Conservatory roof glass panel shattered

Trackeruser

We had a glass panel replaced 6 years ago with an activ blue glass sealed unit. Recently the internal pane of the sealed unit shattered, spraying pebbles of glass all over the conservatory. Fortunately we were out at the time.

The installer will not accept that the installation nor the pane was faulty, and is charging us around £1,000 to replace and fit it. (The guarantee expired a year ago). It was installed with the blue glass on the exterior - is this the correct way round ? 

I think the clear pane on the outside (still intact) is laminate glass. Also, the installer was unclear whether the glass was toughened and heat soaked, or just toughened.

The installer and the glass supply company haven't yet given me the technical details of the glass. 

Boohoo

Trackeruser said:

We had a glass panel replaced 6 years ago with an activ blue glass sealed unit. Recently the internal pane of the sealed unit shattered, spraying pebbles of glass all over the conservatory. Fortunately we were out at the time.

The installer will not accept that the installation nor the pane was faulty, and is charging us around £1,000 to replace and fit it. (The guarantee expired a year ago). It was installed with the blue glass on the exterior - is this the correct way round ? 

I think the clear pane on the outside (still intact) is laminate glass. Also, the installer was unclear whether the glass was toughened and heat soaked, or just toughened.

The installer and the glass supply company haven't yet given me the technical details of the glass. 

If there was 1,000's of glass bits then I would say it was toughened glass.

Unless there was something had hit the glass roof on the inside I can only assume it has something to do with heat and cold may have caused the break but as nobody was there when it happened it is hard to say.

It's past 5 years for most sealed units warranty unless yours is longer you will have to foot the bill yourself.

Other forum members may have better advice on this issue.

Trackeruser

Thank you. Nothing hit the glass - it shattered spontaneously.  Do you know whether the blue glass should be the top or the bottom pane of the sealed unit ?

Boohoo

Trackeruser said:

Thank you. Nothing hit the glass - it shattered spontaneously.  Do you know whether the blue glass should be the top or the bottom pane of the sealed unit ?

According to Google AI it should be on the outside so the self cleaning can do the business.

Is the broken sealed unit the same one that went 6 years ago?

Trackeruser

Yes, but the pane we replaced 6 years ago only had a single crack - it had not shattered.  I will check whether the original panes installed when the conservatory was first built have the blue glass as the interior pane.  

Alfrescodave

Trackeruser said:

Thank you. Nothing hit the glass - it shattered spontaneously.  Do you know whether the blue glass should be the top or the bottom pane of the sealed unit ?

How can you be sure when you were out at the time? The supplier might will argue that an object fell on the glass causing it to shatter.

Yorkie1

Do you have accidental damage on your house insurance?

Once (if not twice over the years), the internal glass pane of a patio door shattered without explanation at my parents' house and they claimed the replacement cost if memory serves right.

grumpy_codger

Alfrescodave said:

Trackeruser said:

Thank you. Nothing hit the glass - it shattered spontaneously.  Do you know whether the blue glass should be the top or the bottom pane of the sealed unit ?

How can you be sure when you were out at the time? The supplier might will argue that an object fell on the glass causing it to shatter.

Trackeruser said:

... 
I think the clear pane on the outside (still intact) is laminate glass.... 

🤔🤔🤔.                 

ic

Was it a particularly hot day?  Perhaps the glass, and or the frame expanded to the point it was under stress that caused it to break?