Glazing (Hansard, 27 May 1993)

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set up an inquiry into the appropriate standards of glass and glazing to take account of the performance of certain kinds of glazing when affected by bomb explosions.

§ Mr. Baldry
Investigations already in progress are intended to provide appropriate guidance and standards.

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what improvement in the standards relating to glass and glazing have been implemented since April 1992.

§ Mr. Baldry
On 1 June 1992 a new requirement—part N—of the Building Regulations was brought into force. This introduced for the first time detailed provisions to improve the safety of glazing in buildings.

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment is being carried out of the effect of the present standards of glazing in business premises following the recent bomb outrages in the City of London.

§ Mr. Baldry
The Department has brought forward the start of a collaborative research programme with relevant construction industry bodies to prepare a guide for the design of buildings to limit the damage from explosive attack. The project team is examining the damage in the City of London. The Department is in discussion with representatives of the window and glazing industry on the development of appropriate standards.