Glass manifestation rules for offices: heights and requirements
In England, Approved Document K says large glass walls and doors in critical locations must be made apparent with manifestation in two zones: between about 850mm and 1000mm, and between about 1400mm and 1600mm above floor level. It can be dots, lines, a logo or a pattern, as long as it is clearly visible.
Why is manifestation needed?
Clear glass can be almost invisible in some light, and people walk into it. Manifestation makes the glass obvious to everyone, including people with impaired vision and children, and is also required under workplace regulations where people could collide with transparent surfaces.
What makes manifestation visible enough?
It must contrast with what is seen through the glass in both light and dark conditions, so a frosted pattern against a white wall can be weaker than it looks on paper. Continuous bands or closely spaced patterns work better than a single small logo.
How can it look good?
Treat it as part of the interior design. A frosted band at seated height can double as privacy; your logo or a brand pattern can be scaled to fill the zone; graduated films can blend the two zones together. We draw the manifestation on the elevations for sign-off.
