26 | JANUARY 2020
Installer Support
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
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 cru-
cial 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 man-
datory 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 prod-
ucts 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 choos-
ing 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 sub-
stances with different physical of
chemical properties, which, when
combined, produce a new materi-
al with individual characteristics.
Composite materials can include
PVCu, fibreglass and wood.
The safety benefits of com-
posite materials don’t stop high
strength and durability, as com-
posite doors can be designed to
contain and withstand fire too.
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, mak-
ing 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-glaz-
ing, cleaning and maintenance
must all be considered. How-
ever, 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 manufac-
turer, 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 aestheti-
cally, but ensuring that every-
one’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