The reason for this blog post is to explain to you the security benefit of using Laminated Glass over industry standard toughened glass in windows and doors where safety glazing is required.
Firstly we will explain the difference between the types.
Laminated Glass
Laminated glass has the same strength as ordinary glass but it consists of two pieces of glass containing a sandwich of plastic interlayer. If the glass does get broken this interlayer holds the whole piece in place so there is no hole left in the window for an intruder to get in through for example or large free shards that can cut. It's the same glass you find in car windscreens and shop fronts.
Toughened Glass
Toughened glass is upto five times as strong as ordinary glass which means that it has to be hit much harder in order to break, also when it does break it is into lots of small pieces which are much less dangerous. It's the same glass that you will find in bus stops and phone boxes where you may have seen it smashed into small pieces on the floor.
Standard Annealed Glass
This is used in every other window where safety glazing is not required & when broken breaks into jagged pieces. Burglars would almost never try & gain entry through this type of glazing so there's no need to change this type.
Why are we informing you of this?
As a double glazing installation and repair company that's been trading for over 25 years in the Greater Manchester area we have seen a rise in burglars gaining entry through rear French, Patio and back doors where toughened glass had been installed. We now advise the customer to have Laminated glass in any areas where safety glass is needed on the ground floor. Look at the picture below and imagine how easy it would be if a burglar broke one of the panes of the toughened glass. It takes them seconds with only one bang, no picking locks, no continuous noise & no sharp jagged edges which you would get with standard annealed glass.
How do you know whether or not you have toughened or laminated glass?
You will need to look in the corners of the glass in question for a kitemark which will state whether or not it's toughened or laminated.
Laminated Kitemark code is bs en 14449
Toughened Kitemark code is bs en 12150
How can we help
If your existing glazing is toughened & you would like to upgrade it its a straight forward cost effective job of just replacing the glass, no new frames or doors are needed & nothing gets damaged, infact the only way you would be able to notice it is different is by looking at the kite mark.
We hope this blog has been some use to you in explaining the benefits of laminated glass.
If you would like us to call out and see you for a free no obligation quotation on installing laminated glass please don't hesitate to contact us.