). We also want to explore the next steps and promote further developments. Naturally, we strive to achieve the highest possible classification for every material – the higher the classification, the wider the range of potential areas of use and applications for which the products can be utilised.

Flame Test Brandschutzkante 00_00_37_00 - 1094889

Where is the RAUKANTEX FP version, an edgeband with self-extinguishing properties from the fire.protect family, used today?

Harmeling is the first interior designer in the BENELUX region that has tested and used RAUKANTEX FP. We use RAUKANTEX FP for one of our retail customers that is present in several airports, shopping centres and high streets across Germany (and beyond).

What advantages does the use of RAUKANTEX FP bring with it?

For us, it’s not enough just to say that we comply with regulations. We want to prove that what we say is the absolute truth. In my opinion, our customers appreciate our transparency in this area. This opens up many doors in areas where fire protection is extremely important. The knowledge that we have gathered on fire protection standards is a huge advantage when it comes to consulting our customers.

Find out more about RAUKANTEX FP