Living in a High-Rise with a Glass Curtain Wall: Is It Safe During a Typhoon?
TyphoonSays·防御问答 · Prepared Defense · 更新 at 2026-10-05
High-rise buildings with glass curtain walls do indeed experience a more complex wind environment during typhoons than low-rise buildings, but modern buildings are designed to be structurally safe. The key is to understand the difference between “design redundancy” and “maintenance shortcomings,” and to take scientifically informed precautions.
Understanding the Challenges: Wind Pressure and Material Protection
As building height increases, wind speeds rise significantly. High-rises can also be affected by the “venturi effect” caused by surrounding buildings and by localized turbulence, meaning they experience wind pressures far greater than those at ground level. Before construction, compliant glass curtain wall systems must undergo rigorous structural calculations and wind tunnel testing. Their design standards are generally capable of withstanding the maximum wind pressure associated with a 50- or even 100-year return-period event in the area.
Most modern high-rise curtain walls use tempered laminated glass or insulated tempered glass. These materials have excellent impact resistance and toughness: even if they shatter under extreme impact, the fragments remain firmly bonded to the PVB interlayer. Unlike ordinary annealed glass, they do not break into sharp fragments that can fly out and cause injury. Therefore, provided that construction quality meets the relevant standards and the building is properly maintained, a glass curtain wall is not inherently a “weak spot.” The real risks often lie in aging or failed sealant, loose hardware, and debris that may be blown past the windows.
Proactive Measures: Identifying Hazards and Physical Separation
After a typhoon warning is issued (follow the specific response levels announced by the local government), residents should immediately begin a self-inspection and focus on eliminating “weak-link” hazards:
- Clear away potential falling objects: Thoroughly remove flowerpots, clothes racks, and other items from balconies and windowsills. If these objects are blown from the building, they can endanger people below. They may then rebound and shatter the windows of the resident’s own home or a neighbor’s, creating a dangerous cycle.
- Check seals and locking mechanisms: Carefully check whether window latches are secure and whether rubber seals have aged or come loose. If a window noticeably shakes, makes unusual noises, or leaks air when closed, apply tape to the glass in a “rice-grid” pattern as an emergency measure. Although this will not strengthen the glass, it can help prevent fragments from flying inward. Contact the property management company for urgent repairs.
- Create a safety buffer: From the time a typhoon makes landfall until it has passed, do not stand, sleep, or carry out any activities beside floor-to-ceiling windows or large curtain wall panels. Move furniture slightly so that it remains at least 1–2 meters away from the glass, reducing the risk of being cut by unexpectedly shattering glass or struck by indoor objects picked up by powerful winds.
Emergency Response: Safe Positioning and Secondary Hazards
In addition to strong winds, high-rise residents should also be alert to water leakage caused by torrential rain, a potential secondary disaster. Clear the drainage holes in windowsills in advance to prevent rainwater from entering and damaging floors or causing electrical short circuits. If you hear unusual cracking sounds from the glass or notice obvious deformation during a typhoon, do not approach the window to investigate. Evacuate immediately to an interior room without windows, such as a bathroom, corridor, or storeroom.
In extreme circumstances, if you must remain in a room with glass windows, use a thick quilt, mattress, or large piece of soft furniture to cover your body, crouch down, and protect your head and neck. This can minimize the risk of injury from flying glass fragments. If the government issues an emergency evacuation order, you must comply without delay; protecting lives is more important than safeguarding property.
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This article is original educational content from TyphoonSays. Please refer to the latest official announcements from local governments for policy standards.