If you are replacing glass in a door or a low window, you will probably hear the words toughened and laminated. Both are types of safety glass, and they are designed to reduce the risk of serious injury if the glass breaks. The way they do it is quite different.
Toughened glass
Toughened glass is heat treated, which makes it considerably stronger than ordinary glass of the same thickness. If it does break, it shatters into small, relatively blunt pieces instead of large sharp shards.
It cannot be cut or drilled once it has been toughened, which is why it has to be made to the exact size at the start.
It is often a good choice for: doors, low-level glazing and other places where people might knock into it.
Laminated glass
Laminated glass is made from two or more layers of glass bonded together with a plastic interlayer. If it breaks, the pieces tend to stay stuck to the interlayer, and the pane generally stays in place.
That makes it harder to get through, and it also reduces the risk from falling glass.
It is often a good choice for: security, overhead glazing and places where you want the pane to stay in position after breaking.
How they compare
| Toughened | Laminated | |
|---|---|---|
| When it breaks | Small, blunt pieces | Cracks but stays bonded together |
| Main strength | Resists impact | Stays in place, added security |
| Can it be cut afterwards? | No | Yes |
Where safety glass is expected
Building regulations in England set out requirements for glazing in critical locations, where people are most likely to come into contact with it. Those include areas in and around doors and low-level panes. Your installer should be able to tell you whether a pane falls into one of these locations.
If you are not sure what is in your door now, safety glass often carries a small mark in one corner.
Can a double glazed unit use both?
Yes. The two panes of a sealed unit do not have to match, so a unit can combine different types of glass to suit where it is going.
Tell us where your glass is going and what matters most to you, and we will advise you on the right specification. See our door glass replacement page for more.
