Tufwell Glass supplies safety glass such as toughened glass or laminated glass for use in domestic and commercial architectural projects throughout the UK.
While both types of glass are recognised as safety glass, each has a range of advantages and disadvantages which make them better suited for different purposes over the other.
Laminated Glass vs. Toughened Glass – What’s the Difference?
Laminated glass is made of two or more sheets of glass sandwiched together with a PVB or EVA plastic interlayer. This increases the strength and thickness of the pane without affecting its transparency. Thanks to the interlayers, if broken the sheet will remain in one piece, reducing the risk of injury from flying or falling shards.
Toughened glass, also known as tempered glass, is annealed glass which has been specially heat-treated and cooled to control fracturing and increase mechanical strength. Tempered glass is hard to shatter, but breaks into tiny, blunt pieces if enough force is applied.
When to Use Safety Glass
Tufwell Glass recommends that you consult regulation specialists when designing your project to ensure that any glass is the correct specification for its purpose. As a quick guide, however, there are some areas where safety glass is usually necessary to comply with British standards:
- Low-level glazing within 1500mm of the floor, including glazing within doors
- Door-adjacent glazing within 800mm of the frame
- Any glass within bathroom areas due to the risk of slipping
- Protective barriers such as balustrades or balconies
- Furniture such as tables, cabinets, or mirrors
When to Use Laminated Glass
Laminated glass is best used in areas where falling shattered glass poses a risk of injury, for example in rooflights, glass partitions, and balustrades, as the interlayer will keep the glass in one piece. This is also essential in walk-on glass and glazed floors to maintain a secure surface for those above and below the panes.
In glass display cabinets, laminated glass provides a perfectly transparent surface which cannot be penetrated easily, even if broken. This makes it a good security solution for cabinets housing valuable or important items to protect them from theft or damage.
Laminated glass can also improve sound and heat insulation, making it a useful addition to windows and double or triple glazed units in areas which would benefit from being quieter and cooler while maintaining maximum light transmission.
When to Use Toughened Glass
Toughened or tempered glass is a popular and versatile safety glass which can also be used anywhere a safety glass is required by safety regulations. However it should be noted that toughened glass can still shatter, albeit into smaller, less harmful fragments. Toughened glass is very useful in applications such as privacy screens, bespoke shower screens and low-level windows. Laminated glass is generally more expensive than toughened glass, making the latter a more cost effective option.
Bespoke Services from Tufwell Glass
Tufwell Glass offers laminated, toughened, and toughened laminated glass for domestic and commercial use. Our state-of-the-art facilities based in Crawley, West Sussex can process glass to bespoke shapes and sizes, and to fit a range of safety specifications.
Contact Tufwell Glass today to discuss the unique requirements of your glass project on 01293 533 533 or at sales@tufwell.co.uk.