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Health & Safety
Health & Safety
Selectaglaze meets its obligations under The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Risk assessments are made to establish any hazards arising from our work and a system of site specific Method Statements backed by data sheets sets out safe methods of working. A commitment to training, inspection and regular review ensures a continuous focus on all aspects of safety.
Practical issues affecting design include:
Glass safety
- Minimum glass thickness to be 4mm. Use heavier or toughened glass for larger panels over 1.8m2
- In accordance with BS 6262-4:2005 safety glass must be specified for:
- windows extending below 800mm from the existing or proposed finished floor level (FFL)
- doors and adjacent windows within 300mm of doors to a height of 1500mm above FFL
- Guarding
For new buildings and those undergoing major refurbishment, glazing to upper floors which is below 800mm from FFL must be sufficiently strong to contain a person’s fall. The applicable Building Regulation is Part K in England and Wales, Part S in Scotland and Part H in Northern Ireland. In some cases the glass in the secondary glazing must be specified to meet the requirement.
Panel size
- When considering the size of sliding panels, particularly when specifying slim sections, the location of the window and the capabilities of the end user need to be considered. For instance moving large panels could be difficult for the elderly or frail or if it is necessary to reach across a desk. Large panels are however acceptable for windows which require only occasional access, e.g. within an air conditioned building.
Manual handling
- Manual handling guidelines allow a fit man to lift 25Kg. A two metre square aluminium framed panel glazed in 4mm glass will weigh approximately 21kg , in 6mm 31kg and in 11.5mm laminate 55kg. Where panels have to be removed for cleaning or access a full manual handling assessment must be completed.
Access
- The window design should take into account access for the safe handling of materials both at installation stage and during future maintenance.
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