Glass & IGU Supply Threatened

If things were not tough enough for installers, the OPSS has closed down or restricted 34 glass companies and is about to turn its attention to IGU suppliers.

GlassCheck UK is a new product testing and compliance support service, which will help IGU manufacturers to evidence compliance with BS EN 1279.

The company has been launched just as the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has quite ruthlessly turned its attention to glass manufacturers and glass unit performance.

Industry stalwart, Andy Jones, is behind the new, low-cost, monthly testing service that will see up to 50 units tested for argon gas concentration per visit using state of the art, non-destructive SparkLike Laser testing technology.

Liability protection

All test data is appropriately recorded so that companies can demonstrate compliance, ensure up-to-date product labelling and protect their business from potential future liability.

Jones told the Eye Group of Media Channels: “The OPSS has set out their stall with their 2026 Heat Soaked Thermally Toughened Glass Sector Regulatory Report. They visited every heat-soaked toughened glass manufacturer. Even though products, in the main, were up-to-scratch, most businesses were found to be non-compliant due to insufficient paper-trails and test data evidence to support their Declaration of Performance (DoP) certificates.

Nine prohibition notices

Jones added: “The result was that the OPSS issued nine prohibition notices, stopping these businesses from supplying products. A further 25 companies were issued warnings requiring them to address their non-compliance issues.

“Now, the OPSS is turning its attention to IGUs and compliance with BS EN 1279.

“The OPSS has the power and the resources to make unannounced visits to check compliance. So the million-dollar question for IGU manufacturers is: does every IGU that leaves your factory receive the same care and attention as your annual test units? If the answer is no, you could be putting your business at risk.”

Tests on installer units

Glass Check UK’s test services also include non-destructive tests on installed units in buildings, argon gas concentration, dew point and glass emissivity tests to determine the real-world performance of installed IGUs.

Jones continued: “GlassCheck UK has been created to support the industry, helping IGU manufacturers to prove and document that their units meet the requirements of BS EN 1279 and support the commercial sector with certainty that their windows are maintaining high performance throughout their lifecycle.

“Our goals are twofold: to protect IGU manufacturing businesses from the ever-increasing regulatory scrutiny; and ensure high-quality insulated glass units are performing as they should be, to improve efficiency and help us meet the government’s Net Zero targets.”

Picture: Andy Jones has launched GlassCheck UK, a new testing and compliance support service for IGU manufacturers.

www.glasscheckuk.co.uk