Crews pull out glass panels at W; experts still unsure what's causing breakage

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/crews-pull-out-glass-panels-at-w-experts-1571381.html ^

[Orange1998]

Crews have started removing almost 1,000 panels of glass from balconies at the 37-story W Austin Hotel and Residences, a job that will likely extend into next week.

Replacement work cannot begin, though, until developer Stratus Properties learns what caused panels to shatter and fall three times in just over two weeks.

The downtown hotel temporarily closed its doors Tuesday night after a trio of panels rained down on the building's south side. On Monday, three other panels dropped onto nearby streets. No one was hurt in either of this week's incidents, but four people suffered injuries when two panels crashed into the W's pool area June 10.

By late Wednesday afternoon, a team of 12 two-man crews had cleared glass from balconies on several of the high-rise's upper floors.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***...learns what caused panels to shatter and fall three times in just over two weeks.***

Sounds like what happened to the Hancock Building in Boston several decades ago.

[spokeshave]

I recall the the Donald was ranting about not being able to get US made glass panels for his new buildings....seems Chinese companies grabbed the market by offering mucho lower prices.

Look out CA ...their main Bay Bridge components are made in China.

[cableguymn]

Many of the parts have been rejected already.

[rabidralph]

Dubya’s fault!

[comps4spice]

Or Deng Xio Ping.

[USMCPOP]

Same thing with trying to put holes in tempered glass - the imbalance of stresses will cause shattering. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvRgklsm6so

[SouthTexas]

I’m half way around my house changing windows. Started about 20 years ago and at this rate, it’s quite possible that I’ll die before I get all the way around.

None of them have broken though. :)