Peepers
Banned
This is my understanding also. I think these incidents sound worse than they actually are. Basically the panel of glass explodes into 1000's of tiny little chunks of glass. It would be annoying to have this shower down on you but I doubt that people are put in danger.
whatever
Senior Member
I know a couple buildings are going with laminated now. Clear Spirit and Ice are both using it, so even if it does break it won't fall out
Ramako
Moderator
I suspect that this will become standard soon enough. I'm surprised it isn't already provided for under the building code.
interested
Senior Member
A bit early yet to judge.
I wonder if this will be the same glass problem and is the same glass as those where the glass has been repaired or laminated?
It could be a 1 off thing. I would like to hear the report once it is reviewed.
Still, worrisome trend in the downtown core.
Some places have mine fields. I guess Toronto will have "stuff falling from the sky".
I wonder if this will be the same glass problem and is the same glass as those where the glass has been repaired or laminated?
It could be a 1 off thing. I would like to hear the report once it is reviewed.
Still, worrisome trend in the downtown core.
Some places have mine fields. I guess Toronto will have "stuff falling from the sky".
DarkSideDenizen
Senior Member
Regardless of whether or not the glass breaks into small pieces, if news were broadcast around the world that window/balcony glass falling from a skyscraper actually hit someone, the story would be bad for the city's image. The US media would be first in line and quick to paint a negative picture of our fair city.
I still believe that falling ice poses a greater threat (by far) to one's personal safety, especially in a city like Toronto.
I wonder how much glass is falling from other tall buildings going up around the world..?
I still believe that falling ice poses a greater threat (by far) to one's personal safety, especially in a city like Toronto.
I wonder how much glass is falling from other tall buildings going up around the world..?
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interested
Senior Member
Without knowing the facts, I would have to believe that the extreme cold may be fracturing the glass. Add wind and out she comes. Or maybe it was fastened too tight which resulted in stress on the glass...predisposing the glass to fall.
I agree with Dark Side Denizen that falling Ice probably poses a greater threat, only because it happens far more often. Also, it is often an icecycle which is pointed.
To figure out glass from other buildings in the world I would look at cold climates and see if this is the reason though if memory serves some of the glass off other buildings was occuring on warm summer days.
I agree with Dark Side Denizen that falling Ice probably poses a greater threat, only because it happens far more often. Also, it is often an icecycle which is pointed.
To figure out glass from other buildings in the world I would look at cold climates and see if this is the reason though if memory serves some of the glass off other buildings was occuring on warm summer days.
dt_toronto_geek
Superstar
I mentioned over in the Aura thread that there was another falling glass incident last week which went largely unreported somewhere around Univeristy & Queen, but it was actually at Bloor & Avenue Road - http://www.citynews.ca/2013/01/18/glass-falls-from-building-at-bloor-and-avenue/
someMidTowner
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
There was also another glass falling incident this week at Redpath and Eglinton, but I am not sure it was from a new building
Miscreant
Senior Member
This is unacceptable.
rpeters
Active Member
In terms of physics I would guess that the glass shrinks in extreme cold which might cause it to slip or come out of its fastenings which would likely be metal and would shrink too.
vatche
Senior Member
Let's start building non glass buildings. All of the new buildings look the same more or less. Besides, it'll add variety to the skyline.
000
Senior UT Member
Does anyone know why our building codes didn't already make laminate glass mandatory? In the end it comes down to cost and how much developers can get away with. If there's nothing telling them they need to use x y z they won't bother. They already face increased costs on everything else. There should never be a situation where balcony glass shrinks too much or expands too much and bursts out of its fastenings! That's crazy bad design issues and/or quality control. Icicle formation is also preventable in various ways, I have seen heat cables effectively used to prevent freezing on the edges roofs and gutters on houses.
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whatever
Senior Member
The glass isn't shrinking/expanding and popping out of the fittings. What's likely happened in a couple cases is that there were inclusions in the tempered which created stress points which in turn caused the glass to blow out in wind/heat/cold. In a couple cases. I think it's easy to neglect that there's also the human element. If someone drops an ashtray or a beer bottle and shatters a pane below their balcony then yep, you'll end up with glass on the sidewalk.