Security concerns are now a reality in modern education, safety and duty of care for the students and the protection of valuable assets or sensitive information. Educational buildings are often targets of theft, vandalism and sometimes arson.
Secure secondary glazing can protect valuable equipment, safeguard staff in reception areas and provide enhanced protection for secure laboratories.
Selectaglaze offers products accredited to ‘Secured by Design’ and are a Police Preferred Specification. High level security products are available to meet Government standards for windows and viewing screens in laboratories. These are tested to Loss Prevention Certification
Board (LPCB) standards and appear in the Red Book.
Jesus College, part of the University of Cambridge, is known for its Listed buildings, sustainable design projects, and modern architecture. In 2014 it embarked on the West Court development by purchasing the Grade II Listed buildings belonging to its neighbour, Wesley House.
The College wished to refurbish the Grade II Listed building to make it secure, heat efficient and sustainable, while also keeping its original features. However, creating a specific sustainable agenda posed some challenges. The main contractor, Cocksedge, approached Selectaglaze, the UK’s leading provider of secondary glazing, for advice and assistance. The secondary glazing had to be considerate with regard to the architectural heritage of Jesus College.
Selectaglaze had worked on the College’s Chapel Court student accommodation refurbishment, where it treated over 300 openings. Selectaglaze subsequently installed over 100 secondary glazing units in West Court. It was important that the secondary glazing did not detract from the original primary windows; iron casements set into stone mullions. A combination of casements and horizontal sliders matched the original design to avoid the introduction of new sightlines.
Apart from its security benefits, secondary glazing traps an insulating layer of air, which can reduce heat loss by 50%. With the introduction of low emissivity glass, U-values of around 1.8 can be achieved. In addition, noise during ingress is significantly reduced. A gap between the primary and secondary glazing of at least 100mm achieves a reduction of 45dB – rising to more than 50dB if specialist acoustic glass is specified.
Established for fifty years, Royal Warrant Holder Selectaglaze is the leading specialist in the application of secondary glazing for all building types. Installation can be completed quickly and efficiently with minimum disruption but where work could impact on staff or students it can be programmed to coincide with holiday periods.
Contact Selectaglaze on 01727 837271/e mail: enquiries@selectaglaze.co.uk or visit: www.selectaglaze.co.uk
