Standing up to the demands of modern construction

If you compare modern-day buildings to those of decades ago, it’s easy to see how design has evolved. As offices and commercial buildings strive to deliver open, light-filled spaces, glass plays an integral role far beyond its traditional, functional one. Andy Lake, UK Projects Director at Pyroguard, explores how glass has evolved to meet the demands of modern construction projects.

To maximise the potential of new construction projects, architects and specifiers are now using materials – such as glass – in different ways. The Shard and London’s recently-announced ‘The Diamond’ are fantastic examples of how glass is used to make a building entirely unique and bring about a host of benefits for the people living and working there.

When glazing plays such a critical role in a building’s construction, it needs to be able to provide both the structural integrity required of its application alongside critical fire safety characteristics. In practice, the answer lies in toughened glazing options.

Gone are the days of Georgian wired glazing, making way for alternatives which are perfectly suited to modern construction. Toughened fire glass not only provides essential protection from flames, smoke and radiant and direct heat transfer, but can also withstand greater demands than off-the-shelf laminated options. With classifications as high as EI120, specifiers can be confident in the protection it offers in the event of a fire. Toughened glass also delivers an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, compliant with standards such as BS EN 12600 for impact classification as high as 1C1, which makes it a perfect option for today’s demanding construction projects.

Elevating light levels

With glass taking centre stage in a building’s design, the material can unlock other benefits for occupants. More glass means more natural light flooding through a building. This can help occupants to maintain their natural daily cycle of activity and sleep, support immune systems with boosted levels of vitamin D and generally improve performance – a key consideration in work environments. The increased presence of natural light also reduces the reliance on artificial lighting, reducing the amount of energy consumed and helping to achieve a BREEAM rating.

To maximise these benefits, light transmission needs to be a key consideration for architects and constructors. Following testing at TUV – the independent body which verifies a product’s ability to meet the demands of international standards – Pyroguard has recently re-tested and improved the light transmission data characteristics across the majority of the range, including toughened glasses such as T EW30 which now delivers a light transmission value of 88%. In accordance with EN 410, these products also meet regulations around solar radiation, ensuring the benefits of natural light are brought about safely.

For further information on Pyroguard fire-rated safety glass solutions, contact our dedicated Technical Support Team or visit www.pyroguard.eu