Whether it’s rain, wind or shine, harsh weather conditions can have significant effects on your building. Strong winds, rain and hail can cause breakage to glass whilst exposure to sunlight can cause UV rays that penetrate glass panels and damage items inside.
It is therefore important to take necessary precautions in protecting your glass windows and doors from harsh weather. Our guide on 4 Ways to Protect Your Glass from the Elements will help you get started .
Safety Glass
A great way to take precaution against weather damage is to invest in safety glass for your windows and doors. Safety glass is designed to withstand high - impact forces and extreme weather conditions, including strong winds, high-powered storms, and fluctuating temperatures.
They are often also effective in filtering UV rays, protecting the interior of your home from sun damage and boosting your home’s energy efficiency by keeping the heat out.
There are different types of safety glass, including tempered and laminated glass. To find out which is best for you and your property, read our Laminated VS Tempered Glass blog.
Security Film
Security window film is an easy and affordable way to protect your windows from weather damage. These films are made of a pliable Myler coating that is applied to the inside of your glass. They help the glass withstand larger forces and prevent glass from shattering dangerously.
Security films can be tinted, mirrored or coloured and are also effective at blocking out harmful UV rays.
Storm Windows and Doors
Storm windows and doors involve installing a second window or door panel over an existing one. They provide protection from extreme weather conditions by reinforcing windows, without replacing the existing glass.
They are a good option if you’re seeking a cost-effective method to prevent weather damage that’s more effective than security film.
Storm Shutters
Storm shutters are a type of protective shutter that attaches to the outside of a window. They are effective in protecting the window from strong winds, rain, hail, and sunlight.
Storm shutters are a popular choice for homeowners as they can be folded or rolled away so you can still enjoy your view. They are also more cost-effective than completely replacing your glass with safety glass.
Look for shutters made of aluminium, aluminium-wrapped foam, or reinforced fabric.
If you’re wanting to take precaution against weather damage, give Magic Glass a call. We can advise you on the best safety glass options for your building and can also help in the event of glass breakage caused by weather. Call us on 18 000 GLASS.
Although it is rare, there have been many occasions where glass has broken spontaneously, with no apparent cause.
This phenomenon, which we call ‘spontaneous glass breakage’ occurs solely with toughened (or tempered) glass and can be triggered by a number of preventable issues.
Read on to learn more about how you can prevent your glass from breaking spontaneously.
Installation Issues
During transport and installation, glass panels are very susceptible to nicks and chips. These nicks and chips often don’t cause immediate breakage; however, they can lead to spontaneous glass breakage overtime. This is caused by stress concentrations developing around the nicks and chips as a result of glass expansion and contraction.
The best way to avoid installation damage is to hire a professional to install your glass windows and doors. They will understand how to best transport and install the glass panel to ensure no damage occurs throughout the process.
Thermal Stress
Spontaneous glass breakage can also be triggered by thermal stressors on the glass. Thermal stress occurs when the centre of a glazing unit becomes warmer than the outer edge of the thermal unit. This causes the centre of the glass to expand, resulting in the infliction of a tensile force that causes breakage.
Thermal stress occurs most commonly in glass that absorbs heat and solar radiation. This includes tinted, low-e and reflective glass. The best way to avoid thermal stress is to avoid installing these types of glass panels in locations that are exposed to large amounts of direct sunlight. A good rule of thumb is to avoid installing them anywhere where there is more sun than shade coverage.
Ensuring the framing around your glass windows or doors has a high heat capacity and leaves space for the glass to expand will help too.
Additionally, simply keeping your blinds or curtains open on sunny days will minimise the occurrence of thermal stress breakages too. Blinds and curtains often reflect heat and sunlight back into the windows causing them to absorb more warmth.
Fabrication Defects
Accidental inclusions of nickel sulphide can also cause spontaneous glass breakage. These inclusions are caused by stainless steel remnants from fabrication machinery falling into the glass. The nickel sulphide in these remnants changes shape and structure, which puts stress on the glass and can lead to breakage.
The best way to avoid such defects is to ensure you are sourcing your glass from a reputable fabrication facility. They will have procedures in place to ensure nickel sulphide inclusions are minimised.
Whether you’re looking to avoid spontaneous glass breakage or require assistance after it occurs, get in contact with Magic Glass.
Our experienced Glaziers always take necessary precautions to prevent the occurrence of spontaneous glass breakage and our state-of-the-art fabrication facility ensures that all our glass products are manufactured to the highest safety and quality standards.
We are available 24 hours, 7 days a week to take care of any glass emergencies you may have.
