Velux window story

SatanicHare

a.w.buildingservices wrote: »

any window with a cill hight more than 800 or 850 mm (canT remember which shure its 800 mm) from floor to cill hieght does not requier safty glass in by law so as most velux windows are much higher than that you probably wont get it in.
if one builder gives you a price and anouther gives you a price a couple of hundred quid cheaper you never say why are you cheaper you say yes please

Not quite as cut and dried as that, overhead glazing should also be considered a hazardous area and therefore safety glass, either laminate, toughened or wired should be fitted. Velux used to fit 3mm float glass as standard in their older velux windows, i think they now use 4mm low-e glass but i'm not sure if they use safety glass as standard, the last one i repaired was float glass, but i'm not sure when it was fitted. I would hope that anyone sourcing, supplying or fitting roof windows would check to make sure it was glazed appropriately with regards to it's location. Not trying to have a dig, just wanted to clarify it a bit.
http://www.safety-glaze.co.uk/information.html

amum22

Last night, one of three velux windows in our kitchen exploded and quite alot of glass fell over our dog. Luckily he's fine & none of my children were in the kitchen at the time. I am so grateful yet sympathetic to all your posts. I rang the customer services first thing this morning & now await to hear when someone will come and sort it out. The lady was very helpful and friendly. Our windows were put in about 6 years ago. Safety glass is standard now thank goodness. I have also suggested that the other two be replaced in case it happens again. So glad they'll fix it for free.

Keith_Riddle

Hi,

My name is Keith Riddle and I work for VELUX. Obviously some of the people contributing to this discussion have been directly involved with VELUX, but not all. We completely understand the concern that having a window shatter can raise and do our best to resolve that when it happens. Fortunately, it is very rare; however it is inherently unpredictable and it is not possible to completely eliminate the risk of it happening at all. There are a couple of websites we are aware of that provide more information on the general subject. These are; thewindowman.co.uk (look under the section on "sealed units"); wikipedia.org (search under "spontaneous glass breakage"). (For some reason, I can't post with links so have dropped the "www." from the front of those web addresses to allow this to submit - please add back on when you're typing into your browser bar.) As you will see from these, there are many reasons that can contribute to a sealed double-glazed unit breaking spontaneously, none of which are unique to VELUX. (And I should add neither of these sites are in any way related to VELUX nor have we added content to them.) However, when this does happen to one of our windows, we do our best to put it right. It is not possible for us to answer here all the questions which are raised. However, if you have any concerns either as a consequence of your own experience or of what you've read here, then please call us to discuss them. My direct line number is 01592 778278; or my colleague Jacquie Dalziel can be reached on 01592 778239.

Gloomendoom

I used to work in place where there was significant risk of being bombed. All the windows had a clear plastic film applied to the inside of each pane. The film is similar to the stuff that is used to tint car windows, only clear.

In the event of window shattering it holds all the bits together so that the danger of injury is minimised, or eliminated all-together.

It is easily retro fitted and could be a cost effective option for anyone worried about spontaneous shattering.

Google 'window films'

hemmy27

The other night we had exactly the same problem as has been described earlier. I loud pop in the kitchen, then we saw the shards of glass on the floor. Thankfully only small fragments from the broken pane had fallen down. Anyway called the Velux customer services office (01592778225) I think in Fife, explained what happened and what I have read here, and they were most helfpful. They advised this can happen in less than 1% of my window type. An engineer is booked for next week, to replace the pane, as well as the other 2 windows of the same type that I have. Will update when again next week if/when it happens.

Mankysteve

I don't think glass from height of normally roof would have enough energy to do any serious injuries although eyes may be risk.

cworried

Just wanted to thank everyone very much for all the helpful information. We have three velux windows and the inner pane of glass shattered in my bedroom window. The house insurance would not cover it as they said it was not accidental damage and so had to pay £160.00 approx to have the glass replaced. Last week the same thing happened to the bathroom window. Luckily we now have a computer so when I googled problems with velux windows up came this thread on the forum. The engineer from Velux came today and replaced the glass in the bathroom window and my daughters bedroom. :jJust wish I`d known all this the first time it happened but alls well that ends well so once again thank you very much to everybody. :T

Get_it_done_for_free

If you contact Jacqui Dalziel at Velux 01592 772211 and say you paid £160 (even better if you have a copy of the invoice) to get the shattered glass replaced they will refund you!

Humphreys1

I would like to add to this forum how excellent Velux have been to us. After one of our windows inside panes shattered without explanation we did some research and found this forum. Our guarantee had one year left so we rang Velux and they sent someone to fix our window really quickly and free of charge. After speaking to the man fixing the window I explained my concerns about our 3 other windows in our loft conversion. Although they were larger windows (which apparently don't shatter often!) he understood my concerns and expressed these in a report to head office. They then rang me and offered to change all 3 other windows for safety glass free of charge! Very impressed with Velux as a company and think their customer service is excellent. Many companies would not have done something like this or would have charged for something. Thanks Velux.

rp8049

Just had the same thing happen - our smaller velux that's on the landing outside the bedroom, broke on the inside over night. The blind was down so it caught the glass. Velux are coming out next week to replace under warranty. Will they automatically replace the other 3 in our bedroom as well with safety glass, or is it best to ring up and ask them to do that, as two of them are above our bed!