Archives for June 2018

Fire safety within construction has come under increased scrutiny and as a result the GGF Fire Resistant Glazing Group (FRGG) attended the FIREX show at London ExCel, on 19th to 21st June 2018.

Over the three days, the GGF raised greater awareness of the principles of Fire Resistant Glazing, encouraging best practice. There were live exhibits of Fire-Resisting Glass showcasing the before and after effects of fire, and an educational presentation on “Fire-rated Glazing – Getting It Right, Getting it Wrong” by Adrian Blaydon, GGF Technical Officer.

Steve Rice, GGF Director of Technical Affairs, commented, “Following the Grenfell Tower fire last year, we all need to take responsibility and report signs of where fire safety is an issue. The outcome at FIREX was encouraging and we will continue to assist others within their fire regulations.”

At FIREX the GGF had three exhibits with the largest being two samples of fire-resisting glass; which strangely enough ended up being three exhibits in one, as visitors were fascinated leaving them wanting to know more. This exhibit was a clear pane and next to it was the same glass after being subjected to twenty minutes of a fire test. The contrast was definitely marked and with several people even remarking that it looks like a piece of modern art.

The second exhibit was of a pane of glass which had been extracted from an actual fire event. Whilst it had certainly seen better days; it was evident that the glass had performed well, visibly showing how the glass had reacted to the fire.

The final exhibit was an ‘anatomy of a Fire-Resistant door’; effectively slicing through a glazed door, exposing all the elements within the system. This stressed the consistent message being put out by the FRGG – at FIREX 2018, during the GGF’s speaking slot and within the “Guide to Best Practice in the Specification and Use of Fire-Resistant Glazed Systems.”

The informative and educational presentation by Adrian outlined the best practice guidance on multiple components of a Fire-Resistant Glazing system. This focused on how non fire-rated glass products react in a fire situation, showing how they are likely to fail spontaneously or within a short amount of time. In consideration of Grenfell Tower, the presentation on “Fire-Rated Glazing – Getting It Right, Getting it Wrong” discussed the importance of how glass plays its part in the fire safety strategy of a building.

At the show, the GGF launched the newly revised Fire Resistant Glazing Guide (RRP £150) giving away free hard copies to all who attended the presentation.

The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) Fire-Resistant Glazing Group (FRGG) has released a revised version of its fire-resistant glazing best practice guide, timing the launch to coincide with the GGF’s presence at this year’s FIREX International exhibition last week at ExCel London.

A Guide to Best Practice in the Specification and Use of Fire-Resistant Glazed Systems covers how fire-resistant glazing systems are used to control the spread of fire and smoke, which allows enough time for a safe escape, as well as safe access for fire safety services.

Now in its fourth edition, the guide tracks changes in legislation and incorporates updates in line with constant product development undertaken by the construction industry.

Adrian Blaydon, GGF Technical Officer and Secretary of the (FRGG) explained, “This Guide is a significant document for the construction industry and offers comprehensive knowledge of Fire-Resistant Glazing. In addition, the Guide addresses the performance levels of Fire-Resistant Glazing, and how it is vital to combine the appropriate materials alongside the correct installation method to certify a Fire-Resisting performance.”

The Best Practice Guide is closely associated with Approved Document B for Fire Safety (one of a series of documents that offer a route to building regulation compliance over a range of subjects) which, following the tragic incident at Grenfell Tower in 2017, is currently the focus of the glazing sector. Fire safety has been brought to the fore in the national agenda, and the FRGG remains committed to providing the best industry guidance to protect people from fire and the effects of fire. Fire-resistant glazing is critical for safety because it physically separates people and valuable objects from flames, smoke, heat and other products of combustion

Steve Rice, GGF Director of Technical Affairs added, “GGF Members who are industry experts have contributed to this Guide – from glass suppliers, system fabricators, certifiers and installers. It is very positive that so many are so passionate about fire safety.”

> Download a free PDF version of the guide here or to purchase a print copy visit the GGF Shop

FENSA is pleased to announce that long-term member DG Solutions has successfully completed the 13 millionth installation to be registered through the FENSA self-certification scheme.

DG Solutions is delighted to have completed the thirteen millionth FENSA installation since the Competent Person Scheme was founded in 2002 – a job which saw it install six windows and two doors at a property in Banbury, Oxfordshire this month.

Chris Beedel, Director of Membership, FENSA commented: “Thirteen million installations over sixteen years shows great success, not only of the Competent Persons Schemes and the ability for FENSA Members to self-certify their work against Building Regulations, but also the outreach and trust in the FENSA brand.”

Located in Ilford, DG Solutions has been a Member of FENSA since 2012 with years of experience in the replacement window and door industry. It has built a strong reputation by offering an extensive range of products and services.

Anda Gregory, GGF Managing Director, Commercial added: “We are delighted for DG Solutions to have installed the 13 millionth installation. It’s important when choosing an installer to make sure that they are a Member of a Competent Person Scheme and have the support of a strong brand like FENSA which is clearly one of the most trusted in the industry. After all 13 million homeowners can’t be wrong.”

To underline its position in the sector, DG Solutions has recently become a Member of the Glass and Glazing Federation and is also in the process of registering with GGFi for warranty insurance and the British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC) for window energy ratings.

As a Member of BFRC, DG Solutions fit windows and doors that are now energy rated and carry a ‘rainbow’ label to provide an indication of their relative energy efficiency.

> Visit the FENSA website

Over the last year, fire safety within construction has come under increased scrutiny and as a result the GGF Fire Resistant Glazing Group (FRGG) has upped the ante, raising greater awareness of best practice within fire-resistant glazing and increasing its presence with live exhibits at the FIREX International 2018 event – held from 19-21 June at London ExCel.

At FIREX, the GGF will be underlining the principles of Fire Resistant Glazing; and why building contractors, designers, architects and specifiers should ensure they are using experienced qualified companies, by using GGF Members to carry out the supply and installation of fire resistant glazing.

Steve Bond Chairman of the FRGG added, “The subject of fire-resistance within construction has been a highly focused topic. As the leading voice of the industry, this is a great opportunity for the GGF to assist in identifying the use of fire resistant glazing. The exhibits at the stand will display the before and after effects of a fire. There will also be an exhibit from an actual fire event showing how the glass will function in such a situation.”

At FIREX, the GGF will launch a newly revised edition of “A Guide to Best Practice in the Specification and Use of Fire-Resistant Glazed Systems”; which clarifies the key elements associated with achieving a fire-resistance performance from a glazed system.

At the show, the GGF will be giving away a free hard copy of the amended Fire Resistant Glazing Guide (RRP £150) to the first 20 visitors to the GGF stand A475 at the show.

In addition, there will be a video presentation showcasing how fire resistant glazing is installed properly and can provide valuable protection in the event of a fire.

GGF Technical Officer, Adrian Blaydon will also be delivering a presentation on “Fire-rated Glazing – Doing It Right, Doing it Wrong” which highlights the importance of fire resistant glazing and how glass plays its part in the fire safety strategy of a building. The presentation takes place at FIREX on Wednesday 20th June at 4.30pm.

Adrian commented, “I am looking forward to presenting the benefits and importance of fire resistant glazing at FIREX. As well as the presentation, the GGF technical team will be on hand at the event and will answer technical questions regarding the performance of fire resistant glazing systems.”

Don’t miss out: Click here to book your free ticket to FIREX 2018

The GGF is supporting the Lockex 2018 exhibition taking place from 8-10 June at Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

Lockex 2018 is hosted by Clearview Group Limited, the publishers behind one of the UK’s leading industry magazines – The Locksmith Journal, distributed to over 8,500 locksmiths. The Locksmith Journal is a gateway to the world of locksmiths – a showcase for the lock, safe, security and hardware industry.

This year the exhibition has expanded to offer visitors more to see, with the show including a wider variety of industry sectors including security and fire safety.

To find out more about Lockex 2018 including exhibitors, workshops and its services, visit the Lockex website.

The GGF will support the Glasstech Asia exhibition taking place from 14-16 November in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Glasstech Asia 2018 promises to be an unparalleled glass exhibition providing regional industry players with deeper insights to the glass manufacturing, processing, products and materials sectors.

Held in conjunction with the 3rd edition of Fenestration Asia 2018, it will showcase industry standards in sustainability, automation and energy-efficiency to satisfy the increasing global demand for windows, doors and facades.

A line-up of exciting glass conferences will also be available for this year’s show includes ASEAN Glass Associations Summit (AGAS), ASEAN Architectural Glass Conference (AAGC) and “The Green Building Seminar” with Malaysia Green Building Confederation.

Glasstech Asia 2018 aims to provide an excellent platform for industry players across the globe to tap into the growing market of Southeast Asia.

Find out more: Visit the Glasstech Asia website