Breaking point

Following the ban on laminated glass in balustrade applications (due to potential fire spread r isks), the specification and glazing industr ies appear to have par tially moved away and found an alter native solution, with some instead rever ting to monolithic (i e single pane) toughened glass While the ideal product in low-r ise applications, monolithic glass isn’t without its safety r isks in high-r ise residential buildings, as Andy Lake, Pyroguard’s Sales Director UK & IRE explores fur ther here.

With increasing attention placed on the need for quality housing, it’s important that local authorities and developers are providing a comfortable and safe space for tenants to call their home Part of this can include providing tenants, even those in high-rise buildings, with access to a private outdoor balcony space

When it comes to constructing these balconies, glass can be an ideal building material, helping to offer a striking exterior feature and bring more natural light into the individual apartments However, specifying the correct safety glass solution for these external balustrade applications can be a difficult task, particularly when the goalposts are moving

Changing regulatory requirements

Approved Document B of the Building Regulations is being modified regularly and as such the required solution is changing Not too long ago, the go-to solution