Man jailed for £145,000 fake fire glass fraud
31st January 2017

A County Antrim man has been jailed for a year after a court heard how he had sold fake fire safety glass that was later installed at schools, universities and hospitals in Ireland and England.

Seamus James Laverty, 58, of Deer Park Road, Toome, pleaded guilty to 16 counts of fraud by false representation.
Antrim Crown Court heard that Laverty sold ordinary glass as fire safety glass between 2010 and 2013 when he worked on the factory floor of a glass company. The fraud totalled £145,000.

The glass was sold to the construction industry and later used in buildings including the Ulster Hospital, Strathearn School in east Belfast, Lisburn Road Methodist Church in Belfast, Magherafelt High School, County Londonderry, Carrickfergus Primary School in County Antrim, Tallaght Hospital in Dublin and Manchester University.

A competitor of Laverty became suspicious of his company's cheap tenders and acquired a sample from the company. He discovered it was, in fact, ordinary laminate glass which had been stamped as fire resistant.

A police spokesperson later said "This was a fraud designed to make large amounts of money but which put lives, many of them vulnerable lives, at risk."

Today, Steve Rice, GGF Director of Technical Affairs responded to the case, saying: “This news and the subsequent prison sentence clearly shows the importance for all companies in the fire resistant glazing sector to ensure the specification, supply and installation of fire resisting glazing is provided at the correct level of protection for people and property.  The GGF through its Fire Resisting Glazing Group (FRGG) promotes, develops and champions the application of best practice in the use of fire-resistant glazing systems with a recognition of their responsibilities in ensuring fitness for purpose in the event of fire.

The GGF’s  “Guide to Best Practice in the Specification and Use of Fire-Resistant Glazed Systems” and “Standard for: The Specification, Supply and Installation of Fire-Resistant Barriers containing Glass” ensure those involved with designing and implementing fire strategies within buildings can obtain the correct products, which includes the glass, the glazing seals, glazing beads, fixings and frame, which all need to be compatible under fire conditions and that the relevant test evidence is obtained. These publications can be found on the GGF website.