Man, Machine and Mother Nature are no Match for Saflex Interlayer
Designing for Security
The desire for living and working in open, sunlit, glass-clad buildings has come face-to-face with the need to assure that building structures provide occupants with optimal security. Properly designed and installed laminated glazing systems made with Saflex interlayer can provide remarkable protection from forced entry, bomb blasts and ballistics.
 Laminated glass is formed by permanently bonding two pieces of glass (of any type) to a tough, resilient, protective interlayer through a high-temperature and pressure process. One of the major benefits of laminated glass is that even when the glass is broken due to sufficient impact, the pieces of glass tend to adhere to the interlayer.
Designing with Laminated Glass to meet Security Codes and Standards
Proper security design provides protection for building occupants in case of premeditated catastrophes. Within the glazing industry, security design generally falls into three broad categories. Each category requires special design criteria for glazing systems:
- Burglary and Forced Entry Resistance
- Bomb Blast Resistance
- Ballistic (bullet) Protection
Burglary and Forced Entry Resistance
Architects and designers must remember that the entire glazing system, not just the glass panel, must be designed to withstand a forced entry attack. Laminated glass made with Saflex interlayer is generally strong enough to deter an opportunistic “smash-and-grab” burglar. Since it cannot be cut from one side, even quiet glasscutters become a useless tool. Standard laminated glass made with Saflex interlayer provides a significant improvement in resistance to attack from a variety of handheld weapons over ordinary monolithic glass—even those that are strengthened.
Bomb Blast Resistance
Experts report that approximately 75% of all damage and injury from bomb blasts can be attributed to flying and falling glass following an explosion. Laminated glass made with Saflex interlayer:
- Substantially reduces the extent of damage and opportunity for looting
- Substantially reduces injury and cost to repair the targeted and surrounding facilities
- Reduces or eliminates flying glass (both in new building designs and retrofit existing windows) to assure protection of nearby non-targeted buildings
- Withstands both the initial blast wave from the explosive event as well as debris that may impact the glazing
Laminated glass is the only security glazing tested that satisfies all relevant performance standards for safety and security applications.
Ballistic (bullet) Protection
Security glazing, consisting of the appropriate configuration of laminated glass made with Saflex protective interlayer can:
- Reduce injuries from a ballistic attack, without compromising the clear-vision benefits allowed by a glass system
- Protect from penetration of high-velocity ballistics (bullets) when constructed in multiple alternating layers of glass and Saflex or Vanceva protective interlayer
Designing for Security in Residential Applications
Window and door systems made with Saflex interlayer are unique products that meet a range of home safety and security standards. Made with a tough protective interlayer laminated between two sheets of glass, these window and door systems even stand up to repeated blows from bricks, bats, hammers and crowbars. Plus, they filter out up to 99% of UV rays* that fade and degrade home furnishings. They also reduce irritating outside noise up to 50% more than ordinary window glass.
* Up to 380 nanometers.
For more information on Saflex interlayer, contact us.
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