Investment in protecting personnel and buildings infrastructure should be a major priority for property owners and facilities managers in urban areas during 2016 says Advanced Glass Technology (AGT).

The London based secure glazing and counter-terror buildings specialist, which has delivered a number of building protection projects in the Middle East during 2015, is encouraging UK businesses to ensure adequate measures are in place, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, to mitigate the risk of injury, damage and even death in the event of a terrorist attack. Due to the number of rapidly developing infrastructure projects in Northern Iraq, the region is now AGT’s biggest international market and further growth is predicted in 2016. As well as the private sector, the company is working with embassies and Non-Governmental Organisations.

AGT are specialists in the retro-fitment of BSEN and GSA-approved anti-shatter security film, window frame anchoring systems and ballistic-proof doors and walling, for commercial and residential buildings. In the UK, the window film market has historically focused on providing aesthetic, anti-glare and environmental benefits but AGT believes that the requirement for physical protection will become more urgent in major cities. Advances in new construction materials have made the process of installation quicker, easier and more cost-effective, which ensured the optimum solution for any type of building.

Martin Westney, Managing Director, AGT, explains:

“A fundamental part of new building planning in the Middle East is the safety and protection of occupants, building assets and utilities, so our expertise in risk mitigation and injury prevention is increasingly being called upon by multi-national companies as well as local organisations. In light of heightened threat levels, UK companies employing large numbers of office workers should have this on their radar and we would expect legislation to reflect this in the short term future.”

In line with Home Office guidelines for security grade window film, AGT also provides ‘peel test’ checks post installation, to ensure that the bonding process has been 100% successful and that there is a record of maintenance, which would be required in the event of an insurance claim.