350 years ago this September, a fire started in a bakery on Pudding Lane in London, which went on to rage throughout the medieval city for three days.

The Great Fire of London gutted thousands of buildings and left 80,000 people homeless. While cities have changed beyond recognition in the time since, the disaster stands as a reminder of how dangerous fires can be.  

This week we are supporting Fire Door Safety Week (26th September – 2nd October), an initiative which aims to raise the awareness of the critical role fire doors play in keeping buildings and their inhabitants safe by preventing the spread of a blaze.

Fire doors are often the first line of defence in a fire. Their correct specification, maintenance and management are imperative in limiting risk to life and minimising building damage; and it is vital that we work together to educate people of their importance.

As the use of glass in buildings increases, with architects specifying more glass in order to create spaces flooded with natural light, installing fire-resistant glass where appropriate is equally as important as having properly maintained fire doors.

We offer a range of fire-resistant glass products, including products which can withstand very high temperatures for up to two hours, giving building occupants the time required to safely vacate the building before the fire has a chance to spread.

The Pilkington Pyrostop® range is a family of clear, laminated fully insulated fire and impact resistant glass. It is specified where high quality natural light transmission is desired while requiring the highest level of fire protection.

Last year, we launched two new Pilkington Pyroclear® Line products, a 30-minute and a 60-minute integrity only butt-jointed glazing system. 
While this is just a brief overview of our fire-resistant products, it highlights the options available to specifiers.

To find out more about Pilkington’s fire-resistant products please visit: http://www.pilkington.com/en-gb/uk/products/product-categories/fire-protection 

To get involved in Fire Door Safety Week, join in the conversation with the hashtag #FireDoorSafetyWeek and visit the website for more details: http://firedoorsafetyweek.co.uk/about/