Glazing Renovations, commercial glass replacement specialists, were contracted to replace three large double-glazed units within a toggle curtain wall system after they had been damaged by vandalism. The glass units had been shot causing the outer pane of the DGU to break and fracture which left them requiring urgent replacement.
Preparing for glass replacement: Site survey and Assessment
During our complimentary site survey, we observed that the damaged glass had a solar control tint. Glazing Renovations wanted to ensure the replacement glass matched the original specification. We requested the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) manual from the facility management (FM) team. This allows us to confirm the precise glazing tint required for an accurate match.
Additionally, we identified a significant challenge: the broken glazing was located at the rear of the property, which was facing a river. This presented an access issue because there was no suitable access directly beneath the affected area.
To overcome this access issue, we coordinated a second site survey and after careful consideration, we devised a plan to position a lorry-mounted mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) at the side of the building. The MEWP provided enough reach to access the damaged windows, whilst a crane was stationed behind the MEWP. The cranes jib would extend up and over the buildings rear, which allowed us to reach the broken glass with precision.
Seven days prior to the scheduled work, we submitted our Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS), to the client for approval, this included:
1) Project Overview: Which is the summary of the work, site specifics, and the challenges they may face.
2) Risk assessment:
- Hazards & Controls: They identified risk( e.g., heights, glass handling) and safety measures(e.g., PPE, tool security)
3) Method statement:
- Work procedure: This includes steps for safe execution, including roles and emergency protocols.
4) Lift Plan:
- Access & Load assessment: This is a strategy for reaching the site and ensuring safe load handling.
5) Environmental Considerations: This is measures to protect the river and surrounding areas.
6) Health & Safety checks: Compliance checks and a final safety review.
This ensured the client was fully informed of the process and had an opportunity to provide timely feedback. We also communicated which parts of the building would be temporarily inaccessible for safety reasons on the day of the installation.
Safety measures implemented on the day of installation
On the day of the installation, we made sure to implement strict safety protocols. The area around the crane and MEWP was physically barriered off, as were the interior rooms agreed upon with the client. This prevented any interaction between the general public and our work area. All contractors wore 5 point Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE ), this involved:
- Hard hats: To protect against any potential head injuries from falling debris or equipment
- High- Visibility Vests: Ensured visibility in the work zone, especially around heavy machinery like the crane and MEWP.
- Safety Gloves: Provided hand protection when handling glass and other materials.
- Safety goggles: Shielded eye from any glass shards or dust while clearing broken panes.
- Steel-toe boots: protected feet from falling objects and provide stability.
Since all external glass panes were shattered, we first had to carefully clear the broken glass from the outer pane. To protect the property below, we installed protective boards before removing the damaged glass piece by piece, using buckets to contain debris and minimise the mess or the potential damage.
Project Completion: Successful installation and quality assurance
The entire project was completed by our team of highly trained glaziers within an agreed-upon timeframe. Thanks to our planning and execution, the new double glazed units were successfully installed, matching the original specifications.