More and more people are starting to call for Georgian Wired Glass (or “GW glass”) to be banned in the UK due to safety concerns. The US
banned wired glass in 2006 and Canada has removed wired glass from its
national building standards.To get more news about
wire mesh laminated glass, you can visit boegger.net official website.
With new products such as Plasiax™ Wire offering a safer alternative whilst retaining your visual heritage, it could be time to leave
Georgian Wired Glass in the past.Georgian Wired Glass is sometimes also
known as ‘Safety Glass’, although this name isn’t particularly accurate
(more on this later). Essentially it is glass manufactured with wire
mesh embedded into it to prevent it from shattering and breaking whilst
also increasing its fire rating.
Georgian Wired Glass is weak, it’s weaker than ordinary float glass of the same thickness and it’s widely considered to be unsafe by
engineering and glass experts. These experts tend to agree that –
despite its ability to withstand heat – wired glass is weaker on impact
than regular glass and is an unwise choice in high-traffic areas.
American television broadcast company CBS reported on the dangers of wired glass during an evening news show, mentioning an aspiring
basketball player who, after attempting to block a shot, ran straight
into a wired glass window and put his hand through it. His injuries
subsequently ended his basketball career as he lost the full use of his
hand.
A Canadian news station also reported on the dangers of wired glass after an investigation into its supposed ‘superior’ protection found
that it may not offer superior protection after all.
The wire does not make the glass stronger, in fact, it can do the exact opposite. It actually weakens the glass and makes it easier to
break. All the wire does is hold the glass in place, which in some
circumstances can make it even more dangerous than it would have been
without the wire mesh. Once broken, ordinary glass falls away, however,
Georgian Wired Glass holds the shards in contact with the flesh and very
serious injuries can be caused when the victim attempts to pull their
arm back out. This is quite scary considering that it’s mostly used in
schools and public places.
Canadian news website rdnewsNOW published a story in 2017 about a student who was severely injured by wired glass after pushing open a
wired-glass door. In this case, both arms broke through the glass
resulting in lacerations and damage to an artery. Thankfully, this
individual managed a full recovery but this is one of many stories that
highlight the confusing nature of referring to wired glass as ‘Safety
Glass’.
Georgian Wired Glass is also heavy, which makes it difficult to transport and handle on site when fitting. It’s difficult to cut and
requires special tools and it can be dangerous to work with due to sharp
edges and exposed wires.
