With Building Regulations, Health & Safety Laws, DDA Regulations and Anti Terror recommendations continually changing it is important we keep everything up to date and in-line with current regulations.
Protective Film Solutions work closely with GGF (Glass & Glazing Federation) to ensure we are in-line with all proposed and future regulations being put in place by local and European Government.
On 3rd August 2017, PFS were delighted to find out they had become a CHAS registered contractor.
CHAS was formed in 1997 between a group of health and safety procurement professionals and the Association of London Government with two aims:
CHAS now has more than 500 public and private sector buyer organisations, such as councils, housing associations, NHS trusts, including a growing number of large private companies who employ sub-contractors.
For more information visit www.chas.co.uk.
PFS Global has been awarded accreditation from Alcumus SafeContractor for achieving excellence in health and safety in the workplace.
Alcumus SafeContractor is a leading third party accreditation scheme which recognises extremely rigorous standards in health and safety management amongst contractors. It is used by thousands of organisations in the UK including SMEs and FTSE 100 companies.
The company’s application for SafeContractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business. SafeContractor accreditation will enhance the company’s ability to win new contracts, and its commitment to safety will be viewed positively by its insurers when the company liability policy is up for renewal.
Gemma Archibald, Director of Alcumus SafeContractor said: “Major organisations simply cannot afford to run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies in place.”
“More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that National Window Films has done. The firm’s high standard has set an example which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector. SafeContractor plays a vital role in supporting our clients in meeting their compliance needs, whilst working with their contractors as they progress through the accreditation process.”
Although this is quite an old Regulation, the Workplace Health Safety & Welfare Regulations 1992 is still current and requires all workplace glazing in specific areas to be of a safe nature and marked accordingly.
Regulation 14 specified by the HSE states that:
Windows and transparent or translucent forrs, gates and walls:
(1) Every window or other transparent or translucent surface in a door or gate shall, where necessary for reasons of health or safety:- ( a ) be of a safety material or be protected against breakage of the transparent or translucent material; and ( b ) be appropriately marked or incorporate features so as, in either case, to make it apparent.
A transparent or translucent surface should be marked where necessary to make it apparent. The risk of collision is greatest in large uninterrupted surfaces where the floor is at a similar level on each side, so the people might reasonably think they can walk straight through.
If features such as mullions, transoms, rails, door frames, large pull or push handles, or heavy tinting make the surface apparent, marking is not essential.
Where it is needed, marking may take any form (for example coloured lines or patterns), provided it is conspicuous and at a conspicuous height. Between the finished floor level and 1500mm above that level in doors and in side panels which are within 300mm of either edge of the door. Between the finished floor level and 800mm above that level in case of walls, partitions and windows. It is important to note that any part of a glass area affected must meet the requirements in its entirety and not just in the relevant section.
The application of PFS Safety Film will upgrade your existing workplace glazing into a safety glass than can be classified by EN12600. In addition to this our Manifestation Films can be applied on top of our Safety Films to ensure the glass, transparent or translucent areas are apparent and in compliance with regulations.
The Disability Discrimination Act is a piece of legislation that promotes civil rights for disabled people and protects disabled people from discrimination, there is an area within this that protects individuals from the Dangers of Glass and Glazing. These are for glass entrance doors and glazed screens, the location of glass entrance doors should be easily distinguished, especially when the door is both open and shut.
Manifestation should be clearly contrasting with the background in all weather / lighting conditions. Manifestation should be located between 850mm – 1000mm and 1400mm – 1600mm i.e. in 150mm high bands which could be a solid band, a decorative feature or split bands of 50mm each. High contrast strips at the top and on both sides of a glazed door in a glazed screen should be provided. If glass doors can remain in the open position, the leading edge should be clearly distinguished and protected by guarding (entrance doors only) to prevent it becoming a collision hazard.
Performance specifications for window film
All of PFS internally applied films for Security & Solar Control have a 10 Year Warranty, we also have a selection of installed films that have up to a 16 Year warranty.
The application of window films can ensure your glass is compliant with all types of workplace standards.
Below are a list of standards we can achieve.
