FAILURE-INFORMED QUALITY CONTROL IN CUSTOM FRAMELESS GLASS SYSTEMS: A CONCEPTUAL ROOT-CAUSE FRAMEWORK

Custom frameless glass systems are vulnerable to defects that originate at different stages of delivery but become visible only during installation or use. A panel that does not fit, a door that drifts, local glass damage, or water escape may therefore be a symptom rather than a complete diagnosis. This study develops a conceptual, failure-informed quality-control framework for non-load-bearing frameless enclosures, interior partitions, and heavy glass doors. The method synthesizes safety regulation, glass product standards, industry design guidance, risk-management principles, and published research on glass edges and holes. Eight root-cause families and seven release gates are proposed, covering project definition, site readiness, measurement, system configuration, fabrication, receiving and installation, and commissioning. The framework separates observable symptoms from verified causes and requires evidence at each gate before irreversible fabrication or final handover. A qualitative prioritization rule gives precedence to safety and code consequences, then to poor detectability and recurrence. The framework is intended for practical validation using anonymized repair and callback records; it does not replace project-specific engineering, applicable codes, or manufacturer instructions.