Door Safety & Security
Protection from accidents
Where glass is used overhead, at low level, or in and around doors, windows, and screens, the relevant standards must be met to protect against accidental human impact, such as children running into a patio door.
There are two main types of safety glass:
- Toughened glass, which is up to five times stronger than ordinary glass and breaks into small, safe granular pieces when broken.
- Laminated glass consists of two pieces of glass bonded together with a clear plastic interlayer. It cracks when broken but stays in position, reducing the risk of injury.
The classification of impact resistance that should be used is determined by the location and size of the glass. Your local glazier or glass merchant can advise you. If in doubt, request EN 12600 Class 2 or 1 for most locations. Additional considerations apply to glass intended to protect you from a change in floor level, such as that found on outside balconies or staircases.
Protection from crime
Glass can be used to make your home more secure. Laminated glass stays in place on impact, providing protection against deliberate attacks such as vandalism or break-ins.
Laminated glass is available in a range of thicknesses, depending on the level of impact resistance required.
When using laminated glass in doors, consider how people can escape.
Breaking out through laminated glass is as difficult as breaking in, but this can be accommodated in the design of the door frame.
The glass's resistance to penetration can be increased through careful design of the frame and locking system to provide maximum protection.
