Safety Glass Guidelines for Aluminium Windows and Doors
Glass windows and doors are essential components to separate and protect the interior of a building. Moreover, they bring natural light and fresh air into our homes while offering views that connect the inside to the great outdoors.
Regardless of the style and size, or whether you choose wood or aluminium windows and doors, the choice of glass is a significant element when it comes to safety. In residential properties, window-related accidents are common; thus, preventative measures must be considered when installing any glass windows or doors. This is because ordinary annealed glass is brittle and breaks easily into big, sharp-edged splinters and shards that could inflict severe injuries.
Some of the most critical areas where the risk of injury is high (as highlighted by The Federation of Safety Glass) include external and internal doors, side panels, curtain walls, glazed areas, facade, fully, partially and frameless windows, internal partitions and doors, balustrades and any spaces where there is high activity.
Safety Glass Types
Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent glass-related accidents. One of the most important steps is to choose safety glass for your windows and doors.
What is safety glass? According to The Federation of Safety Glass, safety glass refers to “glazing material constructed, treated, or combined with other materials so as to reduce, in comparison with an ordinary sheet, float or plate glass, the likelihood of injury to persons by objects from exterior sources or by these safety glasses when they may be cracked or broken.”
There are two types of safety glass that are widely used for residential projects: tempered and laminated safety glass. As they are designed to withstand impact and prevent shattered shards from harming people nearby, they are an ideal choice for different applications within the home.
Tempered glass
Tempered or toughened glass is exceptionally strong (up to four times stronger than regular, annealed glass) and resistant to heat. Made through a process called tempering, which involves rapidly cooling the glass after subjecting it to extremely high temperatures, tempered glass is commonly used for as a safety glass windows and doors.
Tempered glass is almost impenetrable thanks to its robust strength resulting in excellent impact-resistant properties. When incorporated into your security windows and doors, tempered glass effectively increases the safety of your home, for example, by preventing break-ins. Tempered glass is also resistant to varying conditions, including significant temperature changes, abrasions, scratches, and unfavourable weather. When tempered glass breaks, it comes apart as small pieces, reducing the risk of injury by shattering into small, blunt, and relatively harmless pieces.
Laminated glass
Another type of safety glass is laminated glass which comprises two layers of glass bonded with interlayers that strengthen the glass significantly. There are varying thicknesses of laminated glass as well as different qualities of glass, such as low emissions or increased insulation, achieved using various glass combinations or coatings. Laminated glass is often used in safety windows and doors, skylights, curtain walls, glass facades, and glass roofs.
In addition to its strength and protective qualities, laminated glass can be good for soundproofing and limiting the transmission of UV rays from strong sunlight. Furthermore, this type of glass is resistant to pressure and temperature changes, making it a perfect weather-friendly glass for doors and windows.
Maximum Allowable Area of Safety Glass
Apart from choosing an appropriate safety glass, the type of glass used would also need to comply with the maximum allowable area guidelines for architectural applications. Here’s a summary:
| Type of glass |
Nominal Thickness (mm) Maximum allowable area used (m²) |
Maximum allowable area used (m²) | ||
| Tempered Glass |
4 5 6 8 10 12 |
2.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 |
||
| Laminated Glass |
6.38 8.38 10.38 12.38 |
6.76 8.76 10.76 12.76 |
7.52 9.52 11.52 13.52 |
3.0 5.0 7.0 8.0 |
Choosing the Best Safety Glass
At Window Elements, safety is a top priority when it comes to our glass selection. Hence, we use high-quality safety glass in our windows and doors to ensure they are secure and to minimise the risk of glass-related injuries. Depending on the layout and size of your home, height, width and length, we customise our windows and doors according to safety glass guidelines while ensuring they meet your project specifications.
Window Elements’ premium aluminium security doors and windows can be further enhanced with various safety glass options for improved home protection without compromising a sleek and sophisticated style. We offer a variety of styles, shapes, and sizes to choose from to match your preferences.
If you are seeking a versatile door and window, our Optima series is an ideal choice. Each range is made with the highest quality aluminium frame, designed specifically with high-end technology, tested extensively under several tests, and exceeds relevant standards to bring maximum comfort and security. Moreover, the aluminium frames can be customised with a glass of your choosing – we highly recommend durable safety glass like tempered or laminate for safety reasons. Meanwhile, our ArxTech doors and windows provide high-performance security screens or mesh, which when combined with premium safety glass, will offer you a strong barrier to withstand any burglary attempts.
Talk to our experienced consultants at Window Elements to find out more about safety glass and our exceptional range of aluminium and doors.
