Technical Support through COVID-19

Technical Support through COVID-19

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, the GGF Technical Team will continue to support Members with an ongoing review of every Datasheet within The Glazing Manual. Some of the amended Datasheets will be published soon.

In addition, the following technical services will continue:

• Direct technical support via telephone and/or email
• Technical representation on standards committees and Government sub-committees
• Responses to technical consultations
• Review of technical publications

In the first quarter of this year, the GGF appointed two new Technical Officers with Steven Chappell and Kevin Jones joining the team. In addition, Ben Wallace and David Borland have now been promoted to Senior Technical Officers positions.

The GGF Technical Team

Though face-to-face meetings have been temporarily suspended, the Technical team are still available to assist you. The team are working from home but are happy to deal with any issues. You contact the Technical Officers directly, see contact details and areas of responsibility below:

Steve Chappell – Technical Officer
e: schappell@ggf.org.uk 
m: 07377 559180
Responsible for: –
Curved Glass Group
Structural Glass Consultancy
Construction Products Association
Centre for Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT)
Technical Support for Midlands & West of England Regional Groups

Kevin Jones – Technical Officer
e: kjones@ggf.org.uk
m: 07963 392879
Responsible for: –
Systems House Group
Windows & Doors Group
Conservatory Association
Home Improvement Technical (Hi-Tech) Group
Technical Support for North West & North Wales and North East & Yorkshire Regional Groups

Ben Wallace – Senior Technical Officer – Glass
e: bwallace@ggf.org.uk
m: 07968 394178
Responsible for: –
Glazing Executive
Laminators Group
Tougheners Group
Security Group
Consultancy matters
CEN TC 129 Working Group 2, 4 & 13
Technical support for London & Wessex Regions

David Borland – Senior Technical Officer – Home Improvement 
e: dborland@ggf.org.uk
m: 07702 807358
Responsible for:-
Home Improvement Executive
Insulating Glass Manufacturers Group
Glazing Components Group

Standards Committee
Glass Repair Group
Modified Glass Group
Hardware Group
Fire Resistant Glazing Group
BSI Working Group B/538
CEN Working Group TC33
Building Regulations
Technical Support for GGF Scotland, GGF Northern Ireland, GGF Republic of Ireland, Kent, Surrey & Sussex Region

All Technical Officers are available from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Please feel free to pass this on to any other member of your organisation who would find it helpful.

Fire Safety: Approved Document B

On Thursday 2^nd April the Document B (Fire Safety) Working Group held a remote meeting to respond to the ‘Review of the ban on the use of combustible materials in and on the external walls of buildings including attachments – A technical consultation paper’

The deadline for this response to the Government Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is 13^th April 2020.

Ben Wallace, GGF Senior Technical Officer hosted the meeting and commented, “This consultation is very important for laminated glass being used in balconies. We need the MHCLG to review, as laminated glass is currently not within the specification for buildings over 11m in height. It is crucial that the GGF takes a leading role in additional research into Laminated Glass for the benefit of our Members. We will share the final response with Members and keep them up to date with the outcomes.”

Technical Consultancy

The GGF technical advice and guidance is continuing but due to COVID-19 the GGF’s face to face consultancy services have been temporarily suspended. These include; site visits, inspections and the GGF’s expert witness service.

David Borland, GGF Senior Technical Officer commented, “The GGF Technical team has been forced to work from home due to the COVID-19 crisis. We will still be available to help Members via telephone or through email enquiries and we will be pleased to help anyway way can. We also advise all Members to follow the Government guidance keep well & stay safe and we look forward to meeting up with you after this crisis is over.”