Technical fire glass specifications at your fingertips – the story of the development of Pyroguard’s TechLibrary
Dr Vince Crook, our Technical Development Director and Jérôme Bastien, our Regional Sales Director, answer some FAQs on the development of the recently released TechLibrary.
This is the new digital platform from Pyroguard, which is designed to make it easier for architects, specifiers and contractors to access essential technical data and test results on fire rated glass.
Where did the original idea come from for the TechLibrary?
Jérôme: The idea stemmed from conversations we were having with customers and specifiers who found they were often struggling to navigate the increasing complexity of fire-rated glass options.
As a technical team, we wanted to centralise our knowledge of fire safety glass in a way that was intuitive and accessible, particularly for architects or in the engineering stage of a project. We also wanted to make it easier for quotation offices, which are often under a time pressure and need the information quickly.
Another reason was that, as a business, we have digital transformation goals and we were keen to align with these. Our idea was that the TechLibrary would make our expertise more readily available to customers and specifiers 24/7.
What were the key principles on which it was developed?
Vince: It was crucial that any system developed needed to offer simplicity and relevance. We set out to create a tool that adds genuine value to the day-to-day work of specifiers. Our aim was to give users exactly what they required, without overloading them with jargon. Whatever we produced, it had to be seen as a trusted source – the content therefore needed to reflect our technical authority and be seen as 100% reliable. The system also needed to be flexible, so we designed it with scalability in mind to ensure that the platform could evolve over time.
Why is it essential that architects/developers have access to this information as an online resource?
Jérôme: Through our TechLibrary, we set out to demonstrate that Pyroguard is not just a supplier, but a solution partner throughout the design process.
It ensures that relevant information is accessible for architects and customers at the touch at a button, so it can be accessed quickly and easily. This can make or break a specification decision.
We also wanted to make sure that our partners are working with the most up-to-date and compliant data.
What were the stages in the development of the TechLibrary?
Vince: It has been a long journey from an initial concept to what you see today. The Pyroguard library was becoming too large, so we knew we needed a new way for customers and staff alike to access it easily.
Who did it involve from the Pyroguard team?
Jérôme: Creating the TechLibrary is the result of a great collaboration between a number of divisions within our business. This included product management, marketing, technical support and our digital teams. We also consulted with regional sales teams to ensure local market expectations were met.
The feedback we gained from our teams out in the field was crucial to ensuring the online tool was both practical and relevant.
How long did it take to develop?
Vince: It was surprisingly quick – around four months to deliver the TechLibrary in its current format. We were lucky to partner with an extremely responsive and hard-working developer.
Did you carry out any trials on the TechLibrary with architects, developers etc? If so, how did it shape the end result?
Jérôme: We did carry out early user testing with a sample of partners and customer-facing staff working alongside specifiers. Their feedback helped our developer to streamline the interface, prioritise the most-requested documents and improve search functionality.
The feedback we gained was useful as it confirmed the demand for region-specific content and guided our localisation approach.
Is the selection of fire safety glass across industry becoming more complicated? If so, why?
Jérôme: Absolutely! The range of standards, building regulations and performance expectations is growing across Europe.
Each project is becoming more bespoke and requires more precise technical support, so this online tool is proving invaluable. The TechLibrary is one way we can simplify the complexity — giving users the tools to make the right choice faster.
What has been the feedback from customers to TechLibrary?
Vince: Feedback from specifiers has been very positive. They appreciate the clarity and how quickly they can find what they need. Several customers and architects told us it has helped to reduce back-and-forth on technical queries. We have also received constructive input on what they’d like to see next as the TechLibrary develops — which is exactly the kind of engagement we hoped for.
How do you envisage the TechLibrary evolving further in the future? What would this involve?
Vince : The TechLibrary will continue to evolve, through expanded content, as we refine it with users in mind. This is set to include more specific datasheets, installation videos and multilingual support – as well as the development of an acoustic database covering both standard and less standard possibilities.
There will be greater integration too. We expect the TechLibrary will link more closely with our CRM and project tracking tools for a seamless user experience.
In the future, we expect to see greater personalisation too. The Pyroguard TechLibrary will offer user-specific dashboards and document recommendations.