Front Door Security #3 – Glass & Glazing

Front Door Security #1 – The Front Door
Front Door Security #2 – Hinges

If you choose a new front door with glazing, then you need to consider the security and safety of your front door’s window. Most front doors will come with several glass options – not just design, but glass type. Each glass type has it’s own benefits – some are beneficial for energy efficiency, some for UV protection, some for safety and some for security.
All modern front doors with glazing should use double-glazing to ensure your home stays warm. In addition to double-glazing, you can choose from the following security glasses:

1) Tempered Glass

Tempered glass is sometimes known as toughened glass. As this name suggests, the glass is tougher than standard glass. The glass is made by heating the surface and then cooling it again very quickly. This process increases the compression and tension, resulting in a glass that is four times stronger than standard glass. This tough glass is also used for safety purposes, for when it is broken it shatters in to blunt cubes instead of sharp shards.

2) Laminated Glass

The more popular security glass is laminated glass. This is more popular due to the fact that when it is broken, the glass shards remain stuck to a plastic sheet in the centre of the glass, which remains as a barrier preventing access. The glass is created by fusing a sheet of plastic in the centre of two panes of glass, creating an invisible core that cannot be easily penetrated.