SAFETY & SECURITY 57
Resistant glazing for modern safety requirements
Stephen Malkin of Promat UK explains why a complete system approach to fi re resistant glazing design and specifi cation is key, post-Building Safety Act.
B
uilding products of all kinds are understandably being subjected to much greater scrutiny since the publication of the Building Safety Act 2022, and all the resulting legislative, procedural and compliance changes.
In terms of best practice for the design,
specifi cation and installation of fi re resistant glazing projects within the construction sector’s new safety-focused era, this is largely no different to what many leading passive fi re protection product manufacturers and industry associations, including the GGF, have always advocated. A key part of this is a ‘system approach’ wherever possible for glazing elements or doors that must offer a minimum level of resistance to fi re as part of the strategy to protect building users and assets. Individual product performance declarations are crucial, of course, but this is just one consideration and they cannot be relied upon in isolation.
For internal features such as glass
screens, partitions with doors, glass door- sets and walk-on glass fl oors to be able to demonstrate a level of fi re resistance, they have to be assessed or tested as a complete assembly. That means the glass, frame, beads, seals, fasteners and every other material or component used to create the fi nished unit have to be combined and assessed by appropriate technical specialists to determine if the performance will be achievable.
And we know that architects value system testing too. This was evident from ADF’s ‘The Changing Face of Product Certifi cation’ white paper, published in September last year, in which 88% of respondents said they believed “testing and certifi cation of product systems should be made a requirement.” A key benefi t of choosing a fi re resistant glazing system which has been tested and
ADF MAY 2025
certifi ed by an accredited third party body is that it ensures reliable performance and reduces risks of product substitution or poor installation, given the parameters set by the test certifi cation. The end result is that it provides additional peace of mind for building owners and occupants. The best way to ensure all the project goals can be achieved, however, is always to engage with the system manufacturer at the earliest opportunity to fi ne tune the design, avoid delays and maximise potential within the budget available.
Integrity & insulation (EI) or integrity-only (E)?
One of the most important considerations to start with is what type of system to use. Fire resistant glazing which incorporates thermal insulation, and hence provides protection from the heat generated by fi re,
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Fire resistance is rarely the only design objective when creating internal glazing elements
Fire resistant screens and glass doors within the communal area of a build- to-rent development in Sheffi eld
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