Comply with building regulations/standards related to curtain walling in the fenestration industry
Overview
This standard covers the broad requirements of the Building Regulations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Building Standards in Scotland that are applicable to the fenestration curtain walling environment. You should ensure that installations do not endanger life and comply with the statutory requirements, keep your knowledge current and communicate with others when required.
This standard is for you if you work in the Curtain Wall installation industry and are involved in on site installation work.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- carry out all work following current Building Regulations/Building Standards which apply to locations you are working in
- communicate with others about regulations/standards following standard operating procedures
seek and obtain information on updates and changes to regulations/standards from reliable sources
update knowledge of regulations/standards at intervals which fit with changes in legislation and specified periods of time
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- key parts of the Building Regulations/Standards that apply to curtain walling projects and what they mean in practice
- why building regulations or building standards exist and when they apply to the type of works being undertaken
- Building Regulations/Standards complied with, in full, and the ones that must be considered to secure reasonable standards of health and safety for persons in and about buildings, affected by the works
- which parts of the installation are covered by Building Regulations/Standards and how work carried out complies to these
- who carries out inspections or approves products installed to ensure requirements of the Building Regulations/Standards are met
- consequences of failed inspections on installers, building owners and main contractors
- types of loads that can affect structures
- how to support loadings on structures
- how wind load can impact on structures and the choice of system used
- how to ensure loads are transferred onto structural supports
- main criteria of fire-resistant glazing so that a safe structure is kept in the event of a fire
- how buildings with multiple floors can conform to requirements for emergency access in the event of fires
- how curtain wall structures can restrict the internal spread of flames and smoke
- advantages of installing thermally efficient curtain walling systems
- methods of demonstrating compliance with fuel conservation requirements
- what is meant by safety glazing and where it must be fitted
- types of glass classified as safety glass
- how to identify safety glass, the standards applicable and what marking indicates
- whether un-marked glass can be classified as safety glazing
- the term 'finished floor level'
- why it is necessary to make special provision for access to, and use of, buildings
- safety requirements relating to door size, window operation and positioning of operating hardware
- when to provide protection from falling
- how protection from falling can be achieved using glazing
types of glazing required to provide protection from falling
how to prevent impact on glazing