Mending broken bus windows

Another option is to cut them to shape yourself from polycarbonate sheet (Lexan) with a jigsaw. Unlike glass and Perspex polycarbonate has the advantage that bricks bounce off thus spoiling the little dears fun

AWEM

get toughened or lamninated made up and fit yourself.

I'm not much of a bus spotter but I looked up what your reg number showed on

Vandals have broken 3 windows on the Rainbow Kids Bus.

Any decent glass company should be able to cut laminated glass to fit, as long as the windows are all flat that is.

Mike

need to match the thickness of the glass so you can re-use the original rubbers. The C&U rules used to say they that windows on vehicles have to be of a "safety glazing material" unless it's the windscreen, in which case, it has to be glass, so if they're glass, either toughened or laminated.

Try a bus scrapyard (Yes, they do exist) or, if the insurance company are paying, there are specialist companies. You could also try asking your local plant hire companies, as they will know who in your area can supply and fit glass of the right size. I used a plant repair firm when I had a window broken in the Land Rover, and it cost much less than the official part.

I hope you get the tow rags to pay for them.

Brian

There was a case a few years ago when someone tried to throw a brick through a jeweller's window, which was protected with polycarbonate. The brick not only bounced off, it hit the chap who threw it and knocked him out. Police found him lying in the street in the early hours of the morning and arrested him.

Colin Bignell

That's gotta be a first. Usually they arrest to shopkeeper for dangerous windows that anyone might reasonably expect to break when a brick is chucked at them,.

Is there any requirement for the 'glass' to be easily breakable so that people can escape through windows if the bus overturns in an accident?

As far as I'm aware, only if it's a designated emergency exit, in which case, there'll be a hammer nearby. Alternatively, you get a mounting system which releases the window by pulling a ring, which loosens the window in its frame so it can be pushed out.

As the vehicle in question doesn't appear to be a PCV but is a playbus not licenced to carry passengers, other rules might apply, such as the fire escape rules for buildings.

The only neg I could think of in using non standard replacement glass is the _possibility_ that any requirement for safety glass can only met by using kite marked product that indicates it is suitable for vehicular use. Not saying it will be an issue, just flagging it as worth checking with a tester before fitting. Using the plant glass replacement company already linked to should avoid such difficulties.

There were lots of standard windows fitted to those bus bodies, so a very good chance of that.

A degree of care in selecting the polycarbonate is needed and the seller should know - I found the hard way that some p.c. browns and goes cloudy after ten years.

Wodney on a visit?

PVS Barnsley claim to be the largest.

Possibly they might be able to point to a similar operation closer to you if you ask, as personal collection would solve any delivery problems.

Incidentally, I often notice, when travelling on vintage buses, that the BS certification on ALL windows is circled in yellow chinagraph pencil. I assume this check is part of the MOT.

Note that many vehicles I travel on are privately owned and are NOT licenced PCVs. (A PCV is subject to a much stricter MOT.)

If you are going down the polycarbonate route, I would suggest you check this out.

Have you thought of having a word with your MOT testing station about this?

The BS certification on PCVs is checked as part of the test, the chinagraph circle is to draw the examiner's attention to it, as on older vehicles,the mark is often faded and hard to find.

It may also be a requirement for Class 5 vehicles, but I don't deal with those, so couldn't comment with any authority.

Always a good idea. VOSA have a helpline and helpful e-mail contacts and can often advise you without seeing the vehicle or having details which will identify it or you:-

All polycarbonate will degrade in sunlight unless it has an anti-UV coating and you make sure you put it in the right way around, as the coating is usually only on one side.

Colin Bignell