ExCeL London – 1-Hour Fire-Rated Dividing Partition

System: JPS60FS | Programme: 1 Week | Size: 90m (L) x 10m (H)

During the London 2012 Olympic Games, ExCeL London required a high-performance temporary partition system to separate the Boxing and Fencing competition arenas within its main exhibition hall.

Jumbo Stud Partitions was appointed to design, supply and install a robust acoustic and fire-rated dividing wall capable of performing at the highest level — without any permanent impact on the building structure.

Project Overview

Client: GES (Global Experience Specialists)
Location: ExCeL London, Royal Docks
System Installed: F60S Robust Partition (smooth finish, painted white)
Partition Size: 87 metres long × up to 10 metres high
Fire Rating: 60 minutes
Acoustic Performance: 54 dB
Robustness: Severe Duty Rated
Programme: 7-day maximum build
Completion: Installed in 6 days

The Brief

The client required a temporary acoustic dividing wall to:

• Separate live Olympic Boxing and Fencing events
• Deliver strong acoustic separation within a large open venue
• Achieve full fire compliance for a public international event
• Maintain a clean, professional arena finish
• Be installed within an extremely tight programme
  
  

A critical condition set by ExCeL London was that no holes or permanent fixings could be made to the floors, walls, or fabric of the building.

The Challenge

Constructing an 87-metre-long partition up to 10 metres high inside a major Olympic venue — without fixing into the structure — required careful engineering, detailed pre-planning and precise installation.

The system needed to provide structural integrity, acoustic performance and fire resistance while remaining completely non-invasive to the building.

The Solution

Jumbo Stud Partitions designed and implemented a bespoke fixing method that allowed the head track of the partition to connect securely to existing in-situ sliding gear at high level.

This approach ensured:

• Full structural stability
• Compliance with acoustic and fire performance requirements
• Zero penetration of the building fabric
• Complete reversibility after the event
  
  

The F60S Robust “F” Series partition system was installed with a smooth painted white finish to maintain a clean and professional arena appearance.

Delivery

All pre-construction planning and coordination ensured the project ran seamlessly.

The installation was completed in 6 days, one day ahead of the maximum 7-day programme — a critical achievement within the Olympic build schedule.

Post-Event Removal

Following the conclusion of the Games, the partition was dismantled and removed efficiently.

The venue was returned to its original condition with no signs of construction or structural alteration, fully meeting the client’s non-invasive requirements.