TECH talk

TECH talk

Steve Rice, GGF Director of Technical Affairs provides an update on the key activities of the GGF Technical Team in the first four months of 2019

It’s been an interesting start to 2019 for the GGF Technical department for presentations and training days for Members operating in the Fire Resistant Glazing sector as well as an architectural glazing conference in the GGF MENA Region.

Since the Grenfell tragedy and resulting inquiry by Dame Judith Hackitt, the GGF has been actively involved with the various Government meetings, industry work streams and consultations. However, rather than just offering our expertise, we are also actively delivering information and sharing practical knowledge with Members and the wider industry on the importance of fire safety.

Adrian Blaydon, GGF Technical Officer and Secretary of the Fire Resistant Glazing Group has been leading GGF Training courses on the subject. Adrian is also set to deliver fire safety presentations at the FIT Show and at FIREX International at London’s ExCeL
in June, where the GGF is planning a significant technical presence. If you need any training or wish to attend these seminars please feel free to contact the technical department directly: technical@ggf.org.uk.

In March, the GGF organised and hosted The International Architectural Glass Conference in Dubai in conjunction with the GGF MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Region. The conference was attended by over 100 delegates from glass companies from all over the world.

With an impressive line-up of speakers from the following seven technical experts from companies; Saint-Gobain, Filmtek, Kuraray, Gulf Glass, Emirates Glass, Momentive and the GGF, the following topics were covered:

• Grenfell tower fire and its impact on industry standards
• Sealant compatibility
• The performance of laminated glass • The anisotropy of glass
• Security glazing
• Acoustic glazing
• Adhesive backed polymeric

The conference was very well attended and the presentations expertly delivered. As with most industry events and GGF Members meetings with a technical element, the GGF technical team contribution was well received.

As well as supporting and informing Members in the MENA Region and internationally, our activity overseas also expands our technical knowledge and expertise as we compare and consider international technical standards against European and British Standards.

We can then cascade this knowledge to all Members via technical meetings or in our publications.

Working with Members, the GGF technical team can show the industry that we are second to none when it comes to technical expertise across all sectors in the industry.

To find out more about GGF Technical services please contact technical@ggf.org.uk