MERCOR provides a custom-made technical solution

Do you often have to look for solutions dedicated to a given case? How can MERCOR help?

Martyna Kostrzewa, research and development manager in the Building Structures Security Department of MERCOR S.A.: Situations where a non-standard approach is needed are our daily bread. I receive inquiries both directly from the market, from customers, and from product managers and regional sales managers. Our team's task is to ensure that fire protection meets the highest standards of protection and legal regulations, is easy to install and ensures that the construction acceptance process can be carried out without any problems. Together we try to develop the best solution for a given case.

How to proceed if an individual approach is needed?

Martyna Kostrzewa: When making inquiries of this type, I first verify the documentation we have, i.e. available test reports, classification reports, approval documents. I check them in terms of the legal possibility of applying a given solution. If I need specific data, I also contact the companies of the MERCOR Group - Mercor Tecresa and Mercor Dunamenti, as they are also producers of the solutions we offer. The sale of their products is based on the documents they provide. Therefore, it is worth consulting with them on non-standard solutions, because they have extensive experience and knowledge.

This is is a "first step" action, but what does the next stage of checking the correctness of the solution and its legalization look like?

Martyna Kostrzewa: In the next step, I consult the appropriate research institutes, mainly the Research Institute of the Building Research Institute. Here, it is often decided whether it is necessary to obtain a Technical Opinion dedicated to the facility or not. If not, we work on the Individual Technical Documentation (IDT), which is certified by a fire protection expert.

So non-standard solutions, not covered by any approval document, are allowed for implementation through IDT?

Martyna Kostrzewa: Usually yes. Here, if necessary, I apply for a legal interpretation from the General Office of Construction Supervision (GUNB). A representative of MERCOR S.A. is working on the IDT development. and a dedicated person on the investor's side or designer. Such a document ultimately serves as the legal basis for the sale. We often face incorrect legal interpretations of provisions on construction sites, so I support the sales team in various interpretations, statements and declarations that we issue to ensure a positive acceptance process at the construction site.

Which stage is the most difficult?

Martyna Kostrzewa: I know from many years of experience that the opinions of property appraisers and persons responsible for acceptance may differ. What was accepted on a construction site, for example in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, will not necessarily be accepted, for example, in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.

Finances also prove to be difficult. Issuing an opinion costs money, and this cost must be recouped within a certain period of time. There are also exceptionally non-standard difficulties related to technical possibilities. Some solutions require specific simulations, specialized calculations or practical knowledge that must be acquired. However, we are with the client at every stage. We learn with him every time.

What types of facilities or projects are most often implemented based on IDT?

Martyna Kostrzewa: Most often, these are solutions that are not covered by research standards in any way, so there are no tests or standards for them and hence the need for an opinion or IDT. Research standards often do not keep up with development - solutions have been tested for many years in relation to the standard and its provisions, which may have become outdated a long time ago. However, due to its extensive knowledge, Mercor is able to tailor a solution that is appropriate in terms of security, as well as possible to implement and accept.

So what does the client gain from comprehensive support from Mercor?

Martyna Kostrzewa: Peace😊. When problems arise, the customer is not left alone. The partners we cooperate with value our support, knowledge and experience.

Thank you very much for the interview.

Interviewed by Izabela Adamska, Marketing Project Coordinator at MERCOR S.A.