The short answer
Keep people away from the broken glass, report the crime to the police, photograph the damage and tell your insurer. Arrange boarding or temporary glazing if the shop cannot be left open, then use the permanent replacement to fit laminated security glass so a future attack does not leave an open hole.
What should I do first?
- Keep staff and customers away from the glass and do not pull at loose pieces
- Call 999 if the crime is still happening, or report it on 101 or online and note the crime reference number
- Photograph the damage from inside and outside before anything is cleared
- Tell your insurer and ask what they need before replacement glass is ordered
- Make a note of the pane sizes, the frame type and any marking on the remaining glass
Can the shop be made secure straight away?
If the opening cannot be left as it is, it can be boarded or temporarily glazed until the new glass is made. We can arrange boarding where an installer is available, but we cannot promise a set response time, so if the building is open to the street, arrange whatever is quickest. Boarding is temporary and is replaced when the permanent glass arrives.
What glass should go back in?
Replacing a broken pane with the same plain or toughened glass leaves the shop with the same weakness. Laminated glass costs more but stays in the frame when struck. For most shopfronts P4A to P6B under BS EN 356 is a sensible level, rising to P8B for high-value stock or where the insurer asks for it.
How long does permanent replacement take?
Laminated shopfront panes are made to measure, so allow time for manufacture after the survey. Large panes also need the right lifting equipment and enough glaziers to handle them safely. We confirm the lead time and fitting date with the quote.
Will insurance cover the new glass?
That depends on your policy. Most insurers pay to put things back as they were, and some will agree to an upgrade or ask for one. If you choose a higher rating than you had, the difference may be your cost. Agree the specification with your insurer before ordering, and keep our written quote and the manufacturer's evidence for their file.
Sources
- Crime prevention advice (police.uk)
- Association of British Insurers
- BS EN 356:2000 Glass in building. Security glazing. Resistance against manual attack (BSI)
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; check with your council, building control or insurer where it matters.
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