The shopfitters' guide to glass
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Do you need to source glass for a shopfitting project? Explore applications, products and installation considerations.
Shopfitting is an underappreciated art. The customers who wander in and out of the nation's shops rarely pause to think about the tight timelines, budgetary pressures, complex design considerations and supply chain juggling that went into their experience.
And why should they? You wouldn't expect a shopfitter to appreciate the art of bookbinding or a bookbinder to care about the challenges of dairy farming.
Nevertheless, shopfitters have a lot of plates to spin – and one of those plates is made from glass.
Yes, glass is a key material in shops. It always has been, of course (looking at you, windows). But today's shops are more glass-filled than ever – and the kinds of glass used are more varied.
This is partly a question of aesthetics. Many shops choose glass for its sleek, modern look. But for shopfitters and other installers, aesthetics is always closely tied to other concerns.
Safety. Functionality. Thermal efficiency. Privacy. Soundproofing. These are all key factors in a shopfitting project.
What this means in practice is that shopfitters need to get the right glass for the job if they want to tick all those boxes. And in our view, high-quality safety glass, whether toughened or laminated, is often the best glass for the job.
In this article, we take a look at how glass is used in shops – and why safety glass is so often the way to go.
What is glass used for in shopfitting?
Glance around your current location and it's plain to see the versatility of glass. Go into pretty much any shop and this truth is equally apparent.
Many shops use glass to create large, virtually seamless shopfronts. These serve one key purpose: they turn the whole shop into a display cabinet showing off the business's wares.
Glass shopfronts have a welcoming atmosphere, like an outstretched pair of glass arms. And as with large windows and other glass facades, a glass shopfront reduces a business's reliance on electric lighting – an inarguable win for the finance team.
Then there are the aesthetic benefits. Yes, glass is sleek, sophisticated and modern. But it's also like navy or black in an outfit: it goes with pretty much anything.
Once inside the shop, glass is used to store – and highlight – merchandise. Glass shelves and cabinets spotlight products while opening up possibilities for brand storytelling.
If a shop is pushed for space, mirrors can make a huge difference. They make a room feel bigger – and brighter. And, of course, mirrors are a vital addition to clothes shops, fitting rooms and jewellery shops.
Finally, glass is used to increase a shop's safety and security. Safety glass products, such as toughened glass and laminated glass, are extremely durable and hard to break – up to five or six times stronger than standard annealed glass, in fact.
Not only this, but toughened and laminated glass are built to break safely. In the case of toughened glass, this means that the glass pane shatters into harmless smithereens. In the case of laminated glass, the plastic interlayer holds the unit together, removing the risks caused by falling glass.
This makes safety glass an ideal choice for those parts of a shop that need extra safety and security. In multi-level shops or shopping centres, glass balustrades are used to safely separate areas without spoiling the view.
In shops and fitting rooms, safety glass is used for partitions. This helps give the shop an airy, open feeling while allowing for separate spaces.
Those are the applications of glass in shopfitting. So, how about the glass itself?
H3: What kinds of glass are used in shopfitting?
1. Toughened glass
Also known as "tempered glass", toughened glass is up to five times stronger than standard annealed glass. It takes a lot of force to break toughened glass – and when it finally shatters, it breaks into smithereens, not nasty shards.
This distinctive breakage pattern makes toughened glass ideal for areas where there's a lot of human traffic. In fact, it's mandatory in some "critical locations" according to UK building regulations.
2. Laminated glass
Laminated glass consists of two or more glass panes with a plastic interlayer. When cracked, the glass unit holds together.
Laminated glass is prized for its strength. But it's also thermally efficient and good for soundproofing. This makes it the staple material for structural glazing – balustrades, walkways, partitions and the like.
3. Insulated glass units (IGUs)
IGUs are double- or triple-glazed units with a spacer between the panes. This gap, filled with air or an inert gas like Argon or Krypton, improves the overall energy efficiency of the unit. This makes it a popular choice for windows and doors in shops and elsewhere.
4. Fire-rated glass
Every shop needs a fire escape route. Fire doors need to be fitted with fire-rated glass – a kind of glass specially manufactured to halt the spread of smoke and fire.
Fire-rated glass is made in different ways. Here at ToughGlaze, our fire-rated glass has a gel-like interlayer. This expands in heat, retarding the fire and giving staff and customers more time to leave.
5. Acoustic glass
Does the shop you're fitting have noisy neighbours? Is it going to become a noisy neighbour itself? Then acoustic glass is the way to go. This thick, sturdy product has all the advantages of laminated glass plus extra soundproofing properties.
6. Printed glass
Glass can be printed with images and text, either by screen printing or digital printing. This gives you all the benefits of high-quality toughened glass alongside bold, memorable designs that – thanks to our robust ceramic inks – last as long as the glass itself.
7. Privacy glass
Sometimes, you need glass as clear as day. At other times, you need glass manufactured for privacy.
There are two main types: frosted glass (familiar to many from bathroom doors and shower enclosures) and switchable smart glass. This second product is a high-tech type of glass whose transparency can be changed through a smartphone app.
Are you looking for high-quality glass shop fittings? At ToughGlaze, we supply a wide range of glass products – all processed and delivered from our state-of-the-art UK facility in Bedford. For a quick quote or to discuss your project, get in touch today.
