Clearview National January 2020 - Issue 218 | Page 38

PROUD SPONSOR OF DOORS & WINDOWS
DOORS&WINDOWS
Safety comes first
Construction work is dangerous, particularly for
workers on site. However, the same thought
must be taken for those using the building once
it is complete. From electrical and gas provision,
to the products selected for installation, safety
should be considered throughout the entire
process. Here, Nick Cowley, managing
director of PVCu windows and doors
manufacturer Euramax, explains what
to consider when selecting fenestration
products and why safety is key.
» THE SAFETY OF WORKERS AND
the working environment is crucial to any
construction project, but what about the
people the project is being built for?
The UK Building Regulations ‘Part M:
Access to and use of buildings’ and ‘Part N:
Glazing - Safety in relation to impact, opening
and cleaning’ are mandatory rules already in
place for windows and doors. However, there
are other safety concerns for consideration,
such as fire and glass safety.
Therefore, it’s important to understand
what’s required to ensure highly safe windows
and doors and how they can increase
the safety of a building. Amongst these
factors, installing products that are British
Standards Institution (BSI) kitemarked will
further assure safety. The BSI kitemark tests
fenestration products above the minimum
legal requirements for security, quality and
safety.
FIRE SAFE DOORS
When it comes to choosing a door that
can enhance safety, composite doors are
an increasingly popular option due to the
material’s strength and durability.
Composite materials are made from a
variety of constituent substances with different
physical of chemical properties, which, when
combined, produce a new material with
individual characteristics. Composite materials
can include PVCu, fibreglass and wood.
The safety benefits of composite materials
don’t stop high strength and durability, as
composite doors can be designed to contain
and withstand fire too.
38 » JAN 2020 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
For example,
composite fire doors
differ to standard doors as
the fireproof core is made from
a combination of stronger, yet lighter weight
fire-resistant materials. On the other hand,
composite fire doors can also be fitted with
fire-resistant glass and seals around the door
that swell in extreme temperatures, making
it difficult for smoke to pass through and
ultimately reducing the risk of harm from
smoke inhalation.
SAFE WINDOWS
Dependent on the project, buildings
may sometimes require specialised styles of
windows. For instance, fixed pane windows
are often used in high rise buildings, such as
flats and offices.
When selecting windows for high
rise buildings, re-glazing, cleaning and
maintenance must all be considered. However,
above all else, safety is paramount. Fixed
windows are windows that do not open at all,
which significantly helps to reduce the risk
of injury or death. If someone working in a
high-rise office building tried to open or close
a window, for instance, there is risk of injury
if they have to lean out to reach the window
handle.
Similarly, tower blocks in schools require
fixed windows to eliminate the chance of
children falling and injuring themselves.
Whereas modular classrooms have windows
with restricted functionality, meaning that
the windows only open to a certain angle —
further reducing safety risks.
SHATTERPROOF
Ensuring that the windows you choose are
also fitted with safety glass will provide an
extra level of safety. Toughened or tempered
glass, which is the term used for glass that has
been heated to more than 600 degrees then
rapidly cooled during production, is up to five
times stronger than normal glass.
With increased strength, toughened glass
is harder to break. However, if it is broken,
it shatters into tiny pieces, in comparison to
larger, sharper shards when regular glass is
broken. This ultimately reduces the chance of
injury to anyone in proximity of the broken
glass.
Using a leading manufacturer, such as
Euramax, which supply a range of windows
installed with 28mm toughened safety glass,
ensures that safety is increased for the people
who use the windows, as well as project
workers handling them during installation.
It’s important to achieve a high standard
for your clients, both structurally and
aesthetically, but ensuring that everyone’s
safety is considered is equally important.
Regardless of your role during a project, safety
must be addressed at every stage. So, before
selecting the windows and doors for your
project, research and select the products that
will ensure both you, and your customer, will
have peace of mind knowing that safety comes
first.
www.euramax.co.uk