Statement Regarding the Damage to a Façade Glass Panel at Varso Tower
During the night of 22 June, a single façade glass panel on the 28th floor of Varso Tower sustained isolated damage. As a precautionary measure, the building management immediately cordoned off and secured the entire internal access road to prevent access by third parties. Specialist rope access technicians were dispatched to the site without delay and promptly began working at height to secure the affected glass panel. The actions taken were aimed at securing the area and ensuring the safety of members of the public and building occupants.
We are also in contact with the owners of the vehicles that sustained damage, providing them with ongoing support and all necessary information.
The Varso Tower façade remains fully safe and complies with all applicable building regulations and technical standards. The façade incorporates modern toughened safety glass, which, if broken, is designed to shatter into small, blunt fragments, significantly reducing the potential risk to people in the vicinity.
The investigation has confirmed that the incident resulted from a phenomenon known in the industry as spontaneous breakage of toughened glass, which may occur due to the expansion of nickel sulphide (NiS) inclusions trapped within the glass during manufacturing. In this case, the inclusion became active only after several years, triggered by significant fluctuations in external temperatures.
Importantly, the entire glass pane did not detach from the building. The toughened glass underwent spontaneous breakage and fragmented into small, blunt pieces, exactly as it is designed to do. The use of this type of glass is required by regulations governing high-rise buildings and is intended to minimise the risk to people in the surrounding area.
At present, it is not technically possible to completely eliminate the possibility of spontaneous breakage of an individual toughened glass panel. However, the building has been designed, is operated, and is continuously monitored in accordance with all applicable standards and safety procedures.
The analyses carried out indicate no risk to building occupants or to people in the surrounding area. Varso Tower remains safe, and the works currently being carried out are preventive and maintenance measures only.
The incident has no impact on the operation or safety of the building or its occupants.