Toughened vs Laminated Glass — Which Do You Need?
Both toughened and laminated glass are classified as safety glass under Australian Standard AS1288 — but they behave very differently, suit different applications, and have different ordering considerations. This guide explains the key differences in plain language.
The Short Answer
Use toughened glass for shower screens, splashbacks, pool fencing, balustrades, and glazed doors — anywhere a strong, heat-resistant panel that shatters safely is required.
Use laminated glass for overhead glazing (skylights, canopies), acoustic partitions, wind barriers, and anywhere the glass must stay in place after breaking rather than falling away.
If it's vertical and you need strength — use toughened. If it's overhead, or if it must hold together after breaking — use laminated.
How Each Type is Made
Toughened (Tempered) Glass
Standard float glass is heated to approximately 620°C then rapidly cooled. This thermal process compresses the outer surfaces of the glass, leaving the interior in tension. The result is a panel that is 4–5× stronger than untreated glass of the same thickness.
The critical consequence of this process: all cutting, drilling, notching, and edge-working must be done before toughening. Once the glass is in the furnace, it cannot be modified. Attempting to cut or drill toughened glass will cause it to shatter.
Laminated Glass
Two or more panes of glass are bonded together with a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or resin interlayer under heat and pressure. When laminated glass breaks, the interlayer holds the fragments together — the glass cracks but stays in the frame.
Laminated glass can be cut (with care) after manufacture — though this is not generally recommended as it can delaminate at the cut edge over time. It can also incorporate acoustic, UV-filtering, or coloured interlayers.
How They Break — The Key Difference
| Property | Toughened Glass | Laminated Glass |
|---|---|---|
| Strength vs annealed glass | 4–5× stronger | Similar tensile, but holds together |
| Break pattern | Shatters into small pebble-like fragments | Cracks but stays in place |
| Post-break barrier | No — glass falls away when broken | Yes — maintains barrier after breakage |
| Injury risk when broken | Low (safe pebbles) | Low (held by interlayer) |
| Can be cut after manufacture | ✗ No | ✓ Yes (with care) |
| Heat resistance | Up to ~250°C | Lower — interlayer degrades at high heat |
| Acoustic performance | Standard only | Can be improved with acoustic interlayer |
| UV filtering | Minimal | Good — PVB interlayer blocks most UV |
| Relative cost | Lower | Higher (more materials and process) |
When is Each Type Required Under AS1288?
Australian Standard AS1288 (Glass in Buildings — Selection and Installation) specifies where safety glazing is mandatory. Either toughened or laminated glass can satisfy the safety glazing requirement in most situations — but some applications have specific requirements.
Where toughened glass is typically used (and often preferred):
- Shower screens and wet area glazing
- Kitchen splashbacks behind or adjacent to cooktops
- Pool fencing (frameless and semi-frameless)
- Balustrade infill panels
- Glazed doors and sidelights
- Glass within 500mm of the floor
- Outdoor tables and furniture in commercial environments
Where laminated glass is typically used (or required):
- Overhead glazing — skylights, rooflights, canopies (laminated is mandatory so glass doesn't fall if broken)
- High-rise façades and wind barriers where glass must stay in place
- Acoustic partitions in offices and studios
- Security and intruder-resistant glazing
- Glass floors and walkways
AS1288 is complex and project-specific requirements vary. Your building certifier, glazier, or structural engineer can confirm what type of safety glass is required for your specific application, especially for commercial projects or complex residential builds.
Which Does Online Glass NSW Supply?
We supply both toughened and laminated glass online. Most of our product range is available in both cut-to-size (standard float) and toughened options — some products are laminated-only. The product listing shows which types are available for each glass.
We do not supply laminated toughened (fully-toughened laminate) through the standard online order process — contact us for those requirements.
Summary: How to Choose
- Shower screen? → Toughened
- Kitchen splashback behind a cooktop? → Toughened
- Pool fence? → Toughened (usually 10–12mm)
- Balustrade? → Toughened (10–12mm)
- Skylight or overhead glass? → Laminated
- Acoustic partition? → Laminated (with acoustic interlayer)
- Table top — indoor, low risk? → Standard float or toughened
- Table top — outdoor or commercial? → Toughened
- Don't know? → Toughened is the safer default for most applications
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