Pyroguard and AMI reach new heights with fire-rated glass balustrades for Quantock House

Pyroguard’s fire-safety glass was the product of choice on the Quantock House development, one of the first UK projects to feature a compliant A2-s1 glass balustrade system on its apartment balconies.

A residential development exclusively for the over 55s, Quantock House in Taunton, Somerset features a series of contemporary one- and two-bedroom apartments set over the eight-storey building. The latest development from Platinum Skies, part of the Affordable Housing and Healthcare Group (AHH), Quantock House includes a bistro, bar, activity room and private, landscaped gardens. Designed with comfort and luxury in mind, each apartment features a modern glass balcony offering stunning views over the surrounding hills.

Quantock House is also one of the first UK projects to have an NHBC accepted A2-s1 glass balustrade system installed on its apartment balconies – the result of a close working partnership between fire-safety glass manufacturer Pyroguard and Architectural Metalwork Installations Limited (AMI), the architectural metalwork specialist.

Appointed by AHH, AMI was tasked with developing a fire-rated glass balustrade solution.  Working closely with Pyroguard’s technical team, this collaboration resulted in the development of AMI’s Fire-Tek Balustrade system, featuring Pyroguard Balustrade fire safety glass. The system, fully backed by site specific structural calculations, is compliant with all the latest building regulation requirements for residential buildings over 18m tall (11m in Scotland).

Designed specifically for balcony and balustrade applications and suitable for installation on buildings over 18m high (the first of its kind and patent pending), Pyroguard Balustrade is a toughened fire-safety glass, manufactured to classification A2-s1. In addition to its fire-reaction qualities, Pyroguard Balustrade also offers excellent light transmission and is certified to the 1B1 impact resistance rating (according to EN12600) – both key factors for the application.  

Speaking about the project, Steve Furniss, Director at AMI said: ‘We were first introduced to Pyroguard by our client, AHH, who had tasked us with creating a fire-rated glass balustrade system, after initially struggling to find a solution suitable for buildings over the 18m threshold on the open market. Working with Andy Lake, Pyroguard’s Sales Director, and the rest of the technical team at Pyroguard, our design team was able to develop the AMI Fire-Tek Balustrade system.

‘As well as delivering effective fire protection, it was important that the glass used within our system adhered to the line load requirements associated with these types of high-rise buildings – Pyroguard Balustrade ticks all of the boxes. Our client was delighted with the end-result, with our system design and the Pyroguard glass accepted by the NHBC for use on this development.’

Andy Lake, Sales Director UK & IRE at Pyroguard, added: ‘It’s been great to work with AMI on the development of this balustrade system and we’re exceptionally proud to be the only glass manufacturer in the UK offering such a product. Following the Building Regulations’ ban on the use of laminated glass on high-rise residential balconies and terraces back in December 2018, it’s wonderful to now be able to re-establish glass as a design solution for such applications.’

Construction on the Quantock House development began in August 2019, with the property welcoming its first residents in February 2022.

For more information about Pyroguard Balustrade, please visit: www.pyroguard.eu