Professional Documents
Culture Documents
...DB 1400...
WARNING – The MERCURE specifications define the minimum rules which should be applied to all construction
or refurbishment projects, in all countries. They shall not replace the need for an individual design for each
project, which should incorporate the standards and regulations applicable locally if they are more demanding.
This specification also mentions (in footnotes) certain standards and regulations that are applicable in France.
• CLIENT (or OWNER) - indicates the person or company on behalf of whom the services or work are to
be carried out.
• CONSTRUCTORS - indicates all of the architects, interior designers (or decorators), specifiers, quantity
surveyors, consulting engineers, co-ordinators, consultants, statutory supervisors, contractors and
suppliers, who are responsible for the design, site management and execution of the works and the
technical supervision of the construction work, the services installations and the external works.
• ACCOR SPECIFICATIONS - indicates the whole of the written documents, drawings and diagrams, as
laid down by ACCOR (including this technical specification) which comprise the hotel (or trade)
requirements of the Brand and which define the criteria for the construction of projects for each of the
Accor brands. These documents may be copied partially for the construction of an ACCOR project (but
never reproduced in full) provided that they are checked and adapted in order to satisfy the
obligation to produce a result and, in particular, to meet construction regulations and particular site
conditions.
ACCOR shall retain the intellectual property rights to these documents, which are provided solely for
the project which is to be constructed. The use of these documents on another project or their
distribution to third parties having no direct connection with the project shall be strictly forbidden.
• CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS - indicates all of the regulations, standards and local practices
applicable to the design, calculation and execution of the works. The Construction Regulations shall
be those of the country, region or locality. They shall apply in addition to ACCOR'S specifications. If
there is any contradiction between certain technical data, the Construction Regulations shall take
precedence, but the effects of such a contradiction must be examined so that the hotel functions and
levels of technical performance are nevertheless satisfied.
• PARTICULAR SITE CONDITIONS - indicates the climatic, geological and hydrological data and the natural
dangers of the site where the project is to take place, which the CONSTRUCTORS must identify, analyse
and make allowance for in the design and execution of the works.
The ACCOR SPECIFICATIONS do not replace the need for the CONSTRUCTORS, including mainly the
Consulting Engineers, to carry out a full technical design so that the works can be carried out in
accordance with their undertaking to produce a result, which shall comprise:
The CONSTRUCTORS shall assume full responsibility for the design, the execution and the technical
supervision of the works. The ACCOR SPECIFICATION documents shall not be a substitute for the project
drawings, specifications, technical notices and working drawings which are to be prepared by the
CONSTRUCTORS. They shall not relieve the CONSTRUCTORS of their responsibilities or of the guarantees
arising from them.
The documents produced by ACCOR, and the work for which they are appointed in order to integrate the
criteria for the Brand, shall not be used to challenge the contractual commitment of the CONSTRUCTORS,
or the responsibilities and guarantees that they are to provide. For the application of this clause, the
CONSTRUCTORS' responsibility shall be considered overall, without any allowance for a sharing of
responsibility between them, and shall depend on the allocation of work between them, as defined in the
participants' appointments and in the contractors' contracts.
CONTENTS
1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES 4
4. PARTITIONS 8
4.1. DEFINITION OF THE TYPES OF PARTITIONING ...................................................................8
4.2. FIELDS OF USE OF PARTITIONS .........................................................................................10
5. INTERNAL THERMAL OR ACOUSTIC LININGS 10
5.1. COMBINED PLASTERBOARD AND INSULATION UNITS – Figure A ...................................11
5.2. PLASTERBOARD AND INSULATION ON A FRAMEWORK – Figure B.................................11
5.3. LINING PARTITIONS – Figure C. ...........................................................................................11
6. PLASTERBOARD FALSE CEILINGS 12
Take into account all the CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AND CONSTRAINTS OF THE REGION OR OF THE
SITE, in compliance with specification MER_DA0010 (article 4).
Use the criteria for fire resistance of the structure as defined by THE SAFETY CONSULTANT
in compliance with specification MER_DB3610
Define the whole scope of the work on the basis of an overall coherent concept in order
to meet the various criteria:
- Acoustic insulation Specification MER_DA0040
- Thermal insulation Specification MER_DA0060
- Protection against damp See below – article 2.5
Have the works carried out by contractors who are qualified for the relevant works and
have the working drawings and the works checked by an independent STATUTORY
SUPERVISOR approved by the INSURANCE COMPANY.
NOTE – In order to prepare their design, it is essential for the DESIGNERS to be provided with
the MERCURE specifications referred to above: MER_DA0010 - MER_DB3610-
MER_DA0040 - MER_DA0060.
1
French rules DTU 20.1 Masonry works DTU 25.1 Plaster renders
DTU 25.2 Plasterboard ceilings DTU 25.31 Plaster tile partitions
DTU 25.41 Plasterboard partitions DTU 26 Cement renders
Rules PS 92 Earthquake-resistant structures
ACCOR DGTH – Expertises et Méthodes
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ASIAN EDITION-10/2007
This may mean, for transverse partitions that
are likely to suffer movement caused by
Wind
windbracing forces, particularly at the upper Resilient
levels, the need for resilient strips to be strip
installed.
A B C
1st course in
waterproof
tiles
2
The classifications M0, M1, etc. are French rules which will be replaced in 2001 by European standards.
3
The thermal transmittance factor U is defined by European standards.
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ASIAN EDITION-10/2007
CHOICE OF PLASTER PARTITIONS IN PARTICULAR ROOMS - Partitions in bathrooms and toilets
must be in waterproof tiles or boards, which can be recognised by their blue or green colour.
These partitions shall be waterproof for their full height (not just the first course).
IN THE CASE OF A TILED SHOWER - The plaster facings must, in addition, be given a
waterproofing film before the tiling is fixed with adhesive to the walls.
IN A TROPICAL CLIMATE OR IN A PARTICULARLY DAMP ENVIRONMENT - The use of plaster tiles
shall be excluded and the use of plasterboard shall be restricted to waterproof boards.
2.7. CONSTRUCTION IN AN EARTHQUAKE ZONE
In the case of construction in an earthquake zone, the construction techniques for the
partitioning and the ceilings shall be subject to a particular design study to ensure that they
comply with the rules of calculation of earthquake-resistant buildings.
WALLS AND PARTITIONS - Construction and partitioning units of concrete blockwork, hollow
brickwork or other discontinuous units will be permitted, with the appropriate vertical and
horizontal reinforcement, but they shall be avoided in locations where they are sensitive to
the danger of cracking that is incompatible with the operation of a hotel.
Preference should rather be given to plasterboard partition techniques, which are a good
solution for construction in an earthquake area.
PLASTERBOARD CEILINGS - The frameworks and suspension systems must be reinforced in
order to withstand the forces generated by an earthquake, must have bracing in a vertical
plane and be designed in such a way that, if one unit falls, it does not cause neighbouring
units to fall.
THERMAL LININGS FIXED WITH ADHESIVE – The normal method of fixing insulating panels with
dabs of adhesive must be supplemented at high level with screwed fixings onto battens.
In order to avoid these risks completely, it is essential for the details of workmanship to be
co-ordinated with the other contractors: JOINERY, PLUMBING, AIR CONDITIONING, ELECTRICITY
etc. and for the finishing details to be properly specified, in particular:
- Holes, fixing of sleeves, grouting, connections and making good.
- Chases and the building in of electrical conduit and boxes, filling and making good.
- Packing around door frames and linings.
- Incorporation of bearers for units fixed to plasterboard partitions.
- Strips of packing in internal angles (below)
Partition / wall
Partition / ceiling
4. PARTITIONS
4.1. DEFINITION OF THE TYPES OF PARTITIONING
The specifications below are those of the types of partitions used most commonly in
MERCURE hotels, but other techniques may be possible depending on usual practice and
locally-available materials.
However, construction techniques such as load-bearing concrete blockwork or hollow brick
partitions with a smooth face or cement render or plaster finish, will require a particular study
in order to ensure that they meet all the requirements - FIRE RESISTANCE, ACOUSTIC, DAMP
RESISTANCE, EARTHQUAKE RESISTANCE - and that they are compatible with the programme of
works.
A REINFORCED INSITU Reinforced concrete walls can be used for the main
CONCRETE. partitioning, particularly for bedrooms. Their smooth faces are
suitable for the direct application of paint and sprayed finishes
16 to 20 cm thick, depending or finishes fixed with adhesive.
on fire resistance and/or
acoustic criteria or more, For acoustic insulation, especially between bedrooms, it is
depending on the structural important for formwork holes to be filled and for electric
design. conduit and boxes not to be recessed into the separation
walls.
OK
B PRECAST REINFORCED Precast units may be used for repetitive service ducts.They
CONCRETE. may vary in thickness between 6 and 12 cm, depending on the
level of fire resistance and prefabrication constraints.
6 to 12 cm thick
C FAIR FACED Concrete blockwork (hollow or solid) walls and partitions may
CONCRETE BLOCKWORK. be used for services zones, stores or other secondary areas.
Depending on the sizes of the panels, they should have
Usual thicknesses: vertical or horizontal reinforcement and reinforced concrete
10 to 20 cm. lintels. It is important for the horizontal and vertical joints to be
properly pointed. They may be finished with paint, without a
render.
OK
ACOUSTIC
Concrete
Pre-cast
3 2 1
Render
Boards
SAFETY
Plaster
WATER
Blocks
1 Partitions between bedrooms S A A F
2 Partitions between bathrooms S A W A F
3 Partitions to service ducts S A A B D E F
4 Partitions between bedrooms and corridors S A A D F
5 Partitions to bathrooms and WCs W D E F
6
6 Partitions between bedrooms and bathrooms W D E F
Vertical connections
7 Stair wells S A A D D E
7
8 Lift shafts S A A C D
9 Sundry service ducts S A A C D D E
PUBLIC COMMON AREAS
8
10 Public areas External envelope S A D F
11 Internal divisions S A D E F
14 Offices and services External envelope S A D E F
15 Internal divisions A D E F
14 Public toilets External envelope S A W D E F
15 Internal divisions A W D E F
14 Kitchens and laundries External envelope S A D
15 Internal divisions D
16 Store rooms External envelope S C D
17 Internal divisions S C D
18 Staff areas External envelope S A W D
19 Internal divisions S W D
9
20 Plant rooms External envelope S A W A C D
21 Internal divisions S W C D
22 Basement car parks S W C D
4
The criteria S and A will vary from room to room (see specifications MER_DB3610 and DA0040)
5
Plaster partitions types E and F shall not be used in tropical or humid climates
6 Between a bedroom and a bathroom, a thicker partition is generally needed because of the electrical conduit it contains
7 The pointed face shall be inside the duct
8 In general, in the public common areas, concrete walls should be avoided in order to maintain flexibility for subsequent
alterations.
9
Criterion W is not essential for "electrical" plant rooms.
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A B C
A
G
C H
F D
The ceilings comprise a primary (Ref A) and secondary (Ref B) framework, in galvanised
steel, fixed with hangers, a non-combustible and non-hydrophilic mineral wool insulating
material (Ref C) and a cardboard-faced plasterboard finish, in a single layer or with several
superimposed boards (Ref D).
CEILING TO ROOF VOID – The secondary partitions Secondary partition
may be fixed under the ceiling. The main walls and
partitions must be continued up to the roof slope or
at least 50 cm above the ceiling in order to ensure
the level of acoustic insulation Main
IF THE ROOF VOID IS VENTILATED - The thermal insulation must be held in position by the use
stainless steel plates (G) or mesh.
INTERNAL VAPOUR BARRIER - When a vapour barrier is necessary on the inside face, it may be
glued to the insulation (Ref E), but it is recommended that an aluminium-faced board (Ref
F) should preferably first be fixed, with strips glued over the joints. The continuity of the
vapour barrier is essential under a roof void, as a defect can cause water leakage.
EXTERNAL VAPOUR BARRIER – This is generally made from aluminium foil and can be fixed
with an external panel (Ref G) or glued to the insulation (Ref H).
HANGERS FOR LIGHT FITTINGS AND OTHER ELEMENTS – As a general rule, light fittings, cable
trays, pipework and ductwork must each be fixed on their own hangers, independently of the
hangers and structure of the plasterboard false ceiling. Only small downlighters may be fixed
to the plasterboard ceiling.
Where a false ceiling is constructed below a plasterboard ceiling, the framework must be
reinforced and clearly marked so that the fixings are supported through the plasterboard.
The plasterboard must never move under the load from these hangers.
FIRE-RESISTING CEILINGS – These ceilings must never have light fittings or other elements
recessed into them, which could compromise the continuity of the fire-resisting layer.
Services installations inside the ceiling void (cables and pipework) shall only be permitted if it
can be proved that they do not have an adverse effect on the fire-resisting insulation
between floors
When the boards form the airtight duct directly (without a metal duct inside them), they must
be made to be continuous where passing through walls and floors.