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A touch of glass
30 Nov 2009
Topics: Windows, Kitemark®
By any reckoning, the "Barlow Shed" in London's St Pancras International was an extraordinary feat of Victorian engineering when the station was first opened in 1868. The vaulted roof making up the bulk of the "Shed" measured 689 feet long by 100 feet high, and its 243-foot span made it the largest enclosed space in the world for years.
Despite this amazing engineering accomplishment, the station fell into disrepair during the course of its history, hitting its lowest ebb during the 1960s when the station was almost shut down. Public outcry prompted the government to save the station, though proper restoration activity did not begin until the mid-1990s, with the prospect of the station acting as a terminus for the new high speed Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
The restoration work was a truly mammoth task, requiring significant quantities of specialist glass for many areas of the building's infrastructure. Kite Glass, based in Weybridge, was given the task of supplying the glass on the platforms, central concourse, balustrading, stairways and travellators, plus the glass for the Undercroft (the shops underneath). In all, Kite Glass supplied over 3,000 separate pieces of glass for the St Pancras International project.
Toughened safety glass
Supplying the right glass for the job was not a new experience for Kite Glass, though these quantities would be a bit daunting to many other organizations. The company entered the specialist toughened glass market in 1985, focused on manufacturing and supplying products that meet the highest standards for quality and performance.
Among other things, it develops many special products, including architectural glasswork for staircases, floors and balustrades, as well as customized glazing for ships, trains and road vehicles. And virtually all of its products have achieved Kitemark® certification.
"Toughened glass is almost always used in applications where consistently meeting performance specifications is an essential requirement for safety," explains Leroy Reed, director of Kite Glass. "Specifiers are very careful about selecting suppliers and are always looking for reassurance that their products are manufactured and tested to the highest standards. The Kitemark - which is recognized by 91 per cent of the UK population as a symbol that signifies quality, safety and reliability - has proved itself to be one of the most effective ways of providing that reassurance. Over the years, it has undoubtedly opened doors for us, and it also makes it much easier for us to meet the tender process."
To help it maintain the very high standards it sets itself for product quality and service, Kite Glass has invested heavily in in-house testing facilities. These cover not just the glass itself, but also supporting structures associated with the glass.
This was a tremendous asset for the glass used in St Pancras International: the glass produced went through special processes, including polishing, drilling, countersinking, toughening, heat soaking, laminating, screen-printing and of course, testing.
"In-house testing brings big benefits," says Leroy. "It helps us develop new products quickly and it also means that we can keep a close eye on product quality. And a really important benefit for our customers is that we can demonstrate to them that the products we supply are not just designed to meet a specific set of requirements, but that they actually meet those requirements."
As part of the annual Kitemark certification process, inspectors from BSI check that the test equipment used by Kite Glass is properly calibrated and maintained.
"Our relationship with BSI has undoubtedly helped to make us the very successful operation we are today," he adds. "In fact, BSI even provided us, indirectly, with our company name; when we first entered the market, all of our main products carried the Kitemark, so it seemed completely logical to call our company Kite Glass!
"A lot of things have, of course, changed since then, but we're still enjoying the benefits of the services and expertise that BSI has to offer, and the organization is still a valuable aid in helping us meet our commitment to provide the best possible products backed by the best possible service."
Business Standards © 2010. Editorial produced by Caspian Publishing in association with The British Standards Institution. Editorial opinions expressed on are not necessarily those of BSI Group or Caspian Publishing. Neither Caspian Publishing nor BSI Group accept responsibility for advertising or editorial content, nor for that appearing on linked third-party websites. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without written permission from BSI Group or Caspian Publishing.
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