GGF launches product substitution guidance

The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) has launched a new guidance document on product substitutions to help companies comply with regulations as the construction industry comes under greater scrutiny than ever before. 

With changes imminent for compliance marking and building regulations, the industry needs to ensure that the products manufactured and used are “fit for purpose”, have been tested and are proven to meet the legal and health and safety requirements for the application. Recent history shows that failure to provide the right product can have devastating consequences including not just damage to property, injuries but also the loss of life.

David Borland, GGF Senior Technical Officer comments, “As the industry’s leading trade body, the GGF insists that Members’ have a duty of care to ensure that their products will perform to the standard or performance necessary for the situation. The substitution of vital components within a product’s composition can have distinct effect on its performance whether it’s a window or door or any glazing product placed on the market.”

When it comes to placing products on the market, the choices for companies manufacturing, processing and fabricating need careful consideration. This new guidance from the GGF clearly and accurately informs window and doorset fabricators of their roles and responsibilities in ensuring that products which are placed on the market consistently meet the claimed performance standards as tested and/or certified by a 3rd Party such as BSI Kitemark™.

David Borland added, “This new Guide highlights possible issues and problems that can occur when substituting products in place of those of a System House component supplier or other manufacturer which are approved, tested and/or certified. Knowing these potential problems is particularly important when third party type testing is cascaded and used to support product safety and performance claims for certification and/or regulatory compliance. I’d urge all companies to read this document to ensure they are considering their choices when selecting components for their products.”

The new guide can be viewed on publications section of the GGF website www.ggf.org.uk/.