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Random glass explosions prompt safety warning from WFAANZ

safety film holding broken glass together

The recent spate of toughened glass shower screens, pool fences and balustrades spontaneously exploding in homes across the country has prompted the Window Film Association of Australia and New Zealand (WFAANZ) to issue a safety warning to homeowners.

This year, two different Victorian apartment blocks have experienced exploding balcony balustrade panes. In Perth this June, a shower screen suddenly shattered while a four year old boy was taking a shower. Similarly, a Sydney mum called the ambulance in September 2016 after a shattered shower screen cut her three month old baby's face. In Sydney this January two sisters, one eight months pregnant, were sitting next to a pool fence when it suddenly shattered. Shoppers at Robina Town Centre in Queensland were startled when a shopfront window unexpectedly exploded in June this year¹.

Apart from physical impact or damage to glass edges, the most common cause of glass explosions in toughened (tempered) glass is a phenomenon called 'Nickel Sulphide (NiS) inclusion'. See break-out box below article for more information.

To protect family, friends, guests and even passers-by from spontaneous glass explosions, WFAANZ suggests the application of a safety film, which essentially creates a membrane that holds the glass together if it shatters.

Glass with applied safety film can be brought up to Grade A safety standard under Australian / New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2208:1996, Grade A safety glass in human impact situations. It is a very tough, clear polyester film less than 1mm thick with a safety-strength adhesive. The combination of film and adhesive helps hold the glass together if it breaks, so instead of pieces falling onto persons or property, they remain stuck to the film.



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