Ms. Xu in Qiantang district, Hangzhou, found her home's glass windows shattered twice within one month. The first incident involved a south-facing bedroom window, followed by a north-facing office window. These incidents occurred during the day when no one was home. On 4/8, Mr. Jin, a resident of Binjiang district, Hangzhou, returned from work to find two glass panes in his home shattered.
A repair technician with one decade of experience in Hangzhou stated that high temperatures cause glass cracking. This summer, his company replaced between 100 and 200 glass panes in residential areas. Another maintenance company on Shangtang road reported more than 30 cases of shattered glass in July, averaging one incident daily.
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Glass shattered due to heatwave, shared on Chinese social media. Photo: Global.hk01.com
On social media, a video captured glass on the 17th floor of an apartment building shattering and falling to the area below. The person who filmed the video indicated that it was a double-layered window, with the inner layer intact but the outer layer broken. Building management subsequently cordoned off the lobby area.
These incidents coincide with an intense heatwave in Eastern China. According to the Zhejiang Meteorological Administration, during late July and early August, peak temperatures in many areas commonly ranged from 35-39 degrees Celsius.
Ms. Feng, who owns a glass repair business with two decades of experience in Hangzhou, explained that temperature differences between the two sides of the glass increase stress. The exterior, exposed to heat, and the interior, cooled by air conditioning, cause uneven glass expansion. When stress exceeds its tolerance, the glass cracks and shatters.
Ms. Feng also noted that material is a contributing factor. Nickel sulfide impurities within glass change volume over time, disrupting its balance. Overly tight installation, without gaps for glass expansion, also creates pressure on the edges.
Liu Anliang, a senior director at Zhejiang Chong An Glass Company Limited, said that using homogenized or ultra-clear glass helps reduce breakage. Old or improperly maintained processing equipment also leads to uneven tempering and cooling.
Experts advise residents to avoid standing near glass doors if cracks appear and to contact specialists for replacement, particularly for large glass panels on balconies and building exteriors.
Nhat Minh (According to Global.hk01)
