01
Identify glazing where a risk exists
Assess windows, doors, gates, walls and partitions where people could reasonably come into contact with the glazing or be injured if it breaks.
What this requires
What Regulation 14 requires.
Regulation 14 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 addresses transparent and translucent glazing where it could create a health or safety risk. In practice, the starting point is understanding where the glass is, how people interact with it and whether the existing glazing provides appropriate protection.
02
Provide safe glazing or protection
Where necessary for health or safety, the glazing must be made from suitable safety material or adequately protected against breakage.
03
Make glazing apparent
Transparent or translucent surfaces must, where necessary, be appropriately marked or incorporate features that make their presence apparent to people using the space.
04
Pay particular attention to critical locations
HSE guidance highlights glazing in doors, gates and adjacent panels at shoulder level or below, and glazing in walls or partitions at waist level or below, as locations requiring particular attention.
What this means in practice
Compliance cannot be determined from the age of the building or the appearance of the glass alone. The glazing location, dimensions, material, existing protection and foreseeable risk all need to be considered before deciding whether remedial work is required.
If glazing is non-compliant
The risk sits with the dutyholder.
Regulation 14 is a workplace health and safety requirement. Where glazing presents a foreseeable risk, leaving it unidentified or inadequately controlled can expose both people and the organisation responsible for the workplace.
01
Risk of personal injury
People can collide with glazing that is not sufficiently apparent, or suffer cuts and other injuries when unsuitable glass breaks following impact.
02
Enforcement action
A breach of health and safety law can result in action by the enforcing authority. Depending on the circumstances, this may include requiring corrective work, serving an improvement or prohibition notice, or prosecution.
03
Unplanned remedial work
Discovering unsuitable glazing during an inspection, refurbishment or following an incident can turn a manageable upgrade into urgent remedial work, with surveys, access, procurement and installation competing with the building programme.
04
Difficulty evidencing control
Without a clear assessment of the existing glazing and a record of any remedial system installed, it can be harder to demonstrate how the foreseeable risk was identified and appropriately controlled.
The key point
An accident does not have to happen first.
Health and safety enforcement is concerned with exposure to risk, not only with incidents that have already caused injury. The practical question is whether foreseeable glazing risks have been identified and suitable measures put in place.
How Solartek supports compliance
From survey to documented remedial work.
The starting point is the existing glazing, not the product catalogue. Solartek can survey the glass, establish where remedial work may be required and develop an appropriate window film or manifestation specification before installation.
01
Survey the existing glazing
Identify relevant windows, doors, partitions and other glazed areas, recording the location, dimensions and characteristics needed to assess the requirement.
02
Assess the requirement
Review the glazing against its location, use and foreseeable impact risk to identify areas that may require safety upgrading, protection or manifestation.
03
Specify the remedial system
Select an appropriate film, manifestation treatment or associated glazing solution and provide the relevant product and performance information for the proposed work.
04
Plan and install
Coordinate access and installation around the operation of the building, including phased, restricted-hours or occupied-site working where the project requires it.
05
Document the completed work
Provide the technical and handover information associated with the installed system so there is a clearer record of what was assessed, specified and completed.
Supporting evidence
Technical information that supports the specification.
Product datasheets and performance information
Relevant safety-film test evidence
RAMS and installation documentation where required
Written handover and project records
Technical evidence & downloads
The documentation behind the specification.
Access the guidance, test information and technical documentation used to support glazing assessment and remedial window film specifications.
01Regulation 14 GuidanceGuidancePlain-English guidance to workplace glazing requirements, risk areas and the assessment process.02Safety Film Test EvidenceTest dataRelevant impact-performance and safety-film testing information for specified systems.03Glazing Assessment TemplateTemplateExample structure for recording glazing locations, observations and recommended remedial action.04Safety Film DatasheetsDatasheetsTechnical product information for safety and security window film systems.05Standards & Technical ReferencesReferenceSupporting standards, classifications and technical references relevant to the glazing specification.
Where this applies
Regulation 14 across different estates.
The legal requirement is the same, but the glazing risks, access constraints and practical route to compliance vary by building type and project environment.
01020304
Education & Institutional
Schools, colleges and occupied estates
Safety glazing, manifestation and remedial programmes across classrooms, circulation spaces, entrances and other high-use areas.
Commercial & Landlord
Offices and commercial property
Assess glazing across entrances, partitions, common areas and occupied commercial spaces as part of estate management or refurbishment.
Public Sector & Venues
Public-facing and high-traffic buildings
Identify and manage glazing risks where visitor numbers, operational constraints and public access increase the importance of safe specification.
Contractors & Specifiers
Compliance within the project specification
Build safety glazing requirements, test evidence and remedial film systems into tender packages, refurbishment programmes and project delivery.