The glass you choose for your commercial building's windows and glass doors is very important; potential customers need to easily see through that glass, while you also want to ensure that the glass itself is not letting in too much hot sunlight. You also want glass that isn't easy for intruders and thieves to break so that they can gain access to your facility. With all those requirements in mind, note a few tips for choosing the right commercial glass for your building.
Safety versus security glazing
Glazing refers to how many panes of glass are used to create a glass panel. Safety and security glazing are very similar, but safety glazing refers to a type of lamination or treatment given to a single pane of glass to keep it more dense. This is done so that the glass doesn't break into sharp, dangerous shards if it should shatter.
Security glazing is stronger than safety glazing; this is when two or more panes of glass or acrylic are laminated together with a type of bonding material. Security glazing will usually have different grades according to its strength; a lower grade of security glass can be good for resisting a rock or brick thrown at it, whereas the highest grades of this glass are meant to resist bullets, explosions, hurricanes, and other such strong impacts.
Reflective surfaces
Glass can be given a reflective surface; this is good for an office building, to block sunlight and ensure no one inside has a glare on their computer screen or in their eyes. Reflective surfaces can also be tinted a particular colour, and this can add some personality to your building's exterior. However, you might avoid using a reflective glass for storefronts or restaurants, where potential customers may want to easily peer into the building before going inside. Blocking their view can mean discouraging them from actually entering the building!
Annealed
Annealed glass is very clear and translucent, so it's good for when you want to easily see in or out of a building. It might be used for glass doors that are part of the storefront, so that customers can easily see into the building or the other side of the door before opening it, reducing the risk of accidents. Since annealed glass isn't tinted and won't offer protection from direct sunlight, consider adding an awning or some type of overhead covering. This will help reduce glare and any heat that may build up from too much sunlight coming in through the glass.
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