Impact Glass · Frequently Asked Questions
Impact Glass FAQ
Strength you can see. Protection you can trust. Plain answers to the questions in our four-page Impact Glass booklet.
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Booklet page 1
Impact Glass — Security Solutions
What is Impact Glass?
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Impact Glass is a laminated security glass: two sheets of glass bonded to a heavy-duty polymer interlayer. If the glass is struck it can crack, but the fragments stay attached to the interlayer, so the opening tends to stay closed instead of falling out.
What do “Enhanced Security, Ultimate Protection, Peace of Mind” refer to?
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They are the three themes on the cover of our booklet: making forced entry through glass slower and harder, holding broken glass in place to reduce injury risk, and the reassurance that comes with both. They describe the purpose of the product, not a test result.
Which Trust Build windows and doors can have Impact Glass?
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It can be ordered on Trust Build windows and patio doors, including casement, picture, tilt & turn, slider, hung, bay/bow and basement windows, and sliding or French patio doors. Homeowners usually choose it for ground-floor and other easily reached openings.
Booklet page 2
Standard vs Laminated vs Impact — the comparison guide
About the percentages: 10%, 50% and 90% are a relative comparison scale from our brochure, not a certified test rating or a guarantee of protection.
What do the 10%, 50% and 90% security ratings mean?
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They are a simplified comparison scale used in Trust Build's brochure to show how the three glass types rank against each other for forced-entry resistance: standard glass lowest, laminated in the middle, Impact Glass highest. They are relative, illustrative figures — not a percentage of break-ins prevented and not a probability that a window will resist an attack.
Are the percentages an official or certified industry rating?
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No. They are not a recognised industry rating or the result of a named certification test. Formal security glazing is classified under separate standards with their own test methods and class names. If you need glass certified to a specific standard, ask for it by name when you request a quote.
What is the difference between the three options in the chart?
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Standard glass is a single layer with no interlayer and breaks open quickly. Laminated security glass bonds an interlayer of at least 0.030" (0.76 mm) between two sheets, so broken glass stays attached and entry is delayed. Impact Glass uses a heavier interlayer of at least 0.060" (1.52 mm) intended to withstand repeated blows.
Does a higher rating mean the glass cannot be broken?
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No glass is unbreakable. A higher position on the scale means the glass is expected to take more time and effort to get through. Overall home security also depends on the frame, locks, hardware and installation.
Booklet page 3
How it works and what it adds
What happens when Impact Glass is hit?
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The glass may crack in a spider-web pattern, but the pieces stay bonded to the interlayer. Getting through usually takes repeated, noisy effort, which is what makes it a deterrent.
Does Impact Glass also help with noise and UV?
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Laminated interlayers block most ultraviolet light, which helps reduce fading of floors and furniture, and they typically reduce outside noise compared with an equivalent non-laminated unit. Results depend on the full window and glass build.
Can I still have Low-E coatings and argon?
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Yes. The laminated pane is built into a sealed insulating glass unit that can still carry Low-E coatings, argon fill and a warm-edge spacer, so you do not have to give up energy performance to add security.
Booklet page 4
Annealed vs Tempered vs Impact
What is annealed glass?
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Annealed glass is ordinary glass. When it breaks it forms large, sharp shards and leaves an open hole.
What is tempered glass?
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Tempered glass is heat-treated to be stronger and to break into small, less dangerous pieces. It is a safety glass, but once it breaks the opening is fully open.
How is Impact Glass different from tempered glass?
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Tempered glass is about how glass breaks safely; Impact Glass is about the opening staying closed after it breaks. Of the three, Impact Glass is the one designed to keep broken glass in the frame.
Can Impact Glass be added to my existing windows?
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Usually it is supplied as part of a new window or a new sealed glass unit, because the laminated unit is heavier and the sash and hardware need to suit it. We can confirm what is possible for your windows when quoting.
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