A broken shopfront glass panel is far more than just a maintenance issue it’s all about safety. Under Aussie workplace health and safety laws, business owners are legally required to act fast to ensure their employees and customers aren’t put in harm’s way the moment a hazard pops up. Commercial glass repairs left to limp along or done on the cheap can lead to a whole bunch of compounding risks which most business owners don’t even think about until they hit them head-on.
Why A Broken Shop Front Is A Security and Liability Problem All Rolled into One?
Getting smashed or shattered, a commercial glass panel instantly creates a public safety hazard, and insurance policies which cover commercial property often come with very specific requirements about how quickly broken glass needs to be secured or replaced or you could find that your claim gets complicated or even voided.
A boarded-up shop front is basically a signal to the world that your premises are vulnerable and inevitably this will make your business a target for secondary incidents like graffiti and further break-ins. In urban areas a 24/7 commercial glazier can get to you in under an hour, so when you’re looking at unsecured trading premises, waiting until the next business day is rarely a good idea.
Toughened, Laminated and Safety Glass Choices for Your Business
Toughened glass is pretty much the standard spec for shopfronts, it shatters into blunt fragments rather than sharp bits, which reduces the risk of injury. Laminated glass has a plastic interlayer that holds the pane together even when it breaks so it acts as an extra security measure even after the glass has been broken.
Acoustic glass is being requested more and more in commercial settings with lots of traffic or entertainment going on; it’s all about keeping staff and customers comfortable. And energy efficiency is a big one large glazed facades with lowe coatings cut down on heating and cooling loads which saves you money over time.
Insurance Claims and Commercial Glass: Navigating the Complex Process
Most commercial property insurance policies now include glass coverage as standard or it can be added on the excess. Replacement specs and approved supplier requirements will all vary depending on which insurer you have. Using an unlicensed glazier will almost certainly have your claim rejected because it won’t have met the insurer’s compliance requirements.
A reputable commercial glazier will take the hassle out of the claims process for you by documenting everything photos, specs and certs as needed by the insurer. Clarifying what your policy covers if you need to board up temporarily will save you a lot of headaches in an emergency situation.
What Distinguishes A Top Grade Commercial Glass Repairs Operator from A Residential Repairer?
Commercial glazing is a whole different ball game to residential you are talking bigger glass panels, heavier glass weights and proper structural framing systems that require specialist installation techniques and equipment unlike residential work. Then you have aluminium shopfront systems, frameless glass facades and structural glass fins that require you to have the right knowledge of the fixing systems not just the glass itself.
A glazier who has only done residential work may not know a thing about the silicone spec reqs for structural bonded facades or the certifications you need for heritage building glass.
Preventative Maintenance That Most Business Owners Overlook
Regularly checking the condition of silicone seals, frame fixings and the state of the glass edges is by far the most affordable way to look after commercial glass. When the seals at the edges start to fail water gets in and gradually breaks down the structural strength of the glazing until often seemingly out of nowhere a panel goes and fails. And the funny thing is, the signs have probably been building up for months.
Applying security film to your existing commercial glass is a pretty cheap way to make it less likely to shatter and also to stick together better if it does break. The building managers that take the trouble to make their glazing a priority particularly those who book in a checkup every year say they end up paying a lot less for emergency repairs than those who just wait for something to go wrong and then call in a glazier.
