Glass office partitions out of shower panels?

[ashirusnw]

Further to my other question about building cheap glass partition - someone mentioned building regulations.

If I can pick up shower panels (i.e. full height side panels for a stand-up corner shower without the door part) cheaply (say £80/panel) can I use these as office partitions?

I'm assuming they're always made from toughened glass and will always comply with regs, no?

--
thanks,
Ash[/url]

 

[foxhole]

Unless double glazed will be very noisy and shower panel are not usually tall enough, suspended ceiling? if so partitions should continue to original ceiling for sound and fire insulation.

 

[ashirusnw]

Unless double glazed will be very noisy and shower panel are not usually tall enough, suspended ceiling? if so partitions should continue to original ceiling for sound and fire insulation.

Well, I was planning on building up studwork (timber or metal) near the floor and perhaps near the ceiling to make up the height.

I don't think I can afford double glazing internally anyway.

If I was to go with this, would it meet building regulations?

 

[ashirusnw]

Unfortunately some over-eager moderator has locked my new thread to replies.

In the new thread I asked a question:
Which is more sound proof for the cost, double glazing or laminate (say 12mm laminate) glass?

Unfortunately the mod thought that this was somehow the same question as this thread which of course it isn't. (I've done away with the cheap option of using shower panels etc. as it doesn't seem viable. I'm back to asking a plain-jane glazing advice, please.)

So (again):
Does anyone know which is a good choice for glass office partitions with some measure of sound proofing, considering the cost, laminate or dgu?[/url]

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

So (again):
Does anyone know which is a good choice for glass office partitions with some measure of sound proofing, considering the cost, laminate or dgu?[/url]

So (again), nobody knows, no point in just keeping on asking, some querys do not get answered if nobody knows.

 

[ashirusnw]

So (again):
Does anyone know which is a good choice for glass office partitions with some measure of sound proofing, considering the cost, laminate or dgu?[/url]

So (again), nobody knows, no point in just keeping on asking, some querys do not get answered if nobody knows.

If someone locks the thread unnecessarily then I don't know if someone knows as no-one can reply!

You replied similarly in the other thread so I'm no certain you don't know which is more suitable - but why clog up two threads with unnecessary responses saying "no one knows"? It makes people think a useful response has been posted.[/i]

 

[flameport]

Which is more sound proof for the cost, double glazing or laminate (say 12mm laminate) glass?

There isn't an easy answer to that, since it depends on the thickness of the glass, the type of glass used, and how good/bad the frames are - assuming it has a frame at all.
Unless the partition is full height and has a door with good seals on it, sound transmission through the glass will be irrelevant anyway.

With regards to building regulations, there is far more involved than just ensuring the glass is of a particular type. From the Approved Documents which can be downloaded here: http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/approveddocuments/
you will need to refer to at least parts A, B, E, F, M and N, probably others as well.
There are also a number of standards which office partitions should be designed to - making something yourself is highly unlikely to comply with any of the above.

 

[ashirusnw]

Which is more sound proof for the cost, double glazing or laminate (say 12mm laminate) glass?

There isn't an easy answer to that, since it depends on the thickness of the glass, the type of glass used, and how good/bad the frames are - assuming it has a frame at all.
Unless the partition is full height and has a door with good seals on it, sound transmission through the glass will be irrelevant anyway.

Have 2m tall panels with timber framework (studwork).
* Have full height (2.5m) laminate panels with those U shaped channel things to hold them at the top and bottom.

Does this help decide whether there will be reasonable soundproofing? Let's assume the doors have a good seal, etc.

With regards to building regulations, there is far more involved than just ensuring the glass is of a particular type. From the Approved Documents which can be downloaded here: http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/approveddocuments/
you will need to refer to at least parts A, B, E, F, M and N, probably others as well.
There are also a number of standards which office partitions should be designed to - making something yourself is highly unlikely to comply with any of the above.

I'm using a builder I've known for a long time. I was hoping to just build up studwork for most of the partitioning as I have in buy-to-let residential properties and maybe use fire-retardant finish to comply. If a inspector did come in to see it I probably would get into trouble somewhere unless I use one of these specialist firms that want to charge 10k+ - which I simply can't budget for.

 

[flameport]

and maybe use fire-retardant finish to comply.

Comply with what?
It isn't just the surface finish or materials which matter. Building regulations cover virtually every aspect of a building and the items installed within it.
What about the layout of the building, the width of doors, corridors and other access areas, ventilation and heating, lighting, sound resistance of all the structural elements (doors, glass and the walls) - this list can go on and on.
This kind of installation isn't just shoving up a few partitions here and there - full plans and specifications need to be prepared and approved before any work is started.

If a inspector did come in to see it I probably would get into trouble somewhere

If that is true, then what you are intending to do clearly will not comply with building regulations, and to install any of it means you are breaking the law.

unless I use one of these specialist firms that want to charge 10k+ - which I simply can't budget for.

Have you actually had any real quotes? You should be able to buy 18m of glass partitioning for far less than £10k.
Even if you can't, the reality is that unless you can afford to do this properly (whether yourself or by someone else), you can't have it done.

 

[nostressappliancerepair]

wonderfully stated . thanks and i will try to follow this.