Thermal shock shatters a patio table?

Question

We were at a party this weekend, shaded porch, but ambient temp in the 90s, high humidity. A group was sitting at a glass top patio table with cool drinks in glass glasses. The table simply exploded and dropped to the floor in safety glass cubes. We were stunned (some minor ankle nicks). No one had hands on table, nothing sharp, no sudden blows, no heavy load on table.

Thermal shock was our only guess. Anyone ever had a similar experience? Ideas?

Answer 1

Was it a Martha Stewart glass table? Those tables explode for no reason whats so ever.
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Answer 2

Sounds like a good guess! Thermal shock is really nasty and unpredictable stuff.

I remember one year my aunt poured cold red Kool-Aid into glasses that had just come out of the dishwasher -- glass and red Kool-Aid EVERYWHERE (and a beige carpet, very sad). She was a very cool aunt, though, and just got it cleaned up.

But you never know -- you can be pouring cool drinks into hot glass for years, and have no problem, but then suddenly -- the glass is just that much too hot, or that much too old, or the drink is just that much too cold and BOOM. Thank goodness the table was safety glass! I'm glad nobody was seriously hurt!

Answer 3

That's the first time i've heard of a table exploding, but sometimes that same thing happens with car windows when it's there is a heat wave.

Answer 4

Like precious gem said..did it come from martha Stewart/ She conned millions out of the emeron incident..why not a few k mart shoppers as well....The glass in the table was not tempered..probably budget type outdoor table..which I use myself...

Answer 5

This can happen if the glass was cooled too quickly during manufacture.

Answer 6

I would say around zero chance. The table wasn't defective; the glass was broken through negligence.