What’s the purpose of a Health and Safety glazing inspection?
We’re often asked to carry out health and safety glazing inspections to protect building occupants and the general public. Many building owners and other duty holders have duties under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. This regulation requires glazing to be safe or properly protected against breakage. Many building insurance policies also require regular glazing inspections and surveys. This applies especially to structures with glazed elements at height or overhead.
The Dynamic Access team will identify system defects and conduct a glazing condition survey as part of the inspection. This may reveal a variety of issues, including:
- Causes of leaks, including failed drainage paths or weep routes
- Missing or defective weather seals
- Defective glazing, such as cracked panels or misted double-glazed units (failed IGUs)
- EPDM gasketry in poor condition
- Missing or defective fixings, such as pressure plates or cover caps
- Failed perimeter seals or deteriorated structural silicone
- Defective mechanisms
- Insufficient glass isolation
- Non-safety glass in critical locations, such as low-level glazing and glazed doors
- Missing or inadequate manifestation markings on large glazed areas
What does the Glazing Inspection report include?
Our surveyors assess the glazed structure and take a photographic record of any defects found. We compile the findings into a clear report that highlights each issue and recommends remedial steps. We flag urgent issues separately so they get immediate attention.
A typical report includes:
- Site details and access method used
- Photographic schedule of defects, with location references
- Risk-rated defect list, including any urgent make-safe items
- Failed or cracked glass and IGU schedule
- Seal, gasket, fixing and pressure plate observations
- Water ingress findings, where relevant
- Recommended remedial works, in priority order
- Costed proposal and planned maintenance advice
We can also arrange water testing and spot repairs during the same visit, where needed. Alongside glazing inspections and surveys, we can carry out remedial repairs ourselves, including leak repairs and gasket replacement. This saves you the inconvenience of dealing with multiple contractors, and our repairs come with an Insurance Backed Guarantee. Where remedial work is required, this may fall under wider construction health and safety regulations, such as CDM 2015.
