Which Glass Do I Need?
The right glass depends on what it has to do. Strength and safety, fire resistance, noise control, security, privacy or appearance each point to a different product. Use the selector below to match your job to the right glass, with sizes, standards and a quote in under two minutes.
Find the right glass in two minutes
Specifying glass for a commercial project means balancing performance, compliance and budget, often under deadline. The selector gives you two ways in. Start from what the glass has to do, or start from where it is going: a balustrade, a partition, a shopfront, a roof.
One or two taps later you have the product that fits, its maximum size and thickness, the standard it is tested to, and the guides that help you specify it with confidence.
Types of glass at a glance
- Toughened glass: four to five times stronger than ordinary glass, and it breaks into small blunt pieces. The everyday safety glass.
- Laminated glass: bonded panes with an interlayer, so it holds together when broken. For overhead glazing, balustrades and security.
- Heat-strengthened glass: resists thermal stress and wind load with minimal distortion. Often laminated for facades and overhead glazing.
- Fire-rated glass: holds back fire and smoke, certified from E30 to EI120.
- Acoustic glass: laminated glass that cuts noise from traffic, rail, music and busy offices.
- Security glass: anti-bandit glass tested against manual attack, for shopfronts and counters.
- Switchable glass: goes from clear to private at the touch of a button.
- Walk-on glass: floors, stair treads and rooflights with an anti-slip finish.
- Decorative glass:
mesh,
fabric,
coloured interlayers,
digital print,
screen print,
sandblasting,
mirror and
LED glass.
Quick answers by application
- Balustrades and balconies: safety glass that holds together if it breaks, so laminated toughened glass is the usual choice. See glass for balustrades.
- Partitions: toughened glass, or fire-rated glass where the partition sits on a fire line. See glass for partitions.
- Shopfronts and doors: toughened safety glass, with anti-bandit laminated glass where security matters. See security glass.
- Splashbacks: toughened glass, plain, coloured or printed. See splashback glass.
- Roofs and overhead glazing: laminated or heat-strengthened laminated glass, so nothing can fall if a pane breaks. See glass for roofs.
- Fire doors and escape routes: fire-rated TG FR glass, E30 upwards. Use the Fire Glass Finder.
- Noisy locations: acoustic laminated glass. Use the Acoustic Glass Estimator.
- Privacy on demand: TG SWITCH switchable glass. See switch glass.
Need more than one property?
Many projects need a combination, such as fire resistance with security, or laminated glass with an acoustic interlayer. The selector lets you add those as you go, and our team confirms the exact build for your project.
Why specify with ToughGlaze
Every product is cut and processed in-house at our UK facility and made to your exact size. Our safety glass is Kitemark-approved and tested to the relevant British and European standards, so you can specify it without compliance headaches and keep the project moving.
More tools and guides
Check where the regulations call for safety glass with the
Safety Glass Checker, or work out what a pane will weigh with the
Glass Weight Calculator. If you are weighing up the two most common options, our guide on
whether you need toughened or laminated glass walks through eight common use cases.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose the right glass for my project?
Start with what the glass has to do: strength and safety, fire resistance, noise control, security, privacy or appearance. The selector on this page matches your requirement to the right product, with sizes and the standard it meets.
What are the main types of glass used in commercial buildings?
Toughened and laminated safety glass do most of the work. Around them sit the specialist types: fire-rated, acoustic, security, heat-strengthened, switchable, walk-on and decorative glass. Many projects combine two or more in one build.
Should I choose toughened or laminated glass?
Toughened for strength and everyday safety glass: doors, partitions, splashbacks and shopfronts. Laminated when the glass must stay in place after it breaks: balustrades, overhead glazing and security. Many projects use laminated toughened glass to get both. Our guide on toughened or laminated glass walks through eight common cases.
What glass do I need for a balustrade?
Safety glass that holds together if it breaks, which usually means laminated toughened glass. A balustrade guarding a drop also has to meet separate barrier and loading rules on top of being safety glass, so the thickness and build depend on the design. See our glass for balustrades page and our guide to building regulations for glass balustrades.
Can one piece of glass do more than one job?
Yes. Many builds combine properties, such as fire resistance with security, or laminated glass with an acoustic interlayer. The selector lets you add a second requirement and our team confirms the exact build.
Is all your glass made to measure?
Yes. Every product is cut and processed at our UK facility and made to your exact sizes.
Is your safety glass certified?
Yes. Our safety glass is Kitemark-approved and tested to the relevant British and European standards.
