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Glazing manifestation

• Introduction
• Statutory guidance
• Guidance

Introduction

• Manifestation is necessary in critical locations in and around buildings where people may not be aware of the presence of glass, and could collide with it.
• This affects all people but is particularly important for those with a visual impairment.
• Additional specialist knowledge is available in the booklet "Building Sight", published by the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

Statutory Guidance

Three key documents must be taken into consideration when designing manifestation. The requirements are, in general, mutually compatible although the guidance in the latest document (Approved Document M 2004) is the most comprehensive.

Building Regulations Approved Document M

Section 2 clause 2.24 [Link]

• This clause goes into more detail than Section 2 of Approved Document N.
• The upper run of manifestation referred to in (a) - at 1400 to 1600mm above the floor - is a wide interpretation of the requirements in Section 2 of Approved Document N.
• Clause 2.24 reads:
  Glass entrance doors and glazed screens will satisfy Requirement M1 or M2 if:
  a. they are clearly defined with manifestation on the glass at two levels, 850 to 1000mm and 1400 to 1600mm above the floor, contrasting visually with the background seen through the glass (both from inside and outside) in all lighting conditions;
  b. manifestation takes the form of a logo or sign at least 150mm high (repeated if on a glazed screen),
  or a decorative feature such as broken lines or continuous bands, at least 50mm high;
  c. glazed entrance doors, where adjacent to, or forming part of, a glazed screen, are clearly differentiated from it by the provision of a high contrast strip at the top, and on both sides;
  d. glass entrance doors, where capable of being held open, are protected by guarding to prevent the leading edge constituting a hazard.

Section 3 clause 3.14 (l) [Link]

• Clause 3.14 essentially repeats the requirements of 2.24 for corridors.

Building Regulations Approved Document N

Section 2 [Link]

• Clause 2.4 states "Where 'manifestation is necessary it may take the form of broken or solid lines, patterns or company logos at appropriate heights and intervals." Diagram 5 shows the height at 1500mm.
• Clause 2.6 and Diagram 6 give examples of situations which would not normally require manifestation.
• Section 2 does not give any guidance as to the size of the manifestation.

British Standard BS 8300:2001

Clause 6.4.4

• This document repeats the requirement for an upper band of manifestation at 1400mm to 1600mm above FFL on glass doors. It also calls for the door to be framed on both sides and the top by an opaque high contract strip at least 25mm wide.

Guidance

• Compliance with the requirements of ApprovedDocumentM, clauses 2.24 and 3.14 (above), ensures compliance with Approved Document N and BS 8300.

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