What is security glass?

Security glass is any type of glass that offers protection against wilful damage. It's distinct from safety glass, which is designed to withstand accidental damage but not a deliberate attack. Our security glass is manufactured to your specification depending on its intended application and the type of threat. It can be broken down into three broad categories: anti-bandit glass (for protection against manual attack), ballistic (bulletproof) glass and explosion-resistant glass. This page focuses on anti-bandit glass. We also supply bullet-resistant and explosion-resistant glass.

How strong is security glass?

It depends. Security glass is manufactured to meet various British and international standards. The strength required depends on your intended use case and the requirements of the applicable standard. To give you an example, attack-resistant glass is typically rated through a hammer and axe test. To reach the P7B rating – a standard for break-resistant glass in extreme situations – the sample must withstand 51 to 70 strikes before an opening is created. Please note that the vandal glass alone can't meet BSI standards. It must be combined with a suitable frame before being tested and rated.

What is security glass made of?

Laminated security glass is the most common construction. This consists of two or more layers of glass or polycarbonate joined with polymer interlayers. The types of glass and interlayers used vary depending on application and customer specifications.

What is an appropriate thickness for anti-bandit glass?

Bandit glass usually incorporates an extra-thick polymer interlayer, so is thicker than standard safety glass. Thicknesses of 7.5 mm, 9.5 mm and 12.8 mm are common.

Security Glass | Shatter Resistant Anti Bandit Glass

Strong. Lightweight. Discreet.

You can't cut corners when security is at stake.

That's why we've developed TG SECURE: a break-resistant glass composite that provides effective protection against manual attack.

TG SECURE is custom-made to meet EN 356 standards and provide peace of mind for any threat level. It's a versatile and secure glass solution that's suitable for a wide range of residential and commercial use cases.

And best of all, it delivers impressive strength without adding significant weight or sacrificing optical clarity. TG SECURE is surprisingly light and visually indistinguishable from other types of laminated glass, making it ideal for applications where discretion or weight considerations are key.

Start putting security first. Get in touch with our experts today for a no-obligation quote.

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ToughGlaze means peace of mind. Our burglar glass is tested to EN 356: the European standard for security against manual attack. These tests are designed to simulate real attacks when the glass is installed in a suitable framing system.

EN 356 establishes an eight-tier security level system, from P1A (least resistant) to P8B (most resistant). The type you'll need depends on your intended application. Please note that theses products are part of an approved system. If you're unsure, feel free to get in touch and we'll do our best to help.

Hammer and axe test

Glass-to-polycarbonate laminates. For EN356 ratings P6B to P8B.

The hammer and axe test simulates extreme attempts at entry – such as coordinated attacks on jewellers' shop windows. First, a hammerhead is fitted to a mechanical arm and swung against the glass until it breaks. Next, an axe head is fitted and the test continues until a hole is created. For the P6B security level, the glass must withstand 30 to 50 strikes. For the highest level (P8B), it must withstand more than 71 strikes.

Drop-ball test

Float glass or toughened glass. For EN356 ratings P1A to P5A.

In this test, three 4.11-kilogram steel balls are dropped onto the glass in a triangular pattern. To pass, the glass must withstand the impact three times – and maintain its integrity for five seconds after each impact. For security level P1A, the balls are dropped from 1.5 metres. The height increases with each subsequent level, reaching a maximum of nine metres for security levels P4A and P5A.

Industry applications

Thanks to its impressive strength and modest weight, TG SECURE is suitable for a broad range of commercial and residential applications. You can use it in anything from security screens to sealed glazing units.

Airports
Banks
Commercial premises
Defence
Galleries
Residential premises
Retail
Train stations
Transport

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More types of security glass

Security glass can get complicated. To keep things simple for you, we categorise our secure glass products into three categories: intruder-resistant glass, bullet-resistant glass and explosion-resistant glass.

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As one of the UK's leading security glass manufacturers, our expertise and industry knowledge are unrivalled. Get in touch with our experts today for a quick quote.

Trusted for glass processing since 1993
Distribution throughout the UK mainland*
ISO 9001:2015 accredited for quality management

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Frequently asked questions

What is security glass?

Security glass is any type of glass that offers protection against wilful damage. It's distinct from safety glass, which is designed to withstand accidental damage but not a deliberate attack.

Our security glass is manufactured to your specification depending on its intended application and the type of threat. It can be broken down into three broad categories: anti-bandit glass (for protection against manual attack), ballistic (bulletproof) glass and explosion-resistant glass.

This page focuses on anti-bandit glass. We also supply bullet-resistant and explosion-resistant glass.
How strong is security glass?

It depends. Security glass is manufactured to meet various British and international standards. The strength required depends on your intended use case and the requirements of the applicable standard.

To give you an example, attack-resistant glass is typically rated through a hammer and axe test. To reach the P7B rating – a standard for break-resistant glass in extreme situations – the sample must withstand 51 to 70 strikes before an opening is created.

Please note that the vandal glass alone can't meet BSI standards. It must be combined with a suitable frame before being tested and rated.
What is security glass made of?

Laminated security glass is the most common construction. This consists of two or more layers of glass or polycarbonate joined with polymer interlayers. The types of glass and interlayers used vary depending on application and customer specifications.
What is an appropriate thickness for anti-bandit glass?

Bandit glass usually incorporates an extra-thick polymer interlayer, so is thicker than standard safety glass. Thicknesses of 7.5 mm, 9.5 mm and 12.8 mm are common.