SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR RESIDENTIAL WINDOWS

Toughened or laminated safety glass from Saint-Gobain provides protection and peace of mind

Security glass offers protection against aggression and can act as an important deterrent against vandalism and infraction. As opposed to safety glass, there are no statutory requirements from the British Standards association concerning where security glass must be used. Risk should be assessed on a case-by-case basis and must take any insurance specifications into account.

Saint-Gobain Glass offer a range of glass allowing you to fill interiors with light whilst offering total safety and security.

Safety glass, which can either be toughened or laminated depending on where and how it is being used, protects from the risk of serious injury caused by accidental breakage or impact. When it breaks, it breaks safely.

Enhanced security glass helps to protect against break-in attempts or vandalism by delaying or even preventing penetration through the glass in the event of forced break in or damage.

How does it work?

Safety:

There are two glass types available to protect against the risk of injury. The choice is made depending on where and how the glazing is being used.

Toughened safety glass has undergone a heat treatment to increase its overall strength. Generally it is 5 times stronger than normal glass. To give an example, a piece of 8mm toughened glass can withstand the impact of a 0.5kg steel ball dropped from 2 metres. If the glass does break, it breaks safely into thousands of tiny pieces with dull, safe edges.

Laminated safety glass comprises two pieces of glass held together by one or several plastic films like a glass sandwich! In the effect of breakage or impact, these films hold the glass in place. The glass still breaks into pieces, but they remain adhered to the film(s).

Security:

Security glass is normally laminated glass, comprising two or more sheets of glass with one or more PVB interlayers. The whole assembly is bonded together using heat and pressure, resulting in the complete adhesion of interlayer and glass. In the event of breakage, the glass fragments remain attached to the plastic interlayer and the window retains a residual strength while awaiting replacement. Laminated security glass can be positioned on the inner or outer pane of a double glazing window, but must be used with an appropriate framing system.
Laminated glasses with different levels of safety and security can be obtained by varying the number and/or thickness of each of the fire glass and interlayer components. There are BS standard requirements for security glass capable of giving protection against different types of possible hazards. The three main types of security glass are:

• Glass resistant to manual attacks

Double Glazing window resistant to manual attacks, such as a person armed with an axe or crowbar, must conform with the BS EN 1063 specifications for vandalism and BS EN 356 for burglary. This kind of security glass is laminated for safety and generally range in thickness from 6.5 to 25 mm. They can also be supplied with integrated security alarms.

• Bullet resistant glass

Ballistic rated glass must conform with BS EN 1063 specifications. Within this category different levels of security glass are available to protect against the passage of bullets from various types of firearms (from pistols to shotguns) - and to prevent against flying shards of glass resulting from bullet impacts.

• Explosion-pressure resistant glazing

Any premises located in a potentially hazardous risk area for explosions should use explosion-pressure resistant double glazing window which complies with British Safety standards BS EN 13541. Explosion resistant glass is an effective way to minimise damage and injury that can be caused by an accidental or criminal explosion

Benefits

Safety:

Safety glass has many benefits:

• Toughened glass : Avoids potential cuts and injuries as a result of broken glass (for example used in doors, table tops, shower screens etc).
• Laminated glass: Laminated glass: assembled using a single plastic film.
• Basic Protection: Provides protection against the risk of injuries due to accidental breakage (for example windows or sliding glass doors).
• Enhanced Protection: Provides protection against a change in level (e.g. balconies or guarding) and objects falling on to or penetrating the glass (e.g. glass roofs and canopies).
  • The pieces of glass stay in place, stuck to the plastic interlayer, until a replacement arrives.
• Safety Glass: For safe breakage or overhead glazing. Can be combined with other glass functions for additional comfort: security, thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, low-maintenance and decorative glass.

Security:

Anti-burglary function: protect your home and possessions from intruders.

• Gain peace of mind from the added security of your windows.
• You remain safe and secure around glazed areas.
• Hinder or even prevent entry by potential burglars.

Enhanced security glass can be combined with other glass functions for additional comfort: thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, low-maintenance and decorative glass.