Large windows are a popular trend in the design of modern residential buildings. When selecting the right insulated glass solution, energy efficiency is usually the primary consideration. However, the potential to use glazing to enhance both active and passive safety often goes untapped.
The use of safety glass is mandatory for certain installation situations. The relevant requirements are governed by DIN 18008. For example, fall-protection glazing or overhead glazing must be constructed using safety glass. However, safety glass can also be beneficial beyond these requirements. The SANCO Glass Consultant “Safety Glass” illustrates the advantages this offers.
Safety glass: also recommended for upper floors
On the upper floors of buildings, safety glass is required only in certain cases, such as for floor-to-ceiling windows. Nevertheless, even standard windows can be subjected to significant stress—for example, from drafts, during cleaning, or from children playing.
In many cases, therefore, the use of laminated safety glass is recommended. If damage occurs, this prevents glass shards or pieces from falling and endangering people, objects, or parts of the building below. Enhanced burglary protection can also be beneficial in higher areas of a building. This applies, for example, when potential intruders can relatively easily access windows via garage roofs or carports.
Climate change increases strains
Extreme weather events place an increasing strain on building envelopes—and thus also on window glazing. Extreme hailstorms or objects flying through the air during storms can damage window panes. Here, too, safety glass from the SANCO Safe product family offers a suitable solution.
While glass breakage cannot be prevented in every case, safety glass can significantly reduce the risk of injury. At the same time, its high residual load-bearing capacity ensures that basic protection against the elements is maintained until the glazing is replaced.
High temperatures pose another challenge. Glazing exposed to direct sunlight is subject to considerable thermal stress. Particularly critical are window configurations where part of the pane is shaded while another area is directly exposed to the sun. The resulting uneven heating within the pane can generate high stresses and increase the risk of thermally induced glass breakage.
For such applications, heat-soaked toughened safety glass that has undergone a heat-soak test (ESG-HF) offers the best possible protection.
Price and weight as counterarguments
Despite the high demand for safety, many building owners opt against the widespread use of safety glass for cost reasons. However, they often underestimate how small the additional cost is relative to the total investment in a construction project. For new construction, this cost is usually well under one percent.
Another argument frequently cited against the use of laminated safety glass is its greater weight. In such cases, lightweight, thin glass products like SANCO LIGHT can offer an alternative and help reduce the additional weight.
MINIMAL INVESTMENT – MAXIMUM SAFETY
Full protection with safety glass for an entire single-family home typically accounts for less than 1% of the actual construction costs. The additional cost, as a percentage, is often lower than that of common upgrades to hardwood floors, plumbing fixtures, or kitchen countertops.
Conclusion:
A minimal investment with lasting benefits for burglary protection and personal safety.
