Having recently celebrated its 85th birthday, the Moscow metro has undergone many changes during its lifetime.

From expanding to 15 lines with 275 stations to establishing the Moscow Central Ring and the Moscow Central Diameter, the metro continues to evolve and grow in importance as a means of transport. But one thing remains unchanged, and that’s the priority of the safety of passengers and employees.

The challenge

Every day, the huge metropolis of Moscow’s is served by a hard-working metro system that transports up to 10 million people. Considered to be one of the most beautiful metros in world, it’s a well-developed underground system that allows the city dwellers save valuable travel time. But like all metros, it’s considered to be a high-risk zone. The very nature of a metro means that many people are accumulated together in a confined space, deep beneath the streets. In the case of danger, it’s very difficult to evacuate people quickly. A potential fire – and the related smoke – in such a setting is deadly. That’s why designers need to pay extra attention to safety issues when considering construction within the metro system. With the safety of employees and passengers at heart, the Moscow metro has included non-combustible thermal insulation made from ROCKWOOL’s natural stone wool as a key element within its renovations and new builds.

The solution

On May 15, 2020, the Moscow Metro celebrated its 85th anniversary. Transporting approximately 2.5 billion passengers per year, and with the double-track lines covering circa 440 km, primarily underground, the number of stations to allow commuters to access the metro is steadily growing. In addition to this new construction, there is constant renovation taking place throughout the metro to increase the level of comfort and safety with the help of modern and high-quality materials and technical solutions.

Metro stations at Rasskazovka, Olkhovaya, Michurinsky Prospekt, Nekrasovka and the transport hubs at Kosino-Ukhtomskaya and Likhobory are just some of the projects that implemented ROCKWOOL’s non-combustible products. To secure protection against the weather – and to add extra fire safety – VENTI BATTS slabs were used for their façades. And at the Nekrasovka station, ventilation systems using ALU1 WIRED MAT were installed to ensure extra resistance to fire.

It wasn’t only the station facades that got a makeover, the roofs were also refurbished. Filatov lug and Prokshino stations opted for ROCKROOF – a complete insulation system where installation is made simple, as every element needed is included, has been checked and tested for safety and works perfectly in conjunction with other components. ROCKROOF’s thermal properties ensure that commuters experience a pleas- ant indoor environment when passing through these stations, and as a fire-resistant insulation, secure a safe journey for everyone.

Why products from ROCKWOOL?

Being involved in such a long-term – and prestigious – project is a testimony to both the effectiveness of ROCKWOOL’s products and the hard work of the Russian team. “We’re lucky here at ROCKWOOL Russia that our partners are very loyal to our company brand. They know how good our products are and believe in our quality,” explains ROCKWOOL Russia’s Managing Director, Marina Potoker.

By the end of 2022, a further 57 new stations will have opened within the Moscow metro, extending the length of the underground network by 450 km. For 90 percent of the capital’s residents, the metro will be within walking distance from their homes. And innovative products from ROCKWOOL mean that the transport won’t only be more accessible, but also safer than ever.

"Because we do not build or renovate as we used to do 50 years ago, being aware of the possible consequences of this change, like increased fire risks for example, is critical. Non-combustible materials have an important role to play in keeping modern buildings and their occupants safe.”

- Andrei-Mircea Corches - Regulatory Affairs Partner, Fire Safety at ROCKWOOL Group.