What is Safety Glass?

Safety glass is a type of glass that is designed to be safer than regular glass. It does this in one of two ways, either by being stronger than regular glass or by breaking into small blunt pieces instead of large shards.

There are two main types of safety glass: toughened glass and laminated glass which are considered grade A safety glass. A third type of safety glass, known as wired glass, is also sometimes used but only in limited situations which allow for grade B safety glass.

What is Safety Glass Used For?

As per AS1288 standards, safety glass is required to be used in a number of situations where there is a danger of human impact. This includes doors, windows, skylights, shower screens, pool fences, balustrades and more.

How is Safety Glass Made?

Toughened glass is made by heating the glass to around 620 degrees Celsius and then rapidly cooling it. This process makes the glass much stronger than regular glass.

Laminated glass is made by bonding two or more pieces of glass together with a layer of plastic in between. The plastic used is usually PVB (Polyvinyl Butyral).

Wired glass is made by adding a wire mesh to the glass while it is being manufactured.

How Does Safety Glass Work?

Toughened glass breaks into small, blunt pieces when shattered, which reduces the risk of injury.

Laminated safety glass, on the other hand, stays in one piece when broken, as the plastic layer holds it together. This makes it a good choice for areas where there is a danger of falling, such as in skylights or pool fences.

Wired glass can break on impact but the wire mesh holds the glass in place, preventing it from falling out.

How Can I Tell if Glass is Safety Glass?

All safety glass used in areas with risk of human impact must be labelled. In Australia, this label must comply with AS1288 standards. The label should be visible on the glass and will usually say ‘AS1288’ or ‘AS/NZS2208’.

Which Type of Safety Glass is Best?

The best type of safety glass to use depends on the application. For example, toughened glass is a good choice for shower screens as it is strong and breaks into small pieces.

Laminated glass is often used in skylights and pool fences as it stays in one piece when broken.

Wired glass is sometimes used in areas where fire is a risk, as the wire mesh prevents the glass from shattering completely.