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Laminated glass for added security in residential glazing

It wasn't so long ago that windows in most houses and apartments were glazed with little more ambition than to provide a barrier against the elements and to fit in with the external aesthetics of a building. However, in recent years, evolving legislation in safety and energy management, together with the natural concerns of residents for improved security and noise level control, have led to tailored glazing systems linked to overall building performance.

Laminated glass, combining safety, security, sound and solar control, has much to offer in this modern residential glazing – in either double-glazed (IG) or single glazed format – but it is the added security that makes it truly unique.

Domestic burglary, increasingly common where households are left unoccupied during the daytime or through vacations, typically just takes a few minutes and the damage done to the property often exceeds the value of the goods stolen. Entry by the thief is often made by breaking glass in a door or window to gain access to the lock.

While using a full, anti-bandit glass is not a practical option, the use of a simple 6.4 mm laminated glass to guard such access points provides sufficient penetration resistance, making all but the most determined thief move on to a softer target. In IG units where safety glass is required, the 6.4 mm laminated glass can be twinned with a pane of tempered safety glass (the cushion effect of the sealed air-gap in the IG further enhances impact resistance).

As a security aid, such a unit would normally be glazed with the laminated pane facing the threat and installed in risk areas like ground floor doors and windows.