Research and analysis

Fire safety: Balconies, spandrels and laminated glass

Research into the fire safety impact of balcony design, and the use of laminated glass and spandrel zones on external walls of buildings.

Applies to England

Documents

Fire safety: Balconies, spandrels and laminated glass report (full report)

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@dwp.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

The research investigates the fire safety implications of balconies, spandrels, and laminated glass in buildings.  

Researchers examined the mechanisms of fire spread between balconies located on the external walls of multi-storey residential buildings and analysed the performance of laminated glass used as balcony balustrades.  

The study also explores the reaction to fire performance of vertical laminated glass panels and the role of the spandrel zone in relation to fire safety.

Background

The government commissioned the research as part of a technical review of Approved Document B (fire safety).  

OFR Consultants, University College London, Efectis and the University of Edinburgh carried out the work, and the findings and recommendations do not represent government policy.

Updates to this page

Published 22 December 2025

Sign up for emails or print this page