Curtain Walling Installed in Office Refurbishment

Wrightstyle has completed work at the refurbished offices of WS Swift, which provides domestic and commercial heating services and design development in building services engineering.

The project involved the supply and installation of WSL 60-F1 series FR curtain walling for internal fire-rated screens above a central atrium, along with two sets of Wrightstyle's pioneering unlatched door system, and all fire rated to 30 minutes of integrity and insulation.

Wrightstyle was the first company to develop and launch the breakthrough unlatched door system, which is available in single or double leaf format, fully glazed, using non-selective door leaf push/pull technology, and offering a wide range of surface finishes including stainless steel.

The company also offers a range of single and double leaf door systems for integrity only or integrity and insulation, with a comprehensive range of options to meet any specification.

Earlier this year, the company also launched a leaf and half leaf door system, to provide integrity and insulation for either 30 or 60 minutes (EI-30 and EI-60).

There can be several reasons for having a double leaf door with different leaf sizes - for example, where the opening is restricted in width, or for other ascetic, design or space restriction reasons.

It therefore allows for easy pedestrian traffic using one operating leaf, with the other leaf coming into operation if bulkier equipment is being moved through the doorway.

"Much of our work is for overseas customers in the Middle East or Asia, so it was a pleasure to work with WS Swift as we are both based in Devizes!" said Jane Embury, Wrightstyle's marketing director.

The company is a champion of fire safety and recently raised concerns with the government about the inadequate enforcement of fire specifications, of particular concern in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Wrightstyle has first-hand experience of doors with untested or incompatible fire-resistant glass being accepted as fire doors within the regulatory definitions despite the fact that they are clearly not within the permissible limitations of their supplied test certification.

Designing buildings for older people, particularly for those living with a dementia, involves many challenges for glazing.

Floor-to-ceiling windows have been included to maximise light, which can have positive health benefits for residents, and avoid using window frames that block views from the line of sight of people using wheelchairs or who might be sitting down for long periods of time.

The windows will provide uninterrupted views from beds which also aids recovery and wellbeing. Tamper proof window restrictors enhance safety and security in rooms.

Suppression and containment capacity if a fire breaks out is also an important element in any healthcare facility housing occupants unable to self-rescue, and Wrightstyle has long experience in the UK and internationally in designing and supplying glazing systems to contain fire at source.

In the UK, fire safety in residential care premises are subject to strict fire regulations and dealt with under Approved Document B Fire Safety, and fire precautions in England and Wales fall under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO).

While fire suppression is important, the other component is containment - ensuring that any fire remains trapped in one area, and giving staff adequate time to evacuate the building.

That's where advanced glazing systems have a role to play, providing complete protection against fire, heat and toxic gases for up to 120 minutes.