Although it’s not a common occurrence, windows, doors and other major glass structures in your property can break, if they are exposed to high levels of force or pressure. 

If this happens in your property, it’s critical that you secure any broken glass in the correct way. This ensures that the area is managed as safely as possible, while also allowing you to effectively prepare the glass for replacement. 

In this article, we’ve outlined how to secure all the most common types of glass that may exist in a property, and shared our top tips for securing glass as safely as possible. 

Essential safety gear

It’s important to note that dealing with broken glass can be highly dangerous. While you should not attempt to complete a full repair yourself, you can safely secure the broken glass, before your professional glazier arrives. 

The risks that broken glass pose means that protective gear is absolutely essential here. 

So, before you get started, make sure you have the following safety gear:

• Thick gloves – To prevent any cuts to your hands. 
• Protective goggles – To protect your eyes from any glass fragments. 
• Thick footwear – Boots with thick soles, to protect your feet (particularly the soles of your foot) from any glass shards on the floor. 
• A thick pair of trousers and top, with long sleeves – So that there aren’t any areas of exposed skin.

You should also ensure you have a strong, rigid plastic container ready, to dispose of the glass. Do not dispose of the glass in a plastic bag, as this can easily tear. 

Cleaning up broken glass

Once you’re wearing the right protective gear, your first step should be to clean up the broken glass, and remove any loose fragments of glass.

You should approach this task by following these steps:

• Carefully pick up any large pieces of glass with gloved hands. Place them in your disposal container.
• Use a broom or brush to sweep up any smaller pieces of glass from the floor. Dispose of these in the same container. We recommend avoiding vacuum cleaners, as the glass shards could damage the machine.
• Wipe the floor with damp paper towels. This will collect any remaining fine splinters of glass. Dispose of these in the container.

Once the area is fully clear of glass, you can start to secure the damaged pane. 

Securing different types of broken glass

The best approach to securing broken glass depends on the type of structure. 

Below, we’ve outlined our recommended methods for securing different types of broken glass. But, please note that in all cases, this should only be a temporary fix, while you wait for a full replacement from a professional glazier.

• Windows – If the pane is cracked but the glass is still in place, tape over the surface with strong duct tape. Alternatively, if the glass is missing completely, or there are large gaps in the pane, cover the entire window with either thick cardboard, plywood or heavy-duty plastic sheeting.
• Doors – Tape over the surface with strong duct tape. Then, block off access until the glazier can replace the glass. 
• Shopfronts or other large glass panels – Cover the affected area with plywood or boards. You should also cordon off the area, to prevent public access.

By securing the glass, you can clear the area and protect everyone on your site, while readying the area for the arrival of your glazier. 

Working with Abbey Glass

While these steps can help you to keep your site safe, these solutions are only temporary. 

However, attempting to replace the glass yourself is extremely dangerous, and could cause serious injury, or make the damage even more extensive and costly. 

At Abbey Glass, we are professional glaziers, with extensive expertise in glass supply and replacement. With the latest equipment and premium quality products, our skilled team will ensure your broken glass is replaced as safely and efficiently as possible. 

To find out more about our services, or to enlist our team to replace broken glass in your property, don’t hesitate to get in touch.