Industry news
Pane shatters at MP's office block
Posted Fri, 25 May 2012
The hot weather has caused a pane of glass to shatter at the office block opposite the Houses of Parliament, which is used by hundreds of MPs and their assistants.
The 6ft x 3 ft pane glass at the £235m Portcullis House suffered thousands of tiny cracks due to "heat exhaustion" according to a Commons spokesperson.
Despite the damage the pane did not fall and no-one was hurt.
"One of the nodes supporting the glass expanded in the heat and that pushed the glass," the spokesperson said.
"It has been covered up and we are ensuring that it is blocked off and everyone is safe."
Security officers set up a 40ft cordon, as workmen put cardboard boxes beneath the pane in case it fell. This blocked access between the Debate café and the Menver's Centre.
Earlier this week Labour MP Kevin Brennan tweeted a picture of workmen climbing over the 11-year old pane of glass in the steel and glass building.
The spokesperson said engineers regularly clean the glass and was unable to say whether it was linked to the damage
Copyright Press Association 2012