Replacement of Damaged/Missing Glass Panels

Production of pigmented structural glass in the United States ceased several years ago, and only in rare cases have inventories been discovered. Yet checking all the obvious and not so obvious sources for replacement may prove to be rewarding. Occasionally, long established "jobbers" will have limited supply of pigmented structural glass. It is not uncommon for glass contractors to buy entire stocks of glass when companies or supply houses go out of business and to use this original material to make repairs on historic buildings.

  Locating a source for new glass similar to the historic pigmented structural glass is as much of a problem as finding the original glass. Until about 10 years ago, glass companies near Bavaria in Western Germany were producing a pigmented structural glass called "Detopak." At present, these factories appear to be the only suppliers in the world. The glass is made in small batches, and the color can vary due to the lack of modern mechanization in the pigmented process. Gor this reason, American importers generally ony deal in white and black glass.

 If a satisfactory replacement panel cannot be located, one alternative is to remove a piece of plass from an inconspicuous part of the building and position it on the more prominent facade. Modern spandrel glass, a new substitute material described below, may be considered as a replacement for the less visible area.