In operation for over 40 years, the local O'Brien Glass^® branch is committed to offering high-quality glazing and emergency glass repair services to the Central Coast and Newcastle community through their team of glass experts.

Michael Rolls, Branch Manager, recently shared his team’s experience working across the region and how they continue to deliver exceptional services to their many customers.

Here’s what he had to say.

Meet your local O'Brien Glass^® team

The Newcastle & Central Coast NSW region has an abundance of beautiful beaches, breathtaking landscapes, and rolling hills.

With this stunning backdrop and relaxed lifestyle, it’s no surprise the team of seven O'Brien^® glaziers all love to be out and about on the road.

Michael said, “Aside from this, we all love being able to meet different people and have friendly interactions whilst providing exceptional glazing service to our clients.”

It’s a real team effort, across the crew of ten, with Michael and two office staff keeping things running smoothly – ordering stock, helping customers and everything in-between. Altogether, the team has over 160 years of combined experience in the glass replacement industry! This makes them incredibly reliable experts when it comes to emergency glass repairs and replacement needs.

“We also have two staff who recently completed their apprenticeship. Today, they’re now thriving, qualified glaziers and making a great contribution to the Newcastle community with their skills,” Michael adds.

Working together within the Newcastle community

Working for so long as part of the Newcastle region goes beyond providing prompt and efficient glazing services. Over the years, the team has also built a network of trusted local business partners and complementary service providers.

These fostered connections with other industry experts, such as painters and carpenters, have enabled the O'Brien^® team to give clients suitable recommendations and referrals to professionals within the local area, allowing them to fully support customers and work collaboratively with everyone in the community.

“It’s great being an active part of the business landscape here in Newcastle,” said Michael. “It means we all can help each other to help more customers.”

No job is too big or small for your local O'Brien Glass^® team

The glazing experts at the O'Brien Glass^® Central Coast & Newcastle branch provide a wide range of services across the NSW North Coast – from Gosford to the Hunter Valley to Newcastle and surrounds. As part of their ongoing commitment to their local community, here are some of the glazing services they offer customers:

1. 24/7 emergency glass replacement service

Glass breakage can happen at any time and can cause security and safety risks. That is why the team will always try to respond quickly at any time of the day or night.

“We have at least 2 of our local glaziers who are always on call every night and over the weekend. Once we receive a call from a customer, we try to respond immediately and be on site within an hour or less to provide emergency glass replacement,” Michael said.

2. Award-winning service

O'Brien^® strives each and every time to provide quality service and is always open to customer feedback. The Central Coast & Newcastle team is no exception.

“True to the ‘O'Brien^® DNA, our branch has been a great performer and has won several internal awards. Our NPS rating, which is driven by our customer feedback, is consistently over 85%, and in fact, several times, that has been the highest amongst the ‘O'Brien^® branches in the country,” Michael said.

This is a clear testament to how your local O'Brien Glass^® team truly values the quality of service they provide to customers – no matter how big or small the job may be.

Here is some of the feedback provided by their local customers:

“I had a call for a pet door with O'Brien. Very helpful and knowledgeable team who were able to advise me on the best options for my home. Pricing was provided over the phone and the team were happy to schedule the appointment around my schedule as needed. Would be happy to recommend for home or business. Thanks”

– Sean P

“O'Brien Glass responded quickly arrived on time and were very courteous and professional. Their communication throughout the whole process was exceptional.”

– Brian M

“Prompt response very polite and friendly staff. Excellent customer service”

– Russell C

Got broken glass? O'Brien Glass^® is here to help

Servicing across North Coast NSW region, you can rely on your local O'Brien^® glazing experts to help – whether you need a simple glass replacement or 24/7 emergency service.

Click here to connect to O'Brien Glass^® Newcastle & Central Coast

For more information about our services, call us on 1800 059 829 or send us a message to speak with one of our friendly staff.

The post O’Brien Glass® Newcastle & Central Coast Team In Focus: Locals Servicing Locals appeared first on O'Brien.

Recent changes to the AS1288-2021 glass in building standard have set out revised standards for balustrades or barriers as they are now called. To help understand those changes, we asked our resident experts in glass, Beth Pope, Account Manager at O'Brien^® and Roland Rode, National Compliance Manager at O'Brien^® to summarise the changes and what it means for those of you with balustrades/barriers in your building complex.

What is a balustrade/barrier?

A balustrade/barrier is best described as a low wall forming a parapet to a stairway, ramp, balcony, raised level or change in levels to restrict access. The law requires that barriers must be constructed in any area that people move through where there is a difference of one meter or more in level between a ground surface or one floor, and an adjourning floor or surface.

To help reduce the risk of injury for someone falling from a height of more than one meter, barriers are mandatory and need to be able to perform to numerous criteria such as wind load, impact and lean loads. They also need to be constructed in a way that doesn’t allow any openings greater than 100mm at the base of the barrier or 125mm at other vertical openings and must not be climbable.

What has changed?

The revised AS1288-2021 Glass in building standard released on 26.6.21, has further clarified these stringent requirements including renaming the Balustrade section to now be known as Barrier to fall in line with National Construction Code (NCC) descriptions.

There are some types of barriers which have a prescribed method of glass selection and installation and these rules have not changed in the revised standard. However, for other barrier types, the selection of glass and installation methods varies too greatly to be able to apply a prescribed method for installation. The revised standard applies new guidelines for those types of barriers.

What does this mean for you if you have glass balustrades/barriers?

Glass balustrades/barriers have long been a way of allowing easy view beyond the confines of our balconies but also serve an important safety function. If you are installing or upgrading glass balustrades/barriers in your existing building complex, this is what you will need to check for compliance.

For any barriers which are 5 meters or over from ground or floor level, the revised standard now requires that only laminated safety glass is to be installed. If a panel in a glass barrier is damaged or broken, when it is replaced, it should comply with the current glass in building Standard AS1288-2021 which now details load requirements and test methods for performance.

Generally, barriers with exposed glass edges are classed as structural such as cantilever glass or where only the top glass edge is exposed (i.e. there is no solid metal or timber handrail). If your barrier has exposed glass edges, there are some changes that also help improve safety with clarification of interlinking handrail requirements.

Barriers installed via spigot, point-fixed or core drill fittings must comply with the NCC through a performance solution such as an engineering solution or testing in a laboratory. The revised standard now provides load guidelines for these types of barriers.

If you require an audit of the barriers in your building, please contact the O’Brien Glass® experts on 1800 841 256 today.

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