Tempered Glass Door Are A Must
Watch the video linked or read the article in US Glass Magazine.
These are sad situations. It’s important for engineers and architects to double check the shop drawings to be sure you do have a tempered glass door.
Let’s work together for good and communicate well for everyone’s best. Here are some great comments from our social networking posts.
Widow to Sue Architects for Alleged Negligent Glass Design – (Thoughts from the Industry)
Comments
Freelance Consultant presso Enzo Ciccarone
Unfortunately, many times the security is not considered
Marketing & Continuing Education Coordinator, & Web Designer
I remember this incident. It is very unfortunate. I wonder how many public establishments aren’t up to code? Seems like simple measures could have been taken to avoid this tragic event.
Senior Project Manager at Thermal Windows Inc
How does something like this get past the G.C., the Glazing Contractor and the Building Inspector? What happens now? Does the Architect point to the general notes where He/She points out, in the design, that it was specified all glass and glazing to meet local building codes and point the finger down the line?
JEI Structural Engineering – Glazing Design Calcs
In every industry there are companies that push bad information through the system and those that take the harder road of doing it right. Weather situations are accidental or avoidable, technology and social networks are making it harder to hide.
I think it’s time for high quality companies and people with integrity to take over in every aspect of living.
Project Estimator/Manager in Memphis
It might matter in legal terms what the specifications and drawings stated but ethically the glazing contractor is to blame. Every glazier whether they are in the field or office knows that door glass needs to be “safety” rated.
This is an example of the G.C. going with the lowest bidder on every project. Top glazing firms can’t afford to be the lowest bidder on every project as the overhead is too high. It’s time to start respecting “quality” of work instead of leaping for the lowest bid number out there.
I’ve been called out to numerous buildings that have recently been built to replace door glass with tempered or sloped glazing with a laminate.
National Account Executive at Management Recruiters of Davidson / Glass & Glazing / Facade Industry
You tell it, Tyler……
Owner at Vern’s Glass
We just priced a repair job last week (and lost) because someone needed new pivots for the door. Neither the door or the side lite next to the door were tempered so we naturally included changing the glass into our price.
Well guess what? The owner of the “smoke shop” went with another guy who only repaired the door and went on his way. The building is 30 plus years old but I REFUSE to walk away from these situations. I think I’ll mail a copy of the article to the owner of the shop.
JEI Structural Engineering – Glazing Design Calcs
You hang in there Vicki. I have to believe the internet is going to help quality service providers thrive as consumers have more access to good education and poor customer service reviews.
It’s always harder for those of us who choose to do things right. Leadership isn’t easy, but it’s a worthwhile endeavor.
this
Project Estimator/Manager in Memphis
Vicki, you did the right thing. The “grandfather” rule doesn’t imply in this situation. I remember going to a local business that had damaged glass due to gunfire. There were two pieces that were damaged out of a row of thirty. This was a slope-glazed frame with insulated glass. However, the inboard lite wasn’t laminated as required for the degree of slope.
I was required by law to change out the entire row of glass if we removed the two damaged pieces because they were technically in the same frame. Needless to say the local business still has two damaged lites.
Marketing & sales professional at GARWARE POLYESTER LTD.
whether door glass tempered or not dosn’t matter for safety purpose, one can use safety film on door glass which is light weight
Project Estimator/Manager in Memphis
Rajeev,
You are correct, safety film is an alternative. However, many manufacturers void the warranty when any film is placed on an insulated unit. In some situations the warranty may not mean much and it might be more cost effective to install the film on existing pieces. My preference is to install tempered the first time and be done with it.
Business Development Manager at Facade Solutions L.L.C
@ Rajeev the door glass if frameless needs to be tempered atleast HS depending on size and the argument is of safety. Depending on what safety film you would use, it still cannot safe guard from injury as you never know what is the force of impact and how it happens. Risk is risk after all it is human life. Cost of safety implication is far too less than compared to human life and the litigation. I’d rather prefer a laminated tempered glass for an external shop front facing main roads and parking lots.
Marketing & sales professional at GARWARE POLYESTER LTD.
laminated glass is good for safety on roadside area or where traffic movement is high and yes of-course toughened glass is twice stronger than HS & 4-5 times stronger than annealed glass, but laminated toughened glass is not advisable in safety or security purpose due to USP of toughened glass which turns negative in laminated glass i.e. it breaking pattern, if a toughened glass breaks it breaks(by applying force or due to impurity NiS) in small pieces, in case of toughened laminated glass , if glass breaks toughened glass as per it nature will break in small pieces & these small pieces will have own strength & adhere to pvb film(a soft film) which now start sagging toward gravitational force or any one can make entry by applying force, also the same is not advisable in skylights or domes due to this.
Using Centry PVB in toughened laminated glass combination may solve the purpose of safety & security but again cost will further escalate.
The rational option is using polyester based safety film of 175 micron with any glass combination. Polyester is very tough material ,neutral to fire and adhesion is very high and suitable to prevent from injury to nearby traffic .
for further demo just visit you tube & type Safety Films or Garware safety films,