Recyclart may need new home due to fire safety rules

Recyclart will find out before Christmas whether it has to leave the premises of Brussels-Chapel station because of fire regulations.

The renewal of the cultural centre's rental agreement is dependent on a list of fire safety improvements being made to the station building.

Recyclart has been in negotiations with the City of Brussels, the fire brigade and railtrack operator Infrabel to bring the premises in line with new standards.

An Infrabel spokesman said fire safety was paramount because up to 90 trains per hour run immediately underneath the centre, along Belgium's busiest rail corridor from Brussels North to South stations. A fire at Recyclart should be contained for at least two hours before it reaches the railway tracks, enough time for it to be put out and avoid damage to infrastructure.

A Recyclart spokesperson told Bruzz: "It's not yet certain that we will have to leave. The fire brigade have done a new fire safety assessment, using the new set of standards, and we hope to receive their verdict in the coming days. We want to continue and the City of Brussels has promised to find other premises."