The Brief
MGC was called in to assess a damaged window at Fulham Boys School, a well-known secondary school in West London. What initially appeared to be a standard double-glazed unit quickly turned out to be a highly specialist system.
On inspection, it became clear that the existing glazing had been developed to meet high fire-safety standards specified by the building’s architect. With one pane damaged, the school needed a compliant replacement carried out safely and without affecting the school day.
Our Approach
Our survey team used advanced laser measuring equipment to check the existing glazing and quickly realised it wasn’t a standard unit. The window was built with Contraflam 90 Climaplus fire-rated glass paired with Securit Planitherm XNII, a high-performance, energy-efficient safety glass produced by Vetrotech Saint-Gobain.
Each unit measured 54mm in thickness, offering multiple layers of protection and performance:
- Contraflam 90 – provides 90 minutes of certified fire resistance. Its transparent interlayer turns opaque under extreme heat, acting as a thermal barrier.
- Planitherm XNII – a low-emissivity (Low-E) safety glass that improves insulation and helps maintain comfortable internal temperatures year-round.
Due to the substantial weight of the glass and the building’s sloped position adjacent to a busy supermarket car park, the project required specialist lifting equipment and out-of-hours installation.
MGC coordinated closely with trusted partners to prepare a detailed 47-page full contract lift plan, ensuring complete compliance with all safety regulations. The replacement unit, manufactured in Germany, was then carefully transported to the site once cleared through customs.
On the scheduled Sunday evening, our PASMA-qualified team erected an aluminium access tower to connect the crane and vacuum lifters. The damaged glass was carefully taken out and replaced with the new fire-rated unit and we reused the original glazing beads and applied specialist fire tape to retain the window’s safety rating and match the existing finish.
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Results
The project was completed efficiently, safely and without disrupting school activities, which was important to the client.
Fulham Boys School now benefits from a fully restored, compliant and high-performance fire-rated window, delivering superior fire protection, energy efficiency and peace of mind.
Once again, MGC demonstrated our ability to manage technically complex commercial glazing fittings in challenging environments, delivering a safe, precise installation from start to finish.
Are you responsible for glazing maintenance or upgrades in a commercial or educational building