Storm Damage & Insurance Glazing
A Professional Guide to Managing Glass Claims and Repairs in Australia
1. What Counts as Storm Damage?
Storm damage refers to sudden and accidental damage caused by severe weather events. For glazing, insurers typically recognise damage caused by:
- Hail impact: Direct strikes cracking or shattering glass.
- Wind-driven debris: Falling branches or loose objects impacting the window.
- Pressure changes: Extreme wind pressure causing panes to fail.
- Heavy rain: Water entering specifically through broken glazing.
2. Immediate Steps & Mitigation
Insurers expect property owners to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, known as the “duty to mitigate”.
- Photograph the damage: Take wide shots and close-ups before anything is removed.
- Make the area safe: Restrict access and manage loose glass shards.
- Secure the opening: Arrange temporary glazing or boarding (make-safe) to stop weather ingress.
- Contact your insurer: Lodge the claim as soon as practical.
3. Typical Insurance Workflow
[Image of the typical insurance claim workflow for property damage]
While processes vary, storm-damaged window claims usually follow this path:
- Claim lodged: Photos and incident details submitted.
- Make-safe: Emergency works authorized or reimbursed to secure the home.
- Assessment: Quoting stage where a glazier inspects the permanent repair.
- Approval: Insurer provides the go-ahead for like-for-like replacement.
- Completion: Permanent glazing is installed.
4. Repair vs Replacement Decisions
Storm-damaged windows are rarely “repaired” in a traditional sense; usually, the entire pane must be replaced.
- Single glazing: Pane replaced with equivalent compliant glass.
- Double glazing (IGUs): Typically requires replacement of the entire sealed unit.
- Safety glass: Must be replaced with safety-rated glass where required by law.
5. Mandatory AS 1288 Upgrades
Under Australian Standard AS 1288-2021, any new glass must meet current safety standards. If your broken window was old float glass in a high-risk area (like a door), it must be upgraded to Grade A Safety Glass. Most insurers cover this mandatory upgrade cost.
6. FAQ
Will insurance cover emergency boarding?
Often yes, provided it was necessary to prevent further damage and is documented.
Do I need approval before fixing the window?
Emergency make-safe works usually don’t require prior approval, but permanent replacement typically does.