For decades, iron bars became popular as an effective solution against theft and intrusions, especially on ground floors or in houses with windows accessible from the street. Although there is nothing written for tastes, the truth is that today it is not usually the most attractive remedy for the eyes (nor the most elegant). Happens the same with the gotelé (despite its benefits).
That image of bars on facades is beginning to be left behind and more and more homeowners are opting for systems that offer similar, or even greater, protection, without giving up light, aesthetics or comfort. And precisely one of the options that is growing the most is laminated safety glass.
What is laminated safety glass
Laminated glass is a set formed by two or more sheets of glass joined together by one or several layers of an intermediate plastic material, usually polyvinyl butyral (PVB). This film acts as a kind of resistant “glue” that holds glass fragments together If the glass breaks, as they explain from Guardian Sun.
That is precisely the key to its operation. And it is not an unbreakable glass, but a glass that, even if it cracks, does not come off or leave an open gap. The inner sheet holds the pieces in place, so that the window continues to act as a barrier and anyone trying to sneak in will take much longer to get through the window, when they do manage to do so.
Image: Aluminios Garcilaso
How to protect against theft
Unlike conventional glass, which a burglar can break and break through in a matter of seconds, laminated glass significantly delays any forced entry attempt. “Laminated glass stands out for its ability to resist impacts, since it consists of several layers that hold the pieces together in case of breakage,” they count from Cerrajero Valencia.
That extra time can make a difference, as most home burglary attempts last only a few minutes. In this sense, laminated glass does not completely eliminate the risk, but acts as a fairly effective deterrentespecially when combined with other reinforcements, such as multi-point locks or alarm systems.
A regulation that measures its real resistance
It should be noted that not all laminated glass offers the same level of protection. In Europe there is a specific standard, EN 356which classifies security glass according to its ability to resist manual attacks, whether accidental knocks, acts of vandalism or attempted theft with tools.
This classification ranges from the lowest levels, designed for accidental knocks, to the highest levels, designed to resist burglary attempts with tools such as hammers or crowbars. The greater the number of glass layers and PVB sheets, the greater the thickness of the assembly and, therefore, its resistance. Therefore, before installing glass of this type It is important to define what level of protection is neededsince a window in an inaccessible attic does not require the same resistance as one on a ground floor with easy access from the street.
Light, silence and less maintenance
The good thing is that, since it is transparent glass, the house retains all the light. It’s not that the bars completely block the passage of light, but they do limit it a little. Furthermore, laminated glass hardly requires maintenancecompared to the iron of the bars, which if we want to keep it in perfect condition we have to paint it and take care of it against corrosion.
Another clear advantage is acoustic insulation.. And the combination of layers of glass and PVB reduces the noise from filtering through the window, a plus for those apartments in very central areas with a lot of traffic and outside noise. Besides, glass reduces the risk of cuts in case the glass breakssince the fragments remain adhered to the sheet instead of spreading on the ground.
How to install
One of the most common questions is whether switching to laminated glass requires replacing the entire window. This is not always the case, since in many cases it is possible to maintain the existing frame and replace only the glass, as long as the carpentry allows it and is in good condition. This can reduce the cost considerablysince you don’t need to change the entire window. But to know whether or not it is necessary to change the window, it is best for a professional to take a look and assess whether the current frame is compatible with the weight and thickness of safety glass, which is usually greater than that of conventional glass.
Cover image | mdreza jalali and Cabanyero
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