When installing a frameless shower screen, the fixed panel is secured to the wall using high-strength silicone and mechanical fixings such as clips or a U-channel. This combination provides excellent adhesive strength for forces that try to pull the panel directly away from the wall. Under normal static conditions, the system is very stable.

However, when a hinged door is attached to the fixed panel, the dynamics change significantly. Every time the door is opened or closed, it generates a twisting or torquing force on the panel. Because the door is hinged to the side of the panel, the repeated motion acts like a lever, applying rotational stress at the connection points and base of the panel.

While silicone and clips resist vertical and straight outward forces very well, they are not designed to absorb continuous lateral and twisting forces on their own. Over time, these stresses can cause the panel to shift, loosen, or fail — particularly where the fixings are anchored.

To counteract this, we install a header brace or corner gusset. These stabilisers tie the fixed panel back to a rigid point — such as a wall, ceiling, or adjoining glass panel — providing critical reinforcement against the twisting forces generated by the door’s movement. This ensures the stability and long-term performance of the screen, while protecting the safety of the installation.