Laminated glass windows are the safest everyday choice for a South African home, and they are what every Coetz™ window comes with. Each pane is 6.38 mm clear laminated safety glass: two sheets of glass bonded to a tough plastic interlayer. This guide explains how laminated glass works, why it is safer and quieter than ordinary glass, how it compares with toughened and float glass, and what it means for the windows you buy.
In this guide
What is laminated glass?
Laminated glass is made by bonding two sheets of glass together with a clear interlayer under heat and pressure. In 6.38 mm laminated glass, two 3 mm sheets sandwich a 0.38 mm interlayer, which gives the total thickness. The interlayer is invisible once the glass is made, so the pane looks exactly like clear glass, but it behaves very differently when something hits it.
Why laminated glass windows are safer
When ordinary float glass breaks, it falls out in long, sharp shards that can cause serious injuries. When laminated glass breaks, the pieces stay stuck to the interlayer and the pane stays in the frame, usually with a spider-web crack. That is why laminated glass windows are the right choice near floors, in doors and in bathrooms, where people can fall against the glass, and why South African building rules call for safety glass in those places, as set out in SANS 10400-N, published by the SABS.
Read where safety glass is required for the rules, and how to identify safety glass to check existing windows.
Security
A burglar can break ordinary glass with one blow and climb straight through. Laminated glass cracks but holds together, so getting through it takes time and makes noise, which is often enough to make an intruder give up. Combined with good locks and, on vulnerable openers, our aluminium burglar bars, laminated glass windows make a house much harder to break into.
Noise and sun
The interlayer also damps vibration, so laminated glass cuts outside noise better than a single sheet of float glass of the same thickness; see soundproof windows and laminated glass noise reduction. And it blocks most of the sun’s ultraviolet light, which helps slow the fading of floors, curtains and furniture near the windows.
Laminated, toughened or float glass?
| Glass | If it breaks | Where Coetz uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Laminated (6.38 mm) | Cracks but stays in the frame | Every window and most doors |
| Toughened | Breaks into small blunt pieces | Patio sliding doors and some large Elite sliding doors |
| Float (ordinary) | Sharp, dangerous shards | Not used in our windows |
Toughened glass is heat-treated to make it several times stronger than ordinary glass, and it breaks into small blunt pieces rather than shards. It suits large door panels, which is why Patio sliding doors and some large Elite sliding door sizes use it. Laminated glass is better where you want the pane to stay in the frame after it breaks. Our guide to toughened vs laminated glass goes into the detail.
What laminated glass windows cost
Nothing extra at Coetz™: laminated glass is standard in every window, at no upgrade fee. Windows start from R822 excluding VAT, every size is priced online, and all five frame colours are the same price. Many other suppliers quote windows with float glass and charge extra for laminated, so when you compare prices, check which glass is included.
Laminated glass and double glazing
Laminated glass and double glazing do different jobs, and they work well together. Laminated glass makes the pane safe and adds some sound reduction; double glazing adds a sealed air gap that cuts heat loss and noise further. At Coetz™, double glazing is available for R1 952.50 per square metre excluding VAT on windows in the 30.5 mm Standard frame (top hung, side hung and fixed), on top hung windows in the Casement 34 frame, and on most doors. For a bedroom on a busy road or a cold south-facing room, the combination makes a noticeable difference to comfort.
Laminated glass options
- Clear laminated: our standard, for every room.
- Obscure glass: privacy for bathrooms and front doors, R248 per square metre extra; see obscure glass.
- Tinted and solar laminated glass: cuts glare and heat on sunny windows; see tinted glass.
- Double glazing: on eligible frames, for extra quiet and warmth; see double glazed windows.
Replacing float glass with laminated glass
If your house has older windows with float glass, you can replace the panes with laminated glass without changing the frames. Measure the glass size, order the panes through glass cut to size, and have a glazier fit them. Start with the riskiest places: glass doors, low windows near floors, bathroom windows and windows children can reach. If the frames themselves are worn, new laminated glass windows are often the simpler choice.
Where laminated glass windows matter most
- Bedrooms and nurseries: children climb on window sills; a pane that stays in the frame if broken is far safer.
- Bathrooms: wet floors make falls more likely, and building rules require safety glass near baths and showers.
- Low windows and full-height glass: any glass close to the floor can be walked into.
- Ground-floor windows facing the street: laminated glass slows down a break-in.
- Windows near stairs and landings: another place where a fall against the glass is possible.
Because every Coetz™ window already has laminated glass, you do not need to work out which rooms need it; every room is covered, and there is no risk of a float-glass pane ending up in the wrong place.
How to tell if your windows have laminated glass
Look at the corner of each pane for a small etched or printed mark; safety glass is normally marked with its type and standard. Look at the edge of the glass where you can see it: laminated glass shows two sheets with a thin line between them. Tap the glass gently and compare it with a pane you know is float glass; laminated glass often sounds duller. If you are not sure, our guide to how to identify safety glass explains each check.
Laminated glass windows for businesses
Shops, offices, clinics and schools need safety glass at entrances and low level just as homes do. Our framed shopfronts use the same 6.38 mm laminated safety glass as standard, and laminated glass in a shop window holds together if struck, which helps against smash-and-grab theft. For commercial frontages, see custom shopfronts; MC Automations, our parent company, measures and installs them.
Ordering laminated glass windows
Choose any standard size in the shop: the laminated glass is already included. Standard items are made in our Laser Park workshop in 3 to 5 working days, and you can collect free or have the order delivered nationwide, insured by us in transit. Our windows are supply only, so your builder or installer fits them. To price a whole house, use the online estimator.
Looking after laminated glass
Clean laminated glass like any other window: glass cleaner and a soft cloth or squeegee. Avoid scraping the surface with blades or abrasive pads. The edges of the interlayer are sealed inside the frame, so keep the glazing seals in good order and do not let water stand in the bottom of the frame; our maintenance guide shows how.
Laminated glass windows: frequently asked questions
Are Coetz windows laminated glass?
Yes. Every Coetz window is glazed with 6.38 mm clear laminated safety glass as standard, at no extra cost.
What does 6.38 mm laminated glass mean?
Two 3 mm sheets of glass bonded to a 0.38 mm plastic interlayer, 6.38 mm in total.
Is laminated glass the same as safety glass?
Laminated glass is one type of safety glass; toughened glass is the other.
What happens when laminated glass breaks?
It cracks, but the pieces stay stuck to the interlayer and the pane stays in the frame.
Do laminated glass windows reduce noise?
Yes. The interlayer damps vibration, so laminated glass cuts more noise than ordinary float glass of the same thickness.
Can I put laminated glass in my old windows?
Usually, yes. Order new panes through glass cut to size and have a glazier fit them, if the frames are still in good condition.
Coetz™, Unit 2, 84 Ridge Road, Laser Park, Johannesburg. Call 010 412 0062, WhatsApp 076 613 4418 or use our contact page.
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