Shanghai Bans Glass Wall From Feb. 1

Shanghai, China's most populous city, bans glass curtain walls from the second floor and higher in all new residential buildings, hospitals, schools, kindergartens and nursing homes from Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012.

The ban is aimed at eliminating the hazards of falling glass when curtain walls burst without warning in summer heat. The property owners will be responsible for the safety of the curtain walls.

Construction companies will pay for the inspection of curtain walls on new buildings and property owners will pay for inspection of old buildings.

Curtain walls have a tendency to burst in the summer heat. It has become a threat in Shanghai where a large number of buildings are covered by curtain walls.