Regulation 14 For Glass

When creating a comfortable and productive workplace for your employees and colleagues, there are so many aspects to consider that oftentimes adhering to safety regulations can fall by the wayside. However, this is a key step in updating or replacing existing elements of your windows, as failure to adhere to regulations can result in heavy fines that could have been easily avoided. At ADS Window Films, our business is to know and understand the existing regulations regarding windows so that we can better help our clients understand how Regulation 14 affects you, and if any additional action is required on your part to remain compliant with the existing safety ordinances.

What is Regulation 14 for glass?

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 has helped provide regulations and guidance for those who have some measure of control over workplaces in order to keep locations safe for everyone present. Under this act is Regulation 14, which guides decision-making regarding glass and window glazing in public spaces and workplaces. It says:

“Every window or other transparent or translucent surface in a wall or partition and every transparent or translucent surface in a door or gate shall, where necessary for reasons of health and safety:

Be of safety material or be protected against breakage of the transparent or translucent material;
Be appropriately marked or incorporate features so as, in either case, to make it apparent.”

Essentially, this means that for every workplace an audit needs to be performed of the existing windows and transparent partitions to ensure that they will not be easily broken by any activities which may occur in their vicinity, as well as be appropriately marked for the safety of individuals coming into contact with these areas. And, while discerning which windows are compliant with the regulation and which need updating might seem like a daunting task, the expert team at ADS Window Films are here to provide guidance at every step of the way.

What does this mean for me?

In any area where glass breakage may occur, the risk needs to be assessed according to certain conditions. For example: the risk of impact according to the location of the glazing, what activities are being carried out in the vicinity of the glass, how much traffic is nearby the glass, and if there is a history of breakage at that location, thereby increasing the risk of a future breakage event. Windows in certain locations which are more susceptible to breakage will require an additional level of inspection, as per Regulation 14 for glass.

Fortunately, if your glazing or windows are found to not be compliant with Regulation 14, installing ADS Window Films can oftentimes help to rectify this issue without having to resort to expensive construction or replacements. The installation of safety or decorative window film in high-risk locations can help to increase the glazing safety and visibility in order to bring your existing glazing up to regulations via a much cheaper solution than replacing existing windows.

Our team at ADS Window Films are the experts in our field and are here to guide you through the process of assessing your existing glazing in order to make recommendations for updates. If you are having difficulty interpreting the terms of Regulation 14, or deciding what your best option is moving forward, please do not hesitate to reach out to the ADS Window Films team today. We are here to help guide your decision making and provide alternative courses that allow you to stay compliant to Regulation 14 for glass without undertaking expensive repairs or replacements. Contact us today for advice or a quote regarding safety or functional window films to fit a variety of spaces and uses.