Case study, Rod Laver Arena Spontaneous Glass Breakage (SGB)
What is SGB?
When toughened glass goes through the heat cycles required to produce it, a chemical called nickel sulfide (NS) is formed. NS will be found as an inclusion in the glass. This inclusion is very small and usually can't be seen with the human eye.
By inspecting every inch of the glass with a magnifying glass, you'll find that most toughened glass panes will have a nickel sulfide inclusion.
With expansion and contraction of the glass due to climate conditions, these inclusions may cause toughened glass to shatter spontaneously.
Spontaneous glass breakage statistics
- Glass Manufacturer A: warrants no more than 5 out of 1,000 panes, if heat treated.
- Glass Manufacturer B: recognises that spontaneous glass breakage occurs, but does not warrant against glass breakage.
- Glass Manufacturer C: references two studies stating spontaneous glass breakage may occur 1 out of 150–400 panes.
Why is SGB a hazard?
When toughened glass shatters, it breaks into thousands of small fragments, usually not big enough to cause serious damage. However, if these small fragments fall from a multi-storey building in large quantities, the risk of injury or death is very serious.
How do we protect the public from SGB?
UV Window Coatings has been installing 3M clear safety film to buildings all over Melbourne since 1997. There are countless buildings that have been filmed to hold glass in place in the unfortunate circumstance of a glass pane shattering.
Recent projects include:
- Eastland Shopping Centre balcony glass
- Rod Laver Arena
- Qantas House
- The Melbourne Arts Centre
- Caulfield Race Course
Usually if a building starts to get a few panes shatter, there will be more to come. It's not uncommon to see 8–15 panes shatter in the course of 24 months. That's where we come in. We install 3M clear safety film to the inside or outside glass.
After the film has been installed we anchor it to the frame by removing the glazing seal, either rubber or silicone. Structural silicone is then installed, bonding the film to the frame to ensure the glass and frame will not fall out.
Other methods that may be used to fix the film to the frame include batten fixing, a method that uses an aluminium extrusion with VHB double-sided tape. Once the film has been installed it is almost undetectable and carries a manufacturer's warranty of 12 years.
Thinking about the same for your place? See our full guide to apartment window tinting in Melbourne — including body corporate approval, renter-friendly options and high-rise glass safety.
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