Fire-rated glass specialists Pyroguard reach specifiers with NBS

Fire safety has never been so crucial to the construction industry. Not only did the Grenfell Tower disaster bring new scrutiny to building material design and installation techniques, but it also led to a change in Building Regulations, which banned the use of laminated glass on high-rise buildings. 

Pyroguard, part of the Technical Fire Safety Group, has risen to answer this challenge. We spoke to Andy Lake, UK & IRE Sales Director at Pyroguard, to find out how the brand uses NBS Source to reach architects...  

 Pyroguard in action

“As glass manufacturers, we knew we needed to overcome the challenge posed by existing glass designs to re-establish it as a safe option for balcony applications.

“One of the first projects to benefit from our material innovation was Quantock House in Taunton, Somerset, with an NHBC-accepted A2-s1-d0 glass balustrade system installed on its balconies.”

Quantock House is an eight-storey luxury residential development boasting a bar, bistro, activity room and private gardens alongside its range of one and two-bedroom apartments.  Developed by Platinum Skies, part of the Affordable Housing and Healthcare Group, the project featured attractive glass balconies on each apartment which overlooked the surrounding hillside. 

Having a balcony on this type of building meant residents had more access to outdoor space, increasing the appeal to buyers in a competitive market. However, the balcony needed a robust fire-rated glass balustrade to meet regulatory standards.

Pyroguard tests weathering with both laboratory and novel on-site testing in the Arizona desert, ensuring the glass performs when exposed to intense UV light radiation, temperatures and abrasion.

Demonstrating expertise to specifiers

“We have worked with NBS for many years. I think the biggest benefit to us at the moment this time is the migration of our product data to NBS Source and all the additional benefits that it brings to us.  

“The support and advice that we have received from the NBS team has also been great and extremely helpful.”

To demonstrate their authority, expertise and understanding, Pyroguard’s team have created a RIBA-accredited CPD, which provides an opportunity to educate architects and establish a new line of communication.

When discussing their pick of the most useful NBS Source features for manufacturers, Andy highlighted website integration:

The NBS team is constantly working to support manufacturers as best we can – leading to new features, functionality and integrations.

“The platform is user-friendly and even though we are only a few months into renewal, we have already seen many benefits and great results.  

“I am looking forward to seeing how this develops over the next few months as we continue to work with the team at NBS to get the most out of our listing.”

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