Install and repair fire resisting glazing

Install | FRG001

This activity is about installing (second fix) and repairing fire resistant glazing from being able to read and use specifications to completing final inspections. This includes understanding the important factors involved in the installation of fire resistant glazing, including underpinning requirements relating to system types and regulations, standards and guidelines. This may be carried out in internal applications or in external glazed windows or curtain walling.

Culture & behaviour

Core abilities

Culture & behaviour
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Effective working behaviours

You must:

  • Work within limits of defined capability and know when to seek advice from others
    • The individual understands what they are competent to do and what they are not competent to do. They seek advice from a supervisor if work they have been asked to do is outside their capability or if they are unsure about how to proceed. They practice the 'responsible no' and do not carry out work that they are not competent to do.
  • Work effectively individually and as part of a team
    • The individual takes responsibility for their own actions and works with the rest of their team to get the job done. They manage their own time effectively, keep their work area clean and tidy, comply with organisational requirements and procedures, and communicate effectively through oral, written or electronic means as appropriate.
  • Undertake defined personal development activities to maintain currency of competence
    • The individual keeps up to date with any personal development activities required, ensuring that their skills, knowledge and experience remain up to date.
Culture & behaviour
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Passive fire protection installation behaviours

You must:

  • Use organisational processes to flag up non-compliant works
    • The individual identifies where work may not be compliant and escalates this to their supervisor
  • Challenge apparently unsafe behaviours and activities, and report where necessary
    • The individual identifies potentially unsafe behaviours or activities, challenging these and bringing these to the attention of supervisors or others where needed. They put health, safety and well-being first.
  • Identify and manage risks to self and others
    • The individual identifies things that pose a risk to themselves or others, takes mitigating actions or escalates any issues to keep everyone safe.
  • Work in accordance with quality requirements and challenge where they are not being met
    • The individual identifies where quality requirements are not or may not be being met and raises this with their supervisor
Currency of competence
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Experience installing and repairing fire resistant glazing

You must have:

  • A minimum of one satisfactory installation of fire resistant glazing per year
Core abilities
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Core fire resistant glazing knowledge

You must:

  • Know that the installation of fire resistant glazing systems is informed by regulation, standards, codes of practice and supporting evidence
    • Including: - the Building Safety Act - fire test standards - fire test reports and classifications and their field of application - specific fields of application in third party assessments - building regulation guidance (e.g. Approved Documents) - general product safety regulations (GPSR)
  • Understand the reasons for using fire resistant glazing systems as opposed to standard glazing systems
    • To include: - how fire resistant glazing impedes the development and progress of a fire and protects people and property - why standard glass and glazing systems are not appropriate for use in fire resistant applications
  • Understand the importance of the 'Responsible NO'
    • To achieve its full specified fire resistance, the glazing system MUST be installed in full compliance with its supporting evidence and the supporting documentation from the manufacturer, including construction issue drawings, etc., - where this is not possible you should say no to installation. No conflicting instructions should be acted upon under duress without reference to your supervisor or your employing organisation
Core abilities
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Recording fire resistant glazing installation information

You must:

  • Understand the meaning, purpose and importance of the Golden Thread
    • To include: - maintaining a detailed record of the installation for the building manager / accountable person - taking and maintaining a library of photographic and video evidence of critical installation details
  • Understand the manufacturer's requirements for completion of an installation checklist
    • To include: - intermediate stop points requiring a supervisor's sign off - where the installer had the authority to stop and raise a concern before continuing - where photographic and video evidence of critical installation details must be taken and recorded

You must be able to:

  • Record the installation for inclusion in the building's Golden Thread and, where necessary, follow and complete the manufacturers' or relevant third party certifiers' installation checklist
    • Including: - reporting any non-conformances and their rectifications - taking appropriate photos for record - recording appropriate video for record - issuing signed final installation report to confirm compliance
Specific abilities
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Planning for the removal of fire resistant glazing

You must:

  • Understand the potential risks associated with de-glazing, removal and replacement of fire resistant glass
    • Including: risk of cutting from broken or damaged glass; risk of musculoskeletal injury from lifting and manoeuvring heavy glass; risk of damage to surrounding finishes by removal of damaged glass
  • Know how to identify the original components that have been used in the system
  • Know the tools and equipment for removing damaged fire resistant glazing, preparing for reglazing and carrying out glazing work in line with requirements

You must be able to:

  • Comply with all health and safety regulations or standards
  • Assess the potential risks associated with de-glazing, removal and replacement of fire resistant glass
  • Plan and implement a safe route for extraction of damaged glass and insertion of replacement, being mindful of:
    • proximity of building occupants; normal operation of the building; traffic management around delivery / removal transport
  • Identify the materials which need to be removed in order to replace the glass
    • e.g. sealants, glazing beads, glazing tapes, intumescent strips, glass panel
  • Select the required tools and equipment to correctly and safely remove the glass from the system framework
Specific abilities
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Removing damaged fire resistant glazing

You must:

  • Know the process for removing damaged or broken fire resistant glazing from the unit
  • Know how to identify components which can be reused
  • Know how to store and protect materials set aside for re-use
  • Understand how to identify and deal with recyclable materials
  • Know how waste should be disposed of
  • Understand the processes required to return the glazing reveal to 'as-new' condition for re-glazing

You must be able to:

  • Remove damaged or broken fire resistant glazing in line with specifications
  • Identify components which can be re-used when re-glazing the system framework, with reference to the original system manufacturer when necessary
    • e.g: metal glazing beads; intumescent strips around the glass edge
  • Safely store and protect, if necessary, material set aside for re-use
  • Identify those materials which, after removal, can be recycled
  • Safely and responsibly dispose of the materials which are removed
  • Return the glazing reveal to an 'as-new' condition for re-glazing
Specific abilities
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Selecting and using resources for installation and repair of fire resistant glazing

You must:

  • Know the different types and classifications of glass and their uses
    • To include: - difference between insulating and non-insulating glass - distinction and relevance of the glass classification (e.g. 'E' vs. 'EI')
  • Understand the labelling of fire resistant safety glass
    • To include: - why the label / marking needs to be present and visible on each piece of glass - what information is shown on the label
  • Understand the factors that influence the fire resistance of glazing systems
    • To include: - orientation of the glass in the frame (i.e. is the glass uni-directional?) - glass edge sensitivity - glass edge coverage in the glazing beads - the use of intumescent materials around the edge of insulating glass - the stability of the supporting construction - the materials and construction of butt joints - allowance for thermal expansion in the metal glazing beads

You must be able to:

  • Identify and select materials crucial to the compliant installation of the glazing
    • To include: - glass as specified and shown on the construction issue or 'as built' drawings, the building's Golden Thread, and/or the job specification sheet - glazing media including: seals; glazing tapes (type, width, thickness); setting blocks (thickness, width, length and material); intumescent materials (size and quantity); sealants; glazing beads
  • Identify and reject materials which, where damaged and if used, could risk failure to achieve specified fire resistance
  • Handle and store the glass and associated materials according to the manufacturers' instructions, including where there are critical performance-related requirements such as:
    • - angle of storage (maximum deviation from vertical) - climatic conditions (whether dry, indoors, away from sunlight etc.)
Specific abilities
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Installing and repairing fire resisting glazing

You must:

  • Understand how to read and interpret the glazing job specification, construction issue and 'as built' drawings, the building's Golden Thread and specific manufacturers' installation instructions
  • Understand that when replacing glass and associated components into a system or assembly which was installed in compliance with particular certification, it is essential that the replacement materials either:
    • - are identical, materially and dimensionally, to those being replace, or; - have been certified as equivalent by appropriate documentation, e.g. EXAP report, Field of Application assessment from an Approved Body
  • Know how to install fire resistant glazing according to the project information
    • Including: - construction issue / 'as built' drawings - job specification sheet - system manufacturers' instructions
  • Understand the purpose and importance of particular materials and components
    • To include: - continuity of glazing tapes - type of glazing tape (intumescing or non-intumescing) - secure connection of glazing beads to the frame - number and positioning of intumescent strips around glass edge - number, continuity and overlap of intumescent strips in butt joints - number, size, material and position of glass setting blocks - orientation of glass where uni-directional - sealants (glass to bead) - whether sealant needs to be fire rated, e.g. on uninsulated glass - sealants closing up butt joints - edge tapes on non-toughened intumescent glass
  • Know and understand the functional criticality of the glazing tape
    • To include: - thickness in relation to glazing thickness tolerance - thickness in relation to fit of clip-on beads - the importance of checking if there is an apparent discrepancy
  • Understand the minimum requirements for a correctly functioning operable door or window after it has been glazed
    • To include: - the allowable range of gaps around the door leaf - that the door or window should close flush - that the door or window must be effectively sealed for smoke and fire (as appropriate) when closed - that latching doors much achieve fully latched state in all locations when closed - that there are specific closing and opening force requirements for fire doors (especially minimum)
  • Know how to identify and raise any issues in relation to the installation work
  • Know the meaning of 'chain of responsibility' an dhow and why installation is an important part of it
  • Know the types of problems that can arise during repair and installation of fire resistant glazing, and how these can be rectified

You must be able to:

  • Select and use tools and equipment for installation in a safe manner
  • Install the glass in accordance with the construction or 'as built' issue drawings, the building's Golden Thread, and/or the job specification sheet and glass and system manufacturers' instructions
    • To include: glass; seals; glazing blocks; beads and fixings; sealants; visibility of identifying marks
  • Check, after glazing is installed, that moving elements (e.g. operable windows and doors) function correctly
    • Including that: - edge gaps are still within the allowable margins - the door has not twisted or distorted as a result of the glass being fitted - the widow / door closes flush and is effectively sealed - self-closing doors close fully, from any position, with the necessary closing force - that latching doors achieve fully latched state when closed

Currency of competence

Specific abilities

Culture & behaviour

Core abilities

Currency of competence

Specific abilities

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