Bulletproof or bandit-resistant? Types of security glass explained
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What is security glass and what can it do for you? Join us as we run down its attributes and applications – and introduce our own range.
Windows and doors are some of the most vulnerable spots in a commercial property. Keeping them safe from intruders has long been a priority in the form of locks and chains – but glass also has a role to play.
Glass is proverbially fragile. But if you look around you, you'll find that many glass installations are as tough as old boots. Think windscreens, glass lifts or display cabinets. These are built to withstand force – and it's all thanks to toughened or laminated glass.
The world of glass, you see, is a bit more complex than it seems at first glance. A casual glass buyer will probably know the difference between single and double glazing. But how about laminates, annealed panes and interlayers?
Suddenly, your shopping trip has turned into a round of
Mastermind where you, a casual shopper, are being forced to answer questions on the subtleties of glass manufacturing.
In this article, we try to demystify some of the industry lingo and break down exactly what we mean by "security glass". What is it, what's it used for, and what different types are there?
Security glass vs safety glass
First off, we need to distinguish two things:
security glass and safety glass.
Safety glass refers to glass made to withstand accidental damage. Security glass, on the other hand, is made to withstand wilful damage – human force, in other words.
That's one reason why we split it into three categories that refer to different kinds of human threats: "manual attack", "bullet-resistant" and "blast-resistant". These are ways that humans can damage glass – not, say, a stray piece of gravel on a country road.
What is security glass used for?
Security glass is used to protect all sorts of spaces where valuables are stored and people need extra protection. A by-no-means-exhaustive list includes shopfronts, facades, partitions, security screens, display cases, counters and viewing panels.
What sectors use security glass?
Broadly speaking, security glass is used in working environments where there's a high risk of damage being done or attempted.
More specifically, it's used in everything from airports and other transport hubs to retail environments; from banks to prisons; from galleries to apartments, houses and other domestic settings.
What types of security glass are there?
Security glass is usually laminated. This is where two sheets of toughened glass sandwich a polymer interlayer. In the case of security glass, one of the sheets tends to be a flexible material like polycarbonate. This extra flexibility is the magic ingredient that makes it so difficult to breach.
This is to make up for a shortcoming of toughened glass. As the name suggests, toughened glass is sturdy stuff – but if you smash it, it breaks. And when it breaks, it shatters into many tiny pieces.
Laminated glass, by contrast, can withstand more intense attacks. You'll probably have seen a broken windscreen – rather than leaving a hole, the glass cracks like a spider web, remaining structurally intact.
Our security glass looks much the same as normal types of glass. Looking at a jeweller's cabinet, for instance, you probably wouldn't be able to tell that it wasn't the same type of glass as a water jug or church window.
And finally, glass needs to meet certain regulatory standards to earn the "security" prefix.
There are three main types, each carefully engineered to meet different standards and threat levels.
1. Manual attack glass
Manual attack glass is often used in vulnerable reception areas – banks, for instance, and jewellers' shops. These settings need more than "impact-resistant glass" – they need "anti-bandit" or "hammer and axe glass", so called because it can withstand those blows.
2. Bullet-resistant glass
Sadly, there are many working environments where glass needs to be "bulletproof". We're talking about military installations, government buildings, banks and building societies.
We're also talking airports, post offices, betting shops and petrol stations – any location where staff need to be protected from gunfire, however remote the possibility.
Finally, we're talking about vehicles where security is paramount – armoured cars, private escort vehicles and vehicles that carry cash, to take just three examples.
3. Blast-resistant glass
As the name suggests,
blast-resistant glass is there to protect customers and properties from explosive blasts.
Its primary function is to keep its structural integrity when blasted – unlike, say, standard toughened glass. This massively reduces the risk of injury or even death from flying shards of glass.
Blast-resistant glass is sometimes referred to as "bomb-proof" or "blast-proof", but these are misnomers. No type of glass, after all, can guarantee total protection from blasts.
Our range of security glass
At ToughGlaze, we have our own range of security glass. This is a range of laminated glass that we split for your convenience into three categories.
The first is TG-BR, our bullet-resistant glass. Too often, security glass isn't up to the job – but TG-BR is as unforgiving as it's light and thin. It meets the EN 1063 standard.
Then there's TG-SECURE. This anti-bandit, manual attack glass is in line with EN 356.
Finally, there's TG BOMB BLAST which, as the name suggests, is an anti-explosion glass – but one that's surprisingly lightweight. This last offering meets ISO 16933:2007, which is the international standard for explosion-resistant glass.
To look at, our security glass might not seem all that remarkable. But trust us: it's ideal for settings where security is of the utmost importance – and it has the accreditations to prove it.
Our security glass can also be tailored to your requirements. Do you need the glass to be soundproofed? No problem. Maybe you want switchable LCD glass or a screen-printed design? Again, we've got you covered.
When all's said and done, our security glass is an industry-leading combination of toughness, lightness and customisability – one that puts you in the best possible position to protect your assets, personnel and visitors.
ToughGlaze is a leading UK commercial glass company. We supply some of the lightest, most effective security glass laminates on the market. To learn more or request a quote, get in touch.
