Security Glass Contractor
Serving Napa, Sonoma and Counties
It’s no secret that most windows can be easily broken and are generally some of the most difficult parts of a home or business to safeguard. Locking the windows and doors is not always enough to secure your property.
When protection is the paramount concern, many business owners opt for security glass to ensure that it is very difficult for someone to break in to perform theft or cause damage. Thus, it is important to understand what security glass is, what the different types are, and how they can protect you.
What Is Security Glass?
Security glass is a fortified glass or glass alternative which is strengthened by heat or chemicals to resist handheld weapons, projectiles, bullets and even explosions. In addition to its defensive qualities, security glass is designed to break into non-lethal granules that are far less likely to lacerate the skin than typical glass. Some security glass will even remain trapped within its frame after being broken, preventing an intruder from gaining access to your home or business.
What Type is Best for Your Business?
Typically, commercial businesses use a type of security glass called “safety glass” to create a storefront installation. Safety glass is stronger than regular glass and less likely to break, or less likely to pose danger when broken. Essentially, there are two main types of safety glass: tempered glass and laminated glass.
Tempered or “toughened” glass is any glass that has been thermally and chemically treated to increase its strength. In addition to much greater strength (4-5x greater), tempered glass does not shatter into large knife-like shards when broken, instead crumbling into tiny granules. This is important, because it can greatly minimize potential danger in the case of a break. Tempered glass has a wide variety of uses, including shower doors or passenger vehicle windows, just to name a few examples.
Laminated safety glass, on the other hand, consists of two or more pieces of standard glass held together by an adhesive layer of plastic. When laminated glass is broken, it remains intact because of the interlayer, which serves as a barrier against intruders or further damage from inclement weather. Laminated glass is widely used in car windshields and commercial storefronts, and once it reaches a certain thickness (around 5 cm or more) it also becomes essentially bulletproof.