Problem
Did you know that many homes built prior the 1990s do not meet the minimum safety requirements of today. Most homes were built using ordinary float glass which is now considered substandard for many applications including installation into doors, some windows, showerscreens and bathrooms.
Float Glass (also referred to as Annealed Glass) is the most basic form of flat glass used in windows and some doors. When it breaks it breaks in long dangerous shards.
Not all glass is the same and the best way to understand the difference between different safety glass types is in the way it breaks.
Solution
There are 2 main types of Grade A Safety Glass:
- Laminated Glass is made from two sheets of glass bonded together with a thin vinyl interlayer, which prevents it from breaking into shards on impact. Instead it will make a spider web break but stay intact.
2. Toughened Glass on the other hand is treated in a heat furnace to make it four to five times tougher than ordinary annealed glass of the same thickness. So when it breaks it shatters into many small blunt pieces.
So if you have a broken window, it must be replaced in accordance with the minimum specifications as detailed in the AS1288 Glass Building Standards.
All glass replacement must be installed in accordance with AS1288:2006.
Where either laminated or toughened glass can be used we will install laminated safety glass. This is so we can install in one visit. This is not always possible when specialised or patterned glass is required.
Where this is not possible and we need to install toughened safety glass we will first measure and then come back to install approx 5-7 days later.
