Glass and glazing has come a long way from basic sheet glass with all of its deformities and distortions, to the energy efficient glass of today which can improve our quality of life. There are a range of different types of glass on the market, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. These include:

• Sheet – the traditional form of glass is now only used in basic, non-residential applications where safety is not an issue
• Floating – plate glass is the most common type of glass found in the residential setting
• Laminate – a number of sheets of glass are bonded together for enhanced insulation or safety applications
• Safety – or toughened glass is found in many applications, where health and safety are paramount, and where the possibility of breakage is high
• Energy efficient – modern coated or tinted glass, regulates the amount of thermal penetration, whilst allowing light penetration into the home

If you are having glass installed in your home or premises ensure:

• all glass must comply with current Australian Standards
• you choose the type of glass based on the local microclimate
• glass replacement is left to appropriately trained glaziers, who have the experience and appropriate glass handling equipment

Find a glazier or your local glass supplier on these pages.