When we talk about replacing windows, the conversation usually revolves around thermal insulation and energy bills. But there is a parameter far more important than saving money: the physical safety of your family.
We all know how dangerous plain glass is. When a conventional pane breaks (from a gust of wind, a ball thrown by a child, or a burglary attempt), it shatters into large, sharp "blades" that can cause fatal injuries. To eliminate this risk, the industry created Safety Glass.
The two dominant terms you'll encounter are Securit (Tempered) and Triplex (Laminated). Both are safety glass, but they work in entirely different ways and are intended for different uses. Let's clear up the landscape so you know exactly what you're buying.
The term Securit (or Tempered / Thermally Toughened glass) refers to the way it is processed.
A plain piece of glass is placed in a special furnace and heated to 600°C – 700°C. It is then cooled rapidly and violently with blasts of cold air. This "thermal shock" alters its molecular structure, making it 4 to 5 times more resistant to impact than a plain pane of the same thickness.
This is where the safety story begins. If you strike a Securit pane with tremendous force (or with something sharp) and manage to break it, it won't create sharp shards. It will "explode" instantly, crumbling into thousands of tiny, harmless pieces (like coarse salt) with no sharp edges that could seriously cut you. Think of your car's side windows.
In shower enclosures, frameless interior glass doors, glass tables and shop display windows.
The term Triplex (or Laminated / Multi-layer glass) describes a pane made up of multiple layers (like a sandwich).
Two (or more) plain sheets of glass are bonded together using a clear, extremely strong elastic membrane in the middle (usually PVB – Polyvinyl Butyral). The sheets pass through a high-pressure autoclave and become a single, unbreakable body.
When a Triplex pane receives a powerful blow (e.g. from a burglar's crowbar), the glass will crack. However, it won't collapse. The broken pieces remain firmly bonded to the elastic membrane. The pane forms a "spider web" pattern but stays in place in the frame, blocking entry. Think of your car's windshield.
In exterior windows and balcony doors (for anti-burglary protection), glass balcony balustrades, jewellery shop display windows and glass roofs/atriums (so if it breaks, it won't fall on your head).
The answer depends on what kind of risk you want to address.
A burglar loves Securit because one strike shatters it and the path is clear. With Triplex, the burglar can crack the glass but then must fight an extremely tough, elastic membrane that won't tear. The delay and noise usually make them give up.
If a child crashes into the glass balustrade with force, we don't just care about cuts. We need the glass to act as a "net" and prevent a fall. Multi-layer Triplex guarantees this.
If you need a pane that can withstand extreme temperatures (e.g. next to kitchen hobs) or powerful impacts, Securit is 5 times tougher than plain glass.
For ultimate safety in high-end construction (e.g. glass floors, oversized minimal windows, swimming pools), engineers combine both technologies.
They build a Triplex pane but, instead of plain glass sheets, use Securit sheets! It is the most expensive yet the most impenetrable glass on the market.
A modern, safe home cannot exist without safety glass. In entrance doors, low children's-room windows and balcony doors, installing at least one Triplex sheet (in the double energy glazing unit) is the best investment you can make for peace of mind and protection.
Return to category.
Go to categoryReturn to the central guide.
Go to guide
