Soaring Success

When the Scottish Mutual Assurance Group required a complete redevelopment of its offices in St Vincent Street, Glasgow, architects Abbey Holford Rowe were commissioned to design a modern and contemporary structure that would retain the original listed sandstone façades.  The result is an impressive eight storey high building, constructed from steel frame and concrete, with Pilkington glass panel curtain walling to the east elevation affording views over the City Chambers.

For the curtain walling panels, the Leeds branch of Pilkington Processing and Merchanting UK, Pilkington Laminated, supplied Pilkington Pyrostop™ glass to be placed within the Fendor Hansen steel Fineline frames. The specification called for the glass to offer 60 minutes fire integrity and 60 minutes fire insulation, and Pilkington Pyrostop™ double glazed glass was supplied in thicknesses of 27mm to ensure compliance with these criteria.

Pilkington Pyrostop™ restricts the temperature rise on the non-fire side of the glass, shielding from the heat of a fire whilst keeping back flames, smoke and hot gases. Pilkington Pyrostop™ is one of the products that comprise the Pilkington fire resistant glass ranges, and is a clear, multi-layer intumescent laminate glass.

Installation of the glass panels to the structure not only provides the necessary fire protection and durability, with impact resistance up to Class A BS6206, but also allows light ingress for the comfort of the occupants, and from an aesthetic viewpoint, adds visual appeal to the city centre office development.

With 21 branches serving the UK market, Pilkington Processing and Merchanting UK merchants bulk glass and processed bespoke products for the construction industry.