Selectaglaze helped create and enhance a computer suite at London homelessness charity, Caritas Anchor House, with secondary glazing as part of their on-going relationship with the CRASH charity
Francesca Roberts, CRASH chief executive contacted Selectaglaze to find out if they would be keen to donate secondary glazing for the computer suite at Caritas Anchor House, located in the heart of Newham, London.
Caritas Anchor House actively works with vulnerable groups including those affected by homelessness, unemployment, mental health, substance misuse, domestic abuse and offending. Last year they provided shelter and support to 202 people, accelerated 35 into employment and 48 into independent living.
CRASH, the construction industry charity succours homelessness charities and hospices with their construction projects. They recently supported Caritas Anchor House developing a series of projects to renovate the centre.
As part of the works, they converted some office space into a computer suite where people could have secure and safe access to computers to explore opportunities.
To follow Health and Safety regulations the area required fire insulated walls. As an alternative to an enclosed area, it was agreed that three fire resistant internal windows would be fitted, thus creating internal vision panels to provide a bright and airy area. This made sure that users felt secure but with suitable acoustic insulation to help concentration, as well as fire resistance for duty of care.
Selectaglaze has supported the CRASH ‘No Christmas Card’ appeal for the past few years and were happy to back this particular charity project. Pilkington Glass donated the Pyrodur fire-resistant glass to support the secondary glazing installation.
Selectaglaze fitted three Series 40 units with 10mm Pyrodur fire-rated glass. The Series 40 is a beaded fixed frame system offering 30-minute fire integrity protection. The secondary glazing units were framed in fire-rated timber grounds and transom mullions. Another benefit was the improvement of acoustic insulation.
The successful installation of secondary glazing has profited Caritas Anchor House, a gesture from Selectaglaze and Pilkington that will be a huge help for the residents to advance their efforts towards a better future. The computer suite has been transformed into a bright and airy area where people can focus and feel safe; not enclosed or vulnerable.
Amanda Dubarry, cheif executive at Caritas Anchor House, said: “The glazing supplied has been such an important donation for us. It’s enabled us to open up the room which we will soon be using as an IT and e-learning suite for our residents.
“We wanted to make this new space as open and light as possible to create a feeling of space and safety, and to enable our staff to see what is happening in the room without having to be in the space directly.”
