FIRE SAFETY
Above left: Blinds can be integrated within the glazing system itself, or the glass can have a special finish, such as screen printed, obscure, or mirrored. Above right: Fire doors are a common means of creating these fire-rated compartments.
Andy Lake
Andy Lake, the Sales director, UK & Ireland, at Pyroguard, has over 40 years’ experience in the glass and fire safety industries, including over two decades in fire glass specifically, and has been an influential figure, previously chairing the Fire-Resistant Glazing Group at the Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF). His career began as a glazier apprentice, eventually progressing to management roles and fire glass specialisation. He has contributed to industry standards, including the GGF’s Best Practice Guide and NVQ modules, and holds a Diploma in Fire Doors from the Fire Door Inspection Scheme. At Pyroguard he continues to drive growth while helping customers explore ‘cutting-edge’ fire glass solutions.
Impact resistance As hospitals transition away from the dimly lit corridors and outdated waiting areas of the past, glass is increasingly used to create brighter, open spaces that are easier to clean and maintain. Within modern healthcare facilities, you will often see central atriums or glass partitions replacing the traditional brick walls. However, in such specifications, fire safety glass must not only provide essential fire protection, but also be capable of withstanding everyday impacts, such as people leaning against it, or accidental falls. Specifying toughened glass with 1B1 impact resistance, in accordance with BS EN 12600, can help to ensure the safety of staff, visitors, and patients alike. While glass offers numerous aesthetic advantages, replacing solid walls with glass partitions can present other challenges, particularly around acoustic performance. Acoustics play a critical role in healthcare environments, with research demonstrating a clear link between excessive noise and increased patient stress, sleep disruption, and extended recovery times. For example, acoustical engineers at Johns Hopkins University in the US discovered that hospital noise levels have escalated significantly since the 1960s, with average daytime sound levels rising from 57 to 72 dB, and nighttime levels increasing from 42 to 60 dB. All of these exceed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended 35 dB upper limit for patient rooms. In such cases, toughened laminated fire safety glass can not only provide fire protection, but also improve sound insulation. This type of glass can be carefully engineered so as to reduce sound transmission, enhancing acoustic performance. Any visit to a healthcare setting, whether as a patient or visitor, can be a stressful time, meaning noise reduction should be a fundamental consideration in the design process.
Patient privacy Another challenge presented by the switch to glass can be privacy. While glass does create light and open spaces, this can simultaneously result in a compromise in patient privacy levels. While the installation of traditional blinds may, on the surface, appear an
66 Health Estate Journal May 2025
obvious solution, this does raise concerns around practicality and hygiene in sterile or clean environments. Just as fire safety glass can be engineered to deliver acoustic properties, so too can a system be specified that offers levels of privacy built in, ensuring patient confidentiality – especially in more sensitive areas. For example, it is possible for blinds to be integrated within the glazing system itself, or for the glass to have a special finish, such as screen printed, obscure, or mirrored. Switchable glass takes this option even further, with the ability to switch between a clear or opaque appearance at the click of a button, depending on what is required at that specific moment.
Smoke control In the case of a fire, the threat posed by toxic smoke is often underestimated compared with the fire itself. However, the smoke can often be more deadly, not only causing breathing difficulties, but also significantly reducing visibility, affecting people’s ability to evacuate a building safely. In fact, most fatalities in fire incidents occur due to smoke inhalation, rather than physical burns. To mitigate this risk, smoke control solutions play a
crucial role in a building’s passive fire protection strategy. These systems work to form a reservoir or channel to either contain or divert the hot smoke, buying time for the occupants to safely evacuate. Among the various types of smoke control solutions, glazed smoke control systems are gaining in popularity, especially when compared with the alternative permanent heavy material sheets or mechanical smoke curtains. Manufactured from toughened glass, glass smoke control systems are suspended from the ceiling, and offer a high-performance, yet aesthetically pleasing, solution. It’s clear that healthcare buildings can present unique
challenges when it comes to selecting building materials, as they must meet the rigorous demands for safety, hygiene, and comfort. Fire safety glass is particularly important in this context – not only serving its primary role in protecting against fire, but also offering a range of multifunctional benefits that are equally important in healthcare environments.
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