exploding shower doors

Barry White · Oct 31, 2014

Yes I said EXPLODING !
Was having a cuppa today at about 11am when I heard what I thought was a firework exploding in my house followed by a sound like a ceiling coming down. Instintivly I run upstairs and found glass on my landing (I feared a firework had smashed my window) then noticed pieces of glass still pinging about. My shower door had exploded its damaged the tray and the bath and flooring too. glass was everywhere even in the bedrooms.
just had a look on google and it seems its not uncommon just glad I wernt in the shower when it happened.

Anyone elses shower door exploded?

Guest77 · Oct 31, 2014

No never heard that before, why did it happen in your opinion?

Marvo · Oct 31, 2014

Toughened glass has a lot of skin tension which is partly what gives it its strength but when there a flaw or very small crack in the glass the internal stresses do produce spectacular results.

Plonker 3 · Oct 31, 2014

I am glad I have a shower curtain.

Barry White · Oct 31, 2014

MDJ said:
No never heard that before, why did it happen in your opinion?

With tempered glass before its usually its a flaw or small crack that causes a chain reaction but this door had been in use for over 5 years without problem. not noticed any cracks or flaws glass was 8mm thick so very heavy it was the frameless type

Guest77 · Oct 31, 2014

mykey said:
With tempered glass before its usually its a flaw or small crack that causes a chain reaction but this door had been in use for over 5 years without problem. not noticed any cracks or flaws glass was 8mm thick so very heavy it was the frameless type

certainely strange, but Marvo's suggestion seems logical and is probably what happened then.

rapparee · Oct 31, 2014

Ive seen it happen to the door of a digger whilst the door was disconnected from the cab, a fitter was welding a handle onto the door this was fine but as soon as he sprayed water over it to cool the metal down the glass exploded

Barry White · Oct 31, 2014

dont know where the glass came from but found it in 3 and on the stairs too thought I got it all up and sat on the loo only to find a small splinter !!!

7029 dave · Oct 31, 2014

Blimey.

guest119 · Nov 1, 2014

You take 2 bottles into the shower?

Barry White · Nov 1, 2014

3 in picture threw them away but suspect one was empty

ifindoubtdont · Nov 1, 2014

I know exactly how it happened. There is a red faced guy with black hair and lighter coloured rings round his eyes hiding under the glass just above the white bottle on it's side. IT WOZ IM WOT DONE IT.

UNG · Nov 1, 2014

Glass especially toughened glass can be very unpredictable having worked in a number of glass factories producing different types of glass from 0.5 - 20mm thick seeing how it is handled as it comes off the line was interesting with the odd sheet or few sheets of glass breaking for no apparent reason other than temperature fluctuations in the cooling process then production continuing with no problem.

Toughened glass if it takes a knock to it's edge does become more susceptible to breaking for no apparent reason and this could be what has happened with your shower door flexing over time

Slowhand · Nov 1, 2014

Are you sure it wasn't the Halloween Poltergeist?

guest119 · Nov 1, 2014

mykey said:
3 in picture threw them away but suspect one was empty

Maybe you are too young Mykey.

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Paul.M · Nov 1, 2014

My wife works within this type of industry, one of her roles is to compile a file before going to Trading Standards or court. Exploding shower glass doors happen more often than you think. People have been in the shower when it happens!!! No real bad injuries btw, small cuts only.

UNG and others have already explained it extremely well. I noticed that a lot of these happen on a cold morning having a hot shower so temperature is a big factor but it can happen within 2 days or 10 years from being installed?

Any crack, chip or damage to the glass = Get it changed asap.