Choosing the right glazing is critical for preventing glass breakage and keeping properties safe, secure, and looking professional. Whether it’s to deter break-ins, reduce vandalism, avoid costly maintenance, or eliminate the need for temporary plywood coverings, break-resistant glass solutions provide peace of mind.

Watch our Break the Glass Demonstration:

Why Break-Resistant Glass Matters

• Security – Protects against break-and-enter attempts
• Durability – Reduces costly replacements and downtime
• Appearance – Avoids unsightly plywood or damaged glazing
• Safety – Provides stronger resistance against impact and vandalism

Considerations

• Toughness – how easily does it break?
• Aesthetics – does the building still look inviting?
• Scratch resistance – after cleaning, or in a school, how easily does it scratch?  
• Durability – how long will the sealed unit last before moisture might accumulate, and will the materials degrade?
• Burglary resistance – how important is it to keep people out of the building?
• Cleanability – how often and how difficult is it to access the glass?
• Cost – what is the relevant cost of the various options?

Solutions for Preventing Glass Breakage

Below is a comparison of the most common glazing and screen options used in schools and high-risk or remote locations.

Solution to Avoid Glass Breakage	Ability to Prevent Glass Breakage	Visibility	Cleanability	Warranty*	Relative Cost
12.6mm Laminated Tempered (exterior lite)	Good   (very difficult to break and enter due to laminated layer)	Excellent   (some distortion may be present, but still very good aesthetics)	Excellent	Excellent (20 year warranty on sealed unit for residential / 10 year for commercial/multi-family)	High
6 mm Tempered (exterior lite)	Very good	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent   (20 year warranty on sealed unit for residential / 10 year for commercial/multi-family)	Medium
8 mm Tempered (exterior lite)	Very good	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent (20 year warranty on sealed unit for residential / 10 year for commercial/multi-family)	High
Expanded Metal Mesh (traditional steel security screen)	Excellent	Poor (Does not look as inviting)	Difficult	Very Good	High
Steel Security Screen   (resembles a bug screen)	Excellent	Very Good (much improved over Expanded Mesh but less inviting from exterior view)	Good (hinged screens make cleaning much easier)	Very Good (10 years on screen; 20 years on sealed unit for residential / 10 years for commercial / multi-family)	Very High
Polycarbonate Sealed Unit   (a clear, virtually unbreakable material made into a dual or triple sealed unit)	Excellent (incredibly difficult to break)	Good   (scratches may mar vision – resistance to yellowing has improved due to protective coatings)	Good   (scratches more easily than glass)	Limited Data   (Product is quite new. Currently, 5 year limited warranty on polycarbonate sealed unit; limited Low-E coating options –  less ability to control R-value and Solar Heat Gain)	Extremely high
Polycarbonate Sull Sash (a clear, virtually unbreakable screen on the exterior or interior)	Excellent (incredibly difficult to break)	Good   (scratches more easily than glass – resistance to yellowing has improved due to protective coatings)	Average   (more difficult to clean the glass behind the sull sash)	Very Good (7 years on polycarbonate; 20 years on sealed unit for residential / 10 years for commercial / multi-family)	Medium-High

*Note warranties vary by specific brand and represent best available industry information.

Choosing the Right Solution

The best glazing choice depends on your specific application:

• Single Family Homes:  Homeowners may have certain windows where they wish to have higher security (such as basement windows).  Laminated glass is a good option to prevent break & enters, while balancing excellent longevity and appearance.  This also has a very wide range of Low-E coatings available for R-value and solar heat gain controls.
• Schools / Multi-Family Housing: Thick 6-8 mm tempered glazing balances strength, longevity and appearance.  Glass breakage will be minimized due to the thickness and tempering.  The sealed unit will be in place for many years without accumulating moisture.  Aesthetics are appealing, as the building still looks welcoming.  The tempering is a safer solution around children in the case that the glass does break.  Performance of the building envelope can be maximized, as there is a full range of Low-E coatings available for R-value and solar heat gain.
• High-Vandalism Areas: Polycarbonate Sull Sashes or Steel Security Screens for maximum impact resistance, with a tempered sealed unit to the interior for thermal performance and durability.  Although there is an aesthetic and cleanability compromise, glass breakage is enormously reduced, without compromising the seal of the insulating glass. 
• Remote Locations: Layered protection (e.g., Steel Security Screen + Tempered/Laminated Glass, or Polycarbonate Sull Sashes + Tempered/Laminated Glass) to minimize downtime and repairs

There is no “one size fits all” approach, but with careful consideration of the alternatives, you can find a suitable option that checks the boxes!