Double glazed shower panel??!

Bonce · 16 Jul 2016

Does anyone have any knowledge about the glass used in shower panels and the safety glass in double glazed units. Is it the same (obviously allowing for difference in thickness etc).

I ask as am interested in whether it would be possible to use a large double glazed panel as a shower panel in a bathroom. I understand about the use of glass in critical conditions so wonder if this would be ok from building reg point off view?

odd question I know but don't know where to start to find the answer to this?

Thanks in advance to anyone with any info.

freddiemercurystwin · 16 Jul 2016

Why do you want to use a double glazing unit for a shower screen? But to answer the question you can get double glazed units with toughened glass which is the type of glass a shower screen would be.

cjard · 17 Jul 2016

Bonce said:
odd question I know but don't know where to start to find the answer to this?

Thanks in advance to anyone with any info.

Your glazing company of choice would be a good start. Try "I need a 10-20-4 toughened unit x by y millimetres please" as an opening line of inquiry

bernardgreen · 17 Jul 2016

Would the double glazed panel be able to survive with hot water on one side and cool air on the other ?.

Differential expansion of the two sheets of glass will strain if not damage the seal around the edge of the unit.

If ( or when ) the seal is damage then the repeated heating and cooling of the double glazed unit in the high humidity atmosphere of a shower will result in moisture being sucked into the gap between the two sheets of glass.

Nakajo · 17 Jul 2016

I suspect that the OP already has the DGU, and wants to know if it can be repurposed. Either that or they sing in the shower.

Bonce · 17 Jul 2016

Hi All and thanks for the replies - very much appreciated.

Reason behind question is simply that my wife makes stained glass panels that are then sometimes 'sandwiched' into a double glazed unit to fit modern windows. She just asked me one day if it would be possible to make one for a shower panel, so was interested as I know nothing about this sort of thing.

Nakajo · 17 Jul 2016

Ok, I wouldn't call that a double glazed unit, but it's easy enough to sandwich a leaded glass panel (which is what I assume we're talking about) between two sheets of tempered glass. Not cheap, and quite heavy though!!

Bonce · 17 Jul 2016

yeah - I just draw similarities as I assume the method they use to sandwich are essentially the same, so could have the same problem with seals failing due to different expansion on each pane (as someone mentions above).

Yes would be heavy but I guess no more than a bath full of water although the weight would be more concentrated I guess.

I mean there would be a lot of questions to overcome, like how would it be edged, supported etc, but from a building control point of view if the correct toughened glass was used and all the technical issues could be overcome then I cant see a problem with it.

As for expense - yes it would have to be for someone willing to spend a fair bit on their bathroom!

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Double glazed shower panel??!

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