Mum reveals how her glass dining table ‘literally explodes’ without warning: ‘We were in shock and disbelief’
- Replies 5
In a world where modern design and convenience often dictate our choices in home furnishings, glass tables have become a popular choice for their sleek look and the illusion of more space they provide.
However, a recent incident involving a glass dining table that shattered unexpectedly in an Australian home has raised concerns about the safety of such furniture.
Rebekah Martin, a mother from the NSW Hunter Valley, experienced a terrifying moment when her glass dining table 'exploded' without warning.
The force of the shattering glass was so intense that shards became embedded in the walls of her dining room. Thankfully, neither she nor her four-month-old baby were in the room at the time of the incident.
‘It was just in the middle of getting ready when all of a sudden I heard this kind of crack and this shattering sound,’ she said.
‘We found glass everywhere. We were in shock and disbelief. And the thing that completely blew our minds was just how shattered it was. It wasn’t like it had just cracked and fallen apart. It had literally exploded.’
‘It was one of those moments where you're like, “Oh, imagine if we'd been sitting in there, or if we'd been out in that space or if we had been just sitting at the table”,’ she added.
The table, a Waverley 4-Seater Dining Set With Dimi Chairs ($649), was purchased second-hand on Facebook Marketplace but was originally from Fantastic Furniture.
‘It made quite a big mess, and we’re still finding little bits of shards of glass in odd places,’ she said.
It is understood that Fantastic Furniture has yet to comment on the incident.
A spokesperson for the ACCC, which oversees Product Safety Australia and handles product recalls, stated that they do not comment on ‘individual reports we may receive from consumers or suppliers, or on the steps we may take to assess or investigate such reports.’
‘Consumers can report products they consider to be unsafe to the ACCC through the Product Safety Australia website,’ the spokesperson said.
‘The ACCC does not issue voluntary recalls. If a supplier finds that a product or product-related service they supply is unsafe, we expect the supplier to follow our guidelines and initiate a recall voluntarily to remove it from the market. We encourage consumers to check published recalls.’
Dr Jeffrey Sarmiento, a senior lecturer at the School of Art & Design at Australian National University, explained that tempered glass is designed for safety and is commonly used in various settings, including furniture.
‘What we’re looking at is a glass table where the sheet of glass has been tempered for safety,’ he explained.
‘This type of glass can be found everywhere, such as bus stops, shop windows and windshields, although some of these are also laminated with a layer of rubber that keeps the glass together when it breaks.’
‘The characteristic “explosion” happens if the glass is exposed to collisions or rapid heating or cooling. But instead of creating razor sharp shards of glass that can be quite dangerous, the glass breaks into smaller bits of glass, which are a form that is far less sharp and dangerous, even if a bit of a pain to clean up.’
Dr Sarmiento mentioned that there is always a risk of glass breaking, even with temperature-resistant Pyrex or oven glass, if exposed to extreme thermal shock from high to low temperatures. However, he reassured that Australians need not be overly concerned.
‘My advice would be to always use coasters or heatproof pads if you’re putting hot food or drinks on the table, and not to put it too close to a source of heat, like a fireplace or radiator,’ he said.
In a previous story, a mum got furious after her Kmart cookware exploded, sending shards of glass throughout the house.
She shared a photo of the pot lid, which she claimed exploded without warning, causing an injury on her hands. You can read more about the story here.
Have you or someone you know ever experienced a similar incident with glass furniture? Share your stories and any safety tips in the comments below.
However, a recent incident involving a glass dining table that shattered unexpectedly in an Australian home has raised concerns about the safety of such furniture.
Rebekah Martin, a mother from the NSW Hunter Valley, experienced a terrifying moment when her glass dining table 'exploded' without warning.
The force of the shattering glass was so intense that shards became embedded in the walls of her dining room. Thankfully, neither she nor her four-month-old baby were in the room at the time of the incident.
Rebekah was in shock when her glass dining table ‘exploded’ without warning. Credit: Fantastic Furniture / Facebook
‘It was just in the middle of getting ready when all of a sudden I heard this kind of crack and this shattering sound,’ she said.
‘We found glass everywhere. We were in shock and disbelief. And the thing that completely blew our minds was just how shattered it was. It wasn’t like it had just cracked and fallen apart. It had literally exploded.’
‘It was one of those moments where you're like, “Oh, imagine if we'd been sitting in there, or if we'd been out in that space or if we had been just sitting at the table”,’ she added.
The table, a Waverley 4-Seater Dining Set With Dimi Chairs ($649), was purchased second-hand on Facebook Marketplace but was originally from Fantastic Furniture.
‘It made quite a big mess, and we’re still finding little bits of shards of glass in odd places,’ she said.
It is understood that Fantastic Furniture has yet to comment on the incident.
A spokesperson for the ACCC, which oversees Product Safety Australia and handles product recalls, stated that they do not comment on ‘individual reports we may receive from consumers or suppliers, or on the steps we may take to assess or investigate such reports.’
‘Consumers can report products they consider to be unsafe to the ACCC through the Product Safety Australia website,’ the spokesperson said.
‘The ACCC does not issue voluntary recalls. If a supplier finds that a product or product-related service they supply is unsafe, we expect the supplier to follow our guidelines and initiate a recall voluntarily to remove it from the market. We encourage consumers to check published recalls.’
Dr Jeffrey Sarmiento, a senior lecturer at the School of Art & Design at Australian National University, explained that tempered glass is designed for safety and is commonly used in various settings, including furniture.
‘What we’re looking at is a glass table where the sheet of glass has been tempered for safety,’ he explained.
‘This type of glass can be found everywhere, such as bus stops, shop windows and windshields, although some of these are also laminated with a layer of rubber that keeps the glass together when it breaks.’
‘The characteristic “explosion” happens if the glass is exposed to collisions or rapid heating or cooling. But instead of creating razor sharp shards of glass that can be quite dangerous, the glass breaks into smaller bits of glass, which are a form that is far less sharp and dangerous, even if a bit of a pain to clean up.’
Dr Sarmiento mentioned that there is always a risk of glass breaking, even with temperature-resistant Pyrex or oven glass, if exposed to extreme thermal shock from high to low temperatures. However, he reassured that Australians need not be overly concerned.
‘My advice would be to always use coasters or heatproof pads if you’re putting hot food or drinks on the table, and not to put it too close to a source of heat, like a fireplace or radiator,’ he said.
In a previous story, a mum got furious after her Kmart cookware exploded, sending shards of glass throughout the house.
She shared a photo of the pot lid, which she claimed exploded without warning, causing an injury on her hands. You can read more about the story here.
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