What is the Safest Type of Glass?
Glass is used for all sorts of applications – whether big or small or industrial, commercial, or domestic. However, regular float glass can be too fragile for more than decorative use, so structural applications require a safer and stronger safety type of glass.
Standard annealed glass can break easily from impacts, shattering into jagged sharp pieces that can cause injuries – so this type of glass is no good for windows, doors, walls, or floors.
It’s also unsuitable for interior projects such as screens, splashbacks, tables, or shelves.
If you want safety type of glass that’s fit for purpose, you can order custom glass for any of these applications from a reputable supplier like The Glass Warehouse, who can provide glass cut to size for bespoke measurements with delivery across the UK.
Before you can choose which glass to order, you need to consider where it will be installed and how it will be used. Let’s look into the two most common types of safety glass available to help you understand which type would be the safest for your project.
Toughened Glass
Toughened glass is a much stronger version of annealed glass, which is created through a process of heating the glass and quickly cooling the surfaces.
This is known as tempering, which is why the end product is also called tempered glass.
As the outer parts of the glass cool and harden faster than the centre, this creates compressive force and tension within it, resulting in glass that is up to five times stronger than before.
The increased strength makes toughened glass far more resistant to impacts, extreme temperatures, and varying loads. Not only is it harder to break, but if it does, toughened glass will break into cube-like pieces with dulled edges.
This makes it much safer for applications where the glass needs to resist various forces and there would be a risk of serious injury if annealed glass broke – such as glass doors, shower screens, table tops, and shelving.
Highly resistant toughened glass is also essential for glass kitchen splashbacks and glass wall art, and can even be used in low-level windows and balustrades.
Laminated Glass
Laminated glass is a type of anti-shattering glass that prevents the product from breaking apart by holding the pane in place, even if it cracks completely.
This is because it is ‘laminated’ by sealing two panes of glass together with a plastic interlayer.
The layer in the middle is typically made from either polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), but it’s so clear and thin that it doesn’t obstruct the glass at all.
The main benefit of laminated glass is that if the glass breaks on one side or even both sides, the pieces of each glass pane will stay stuck in place thanks to the interlayer. This means the pieces won’t fall everywhere, greatly reducing the risk of injury.
This is why laminated glass is typically used to increase safety and security for applications such as shopfronts, windscreens, display cases, and balustrades for stairs and balconies where there is a significant drop between floor levels.
Often used for windows, doors, and floors, including skylights, laminated glass can also be made with panes of tinted glass for UV protection or thicker glass for extra sound insulation.
What is the Strongest Type of Glass?
In general, toughened glass is stronger than laminated glass made with two panes of annealed glass, because toughened glass is harder to break than non-tempered glass.
However, laminated glass is stronger in the sense that it still holds up after breaking, maintaining a barrier where toughened glass would fall apart and leave an opening.
This makes laminated glass safer for settings with changing floor levels, where a gap could allow people to fall from a height. It also makes it harder for vandals or intruders to break through.
The strongest type of glass would be laminated glass made with two panes of toughened glass, which would make the product thicker and several times stronger, combining the high resistance of tempered glass with the anti-shattering properties of laminated glass.
Which Glass Should You Use for Your Project?
The best type of glass for your project depends on the application – as explained above, each type of glass may be more suited to specific installations than others.
When using any safety type of glass, it’s important to check the relevant building regulations and safety standards for your planned installation, ensuring that you comply with legal requirements for using glass in areas with high foot traffic or fall risks.
If you aren’t sure which rules apply, you can always contact your local building authority for guidance on safe glass structures and whether you need their legal approval or not.
Then you’re free to order your chosen safety type of glass from a trusted supplier like The Glass Warehouse, who can provide a competitive bespoke quote for customised glass cut to size.
