EXPRESS GLASS: PORTFOLIO: WESTFIELD CHATSWOOD

"Logistically challenging" is how Adrian Grocott, head of Express Glass' Major Projects Division, describes the repairs to glass panels in an atrium at Westfield, Chatswood.

Access was the main issue and safety was the principle concern - both for the glaziers and for the public. "On our initial survey of the site, we quickly identified the obvious potential dangers of glass and glaziers falling on people below," said Adrian. For this reason, the Major Projects team completed the repairs after hours.

"The challenge was to find an efficient way of safely reaching the panels on the domed roof. Because there were only a few points where it was safe to stand on the framing, one of our team members, Reece Van Vliet, developed special ladders by reinforcing a folding ladder that reached out over to the centre of the dome. The ladders had enough strength to hold our glaziers as they worked." This innovation made the work much quicker and more flexible than if the team had used scaffolding.

The crew, comprising Reece and Dean Andrews, replaced some 29 large panels with 10.38mm grey laminated glass. The glass was lifted to the roof by crane.