AGP Glass Handling, Storage & Transportation Guide
Carefully read this guide before handling or storing glass including Insulating Glass Units (IGUs). Follow this guide to ensure longevity of the product & continuation of the warranty.
Ensure the handling & storage of glass & IGUs is carried out in safe conditions. Always wear the necessary personal protection equipment (PPE).
Handling
- Strops or slings are recommended for moving large panes of glass & those that support both panes of glass are required for large IGUs.
- Care must be taken when handling large IGUs with vacuum/suction lifters, as this can put undue stress on the seals.
- Glass grabs that create a crushing force can damage the glass & spacer system of IGUs.
- If it is necessary to rotate large panes of glass or IGUs, a corner rolling block is recommended to protect the edge & corner of the pane or IGU (Figure 1) or use a rotating head vacuum/suction lifter with care.
- Please contact AGP for recommendations and advise on lifting large IGU’s.
Storage & transportation.
- IGUs must be transported and stored so that both panes of glass are equally supported. Single panes of glass must be supported across the full edge, NOT on the corner between the edge and the face. (Figure 2).
Figure 2: support full edge.
Glass and IGUs must be stored vertically or stored on a 90° angle rack set at 4°-7° from the vertical – (Figure 3 & 4). Feet material on storage racks/trolley must be compatible materials. Polyamide (PA), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP) are pre-approved feet material for storage. Some silicone storage feet may also be suitable but are subject to testing and AGP written approval in advance.
- IGUs should not be stacked more than 12 deep. For units of various sizes, stack the largest against the supports. Suitable interleaving should be used, cork pads or similar.
- All glass and IGUs must be stored in dry ventilated conditions away from direct sunlight.
- Wrapping plastic over glass/IGUs for weather protection is not advised as it can allow condensation to accumulate, resulting in damage to the glass and/or the IGU seal.
- If IGUs are to be installed at an altitude more than 800 metres above sea level, capillary tubes maybe required advice must be sought from AGP.
3: vertical saw tooth rack.
Figure 4 Glass stored in a 90° rack set at 4-7°, Suitable interleaving should be used, cork pads or similar.
- IGUs must be transported on frails or transport trolleys – Figure 5.
Figure 5: Correct glass transportation, transport trolleys or truck frails.
General IGU handling and storage information is available from the WGANZ website – IGUMA data sheet “Guide to handling & storage of IGU’s”, published May 2015.