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GGF SUPPORTS POLICE INVESTIGATION INTO FIRERESISTANT GLASS ‘FRAUD’ The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) is supporting the recent Police investigation following a complaint about the specification of some of the fire resistant glass supplied by Glassworks Ireland Ltd, a company based in Hillview Industrial Estate, Randalstown, County Antrim. It is alleged that Glassworks Ireland has supplied some non-fire rated glass as fire resistant, branding the product as Pyroguard. CGI who manufacture Pyroguard products is a GGF Member that manufactures recognised, approved and certified fire-rated glass or one of their registered stockists. A Senior Police Officer has urged customers to check the legitimacy of the product by contacting Pyroguard/CGI, to ensure the product’s authenticity and, if found not to be genuine, to report this to the Police and Trading Standards. The GGF’s Fire Resistant Glazing Group and the Federation’s technical department work continuously with Members to ensure that Fire Resistant Glazing Systems are manufactured and installed to comply with the legal requirements contained in the relevant Building Regulations or Standards and the installation meets the very highest industry standards. The GGF, through the work of its Fire Resistant Glazing Group, has published ‘A Guide to Best Practice in the Specification and Use of Fire Resistant Glazed Systems’ which is publicly available for download from www.ggf.org.uk and is referenced in Building Regulations Approved Documents. The police have stated that two people have been arrested and questioned as part of a fraud inquiry, however Detective Chief Inspector Colin Gillis said: "There is absolutely no concern regarding Pyroguard products supplied by other companies and our appeal is only to those who have dealt with Glassworks Ireland Ltd.” Giles Willson, GGF Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Technical Affairs commented, “We support the police investigation into this case to ensure that our Members products and services and their customers are protected against the potential fraudulent supply of products that are not genuine.” Kevin Hulin of Mann McGowan and Chairman of the GGF Fire Resistant Glazing Group commented, “We welcome the police message and the investigation. This case is of a particular serious nature because fire resistant glazing can save lives. The GGF Fire
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Continued from page 1... Almost two thirds of FMB members (65%) think a free energy efficiency assessment would encourage more of their customers to improve the energy efficiency of their home. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), said: “It’s time for the Government to accept the Green Deal has not been a success. The FMB has worked hard to promote the Green Deal to small construction firms, but until our members see a clear demand for Green Deal work and a more straightforward route to the Green Deal market, they will not engage with the scheme.”
Resistant Glazing Group is at the cutting edge of the industry standards and have invested years of hard work to establish the importance of fire resistant glazing, so it’s imperative any cases such as this are investigated thoroughly to ensure that companies are operating legally when it comes to manufacturing, supplying or installing life safety Fire Resistant Glazing Systems.” Fire resistant glazed systems have provided a proven method to contain fire and smoke within a building, enabling the safe egress of the occupants. Fire resistant glazing also reduces the amount of damage to a building by containing the fire and thereby reducing the spread of fire. The result is a less expensive and speedier repair, enabling the business to return to normal sooner following a fire. Giles Willson summarised “It is worth reminding consumers and businesses that fire resistant glazed systems need to be certified, through comprehensive testing as a complete system, and be installed by competent operatives. Failure to follow these basic steps could result in the system not performing correctly. The GGF website (www.ggf.org. uk ) has more information on fire resistant glazing, suppliers and installers as well as a comprehensive publication, ‘A Guide to Best Practice in the Specification and Use of Fire Resistant Glazed Systems’ which is available for free download.” Detective Chief Inspector Colin Gillis added, “It is extremely important that anyone who has had fire-resistant glass supplied by this company takes steps to confirm it is the legitimate product, even if the glass is marked with an 'official' stamp and has an accompanying certificate of authenticity implying that it is fire-resistant glass." GGF Member CGI, the manufacturers of legitimate Pyroguard glass products, can be contacted by customers who believe they have been sold a Pyroguard product from an unauthorised source. For technical advice and guidance please call +44 (0)1942 710 723 or for further information on Pyroguard and their Technical Licensing Programme, please visit www.pyroguard.eu Anyone who finds the product they have purchased is not to the required standard should contact the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) investigation team on 028 9448 1644. For further information go to: www.ggf.org.uk. READER ENQUIRY No: 1013/0021
Berry continued: “The latest Government statistics show that just over 70,000 Green Deal assessments have been undertaken to date, but only 12 Green Deal Plans are ‘live’, demonstrating that a growing number of home owners want to improve the energy
“A reduction in VAT would reduce the overall cost of the work and make Green Deal finance more attractive.”
efficiency of their properties, but they aren’t interested in paying for it using Green Deal finance. A reduction in VAT would reduce the overall cost of the work and make Green Deal finance more attractive to home owners who may be deterred by a large debt against their property.” Berry continued: “Our latest research also supports the Government’s own findings that just having a Green Deal assessment is enough to encourage a significant number of people install energy efficiency measures in their home, regardless of how they choose to pay for it. Government research found that from a sample of households that had a Green Deal assessment, 81% have already, are in the process of or intend to install at least one energy efficiency home improvement. That’s why the Government should consider offering free energy efficiency assessments alongside a reduction in VAT.” Berry concluded: “Above all the Government needs to seize the opportunity to announce how it intends to light the touch paper to the flailing Green Deal scheme.” READER ENQUIRY No: 1013/0022
LATEST HIGH-TECH LEAD CAPTURE TOOLS PROVIDED TO ALL FIT SHOW EXHIBITORS: Data Capture Technology Assures a Successful ROI Companies may have a range of objectives when exhibiting but at the heart of it will be lead generation. With this in mind the organisers of next year’s FIT Show are offering the latest visitor lead capture and analysis technology to all exhibitors as an inclusive part of their stand package, to ensure they enjoy the greatest benefit from the event. Whereas every exhibitor was offered a badge scanner at the last event, exhibitors at The FIT Show 2014 will download an app to their mobile devices. The system enables exhibitors to scan a code on visitor badges with their mobile device to secure contact details and other information, specific to them, all of which will be stored securely in their online portal. This effectively automates lead generation at The FIT Show – no need to write down details or transcribe information from business cards - but more importantly, each exhibitor
is included within the cost of each stand, with exhibitors able to purchase as many additional licences as required at competitive rates to suit their specific requirements. may customise the system to capture exactly the information they require, thus dealing with a key limitation of earlier badge scanning systems. They can even type specific notes relevant to individual leads. All FIT Show exhibitors will be able to pre-programme their own data capture requirements using a special dashboard, which then uses the information captured during the show to provide real-time feed-back (subject to a 3G or Wi-Fi connection) on individual visitors and therefore allowing personalised response to their needs. From the exhibitor’s management point of view, the performance of the exhibiting experience may be closely monitored against pre-determined criteria to ensure optimum performance and motivation throughout the event, further ensuring an excellent return on investment for participating at The FIT Show. A single-user licence
“We want our exhibitors to make the most from their appearance at The FIT Show,” said Paul Godwin, Managing Director of organisers FIT Events Ltd. “We have therefore invested in this technology through our registration partners N200, to provide our exhibitors with the most efficient and flexible means of securing information from visitors to their stands. We will also work with exhibitors during the run up to The FIT Show 2014 to ensure they fully understand how to get the most out of this facility.” A video offers further information on the technology: http://youtu.be/ XH8tvYTuETE The 2014 FIT Show will take place at The International Centre Telford on 10th, 11th, 12th June 2014. More information on how to exhibit can be found at www.fit2014.co.uk. READER ENQUIRY No: 1013/0023
October 2013 | www.glassnews.co.uk