Towering Infernal - a Response

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28 November 2014 | Updated 01 January 1970

Mike Butterick of Glassolutions (the firm behind the project) responds to the problems encountered with the glass walkway at Tower Bridge - See Previous Report

Butterick says: "The glass panel has done exactly what it was supposed to do in this kind of situation. The top layer of glass that cracked in the floor of the walkway serves an aesthetic role as well as protecting the main structural glass panel beneath. This meant the safety of the structural glass panel was not compromised in any way and visitors were never in any danger.

"Each of the walkway's glass panels is 80mm thick and made up of seven layers. The ‘sacrificial’ top layer of the glass panel is designed to be replaced regularly as the glass will be damaged over time through regular footfall. By designing in a way to easily change the top layer, we always intended to help Tower Bridge keep the walkways in condition and we hold spares in stock for this very reason.

"A full beer bottle being dropped from height is the kind of impact that can crack the top layer. Our team was fully prepared for this replacement, taking the glass pane from our reserve stocks which meant we could respond immediately and have the new top layer in place within 24 hours. This allowed the venue to get back to normal quickly, cost effectively and without disruption.

"We are working closely with the Tower Bridge Exhibition team to develop more comprehensive guidelines about the usage of the walkways in future.”

Pictured: Back to its pristine best after the glass walkway on Tower Bridge was damaged last Friday buy a full glass bottle and stiletto heel

Article written by Mike Gannon | Published 28 November 2014

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