Toughened or laminated
Toughened glass is heat-treated so that if it does break it collapses into small blunt granules rather than shards. Laminated glass has a clear plastic interlayer that holds the pieces in place when it cracks, so the opening stays covered. Toughened suits most domestic situations; laminated is the better choice where security matters or where glass overhead needs to stay put.
Where it's required
Glazing in a door and in any panel within 300mm of the door edge up to 1500mm high. Any glazing below 800mm from floor level. Glass beside a bath or shower. Low-level glass on and beside a staircase. If you're not sure whether a particular pane qualifies, ask — it's a common question and there's a clear answer.
Replacing an existing pane
If the pane you're replacing is in a critical location, the new one has to be safety glass even if the old one wasn't. Plenty of older houses have ordinary single glazed panes in places that would fail today's standards — beside a front door, low down in a hall window, in a bathroom. That comes up most often on older timber windows, where the pane being replaced is a single sheet of ordinary float glass. Toughened is made to size in single glazing exactly as it is for a sealed unit, so keeping the original look and meeting the regulations are not in conflict.
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Certass registered · PWF Trusted Installer · £5m public liability · 40 years' experience
Common questions
How can I tell if glass is already toughened?
There's usually a small etched stamp in one corner. If there isn't one, assume it isn't.
Can toughened glass be cut down?
No. It has to be made to final size before toughening — once treated it can't be cut, drilled or worked at all.
Is toughened glass more expensive?
Somewhat, and where regulations require it there's no alternative. For a single pane the difference is usually modest.
Can I get toughened glass in a single glazed window?
Yes. Toughened glass is made to size as a single pane just as readily as it is inside a sealed unit, so an old timber or metal window can be brought up to standard without changing the window. It is the usual answer for a period property where a low pane or a door side panel needs to be safety glass.
Where we cover
toughened and laminated safety glass across the West Midlands and the towns around it, including: