Fall protection glass, features and regulations

When we talk about window safety, attention is focused on the window and fall protection glass, with related features and regulations to be analysed and observed. It is precisely the anti-fall glass that plays a fundamental role in the prevention of accidents inside private and public buildings.

Fall protection glass has the purpose of protecting people from falling down or through the glass, and to prevent the sheet from shattering, generating dangerous splinters.

To make this possible, fall protection glass must possess a series of characteristics and comply with specific regulations, which only experts in the sector can handle.

Thanks to over 120 years of experience and professionalism, Capoferri has witnessed the evolution of fixtures in domestic, public, private residences, luxury, historic and industrial buildings. We have learned to merge technical needs with aesthetic ones and have produced more and more anti-fall frames and glass, in line with the requirements, always perfecting the technical aspects. All this is made possible by an incessant research work and by strictly respecting the relevant legislation.

Fall protection glass: what it is for

Fall protection glass is used to prevent possible injuries caused by accidental impacts or acts of vandalism.

The breaking of a common window glass can cause fragmentation into many small and dangerous shards and splinters, with obvious risks for individuals. In the most serious cases, the violent crush can have even more serious consequences such as breaking through the glass sheet. It is precisely the type of impact against glazing surfaces that determines the load they must bear. Whether it is an involuntary collision or a voluntary one, due to vandalism or due to an attempted break-in, the variables of force are many and unpredictable:

• size and weight of the impacting body;
• speed;
• impact angle (sideswiped, oblique, perpendicular)
• duration.

The evaluation of these factors has raised the attention of glass experts , artisans and manufacturers at an industrial level, who today have to make their products in compliance with current legislation in terms of fall protection windows.

The numerous data collected over the years has led to a very accurate analysis on safety and a meticulous study of the best solutions in terms of materials and structures.

When a fall protection glass is accompanied by a performing window and perfectly engineered mechanisms, the safety levels reach very high degrees.

This happens both in the common windows of the apartment and in the beautiful and large windows which give the buildings that airy and bright appearance, so they seem entirely made of glass . Especially in these cases, in the so-called curtain walls, the window must have high anti-fall and anti-breakout requirements.

A Plathèa window, which is a really refined solution for luxury villas or prestigious buildings in a modern style, combines the elegance of an uninterrupted fall protection glass facade with the safety of impact resistance.

If the importance of safety is fundamental in private residences, we can imagine how much more it is in museums, art galleries, commercial businesses and public buildings in general, where the passage of people is definitely high.

What features must it have?

As we have said, the fall protection glass must have specific technical features in order to guarantee the safety of the place where it is placed.

First of all, let’s consider the four types of anti-fall glass:

• laminated;
• tempered;
• strengthened;
• toughened

Laminated glass is made up of two sheets bonded by one or more transparent films. In case of breakage, they have the function of keeping the glass compact by producing only cracks.

Tempered glass, on the other hand, consists of a single, very resistant and elastic sheet which, in the event of a breakage, bursts into many micro fragments that are not sharp and therefore not dangerous. Its characteristics are the result of a heat treatment at 600 ° C and rapid cooling with air, which makes the surface layers compressed and puts the internal body in tension.

It also exists in the strengthened variant, produced with the same process, but with a variation of the cooling parameters. In case of breakage it is divided into three distinct parts. It is not very common in construction.

Finally, the toughened fall protection glass is obtained by drowning a stainless-steel mesh into a 5 mm sheet still in the plastic state. This process is also used to produce the so-called U-glass.

These solutions apply to public and private buildings, villas and condominiums. Combined with a window in line with the aesthetic and functional needs of the opening , they create a product in which aesthetics and safety coexist.

Despite having a similar purpose, these types of glass have a specific function and characteristics that make them more suitable for certain contexts and less for others.

For example, laminated glass is recommended not only for the safety of people in case of breakage, but it is also resistant to break-in attempts. Its structure makes it resistant even under pressure, making it difficult to break through. Therefore it is the preferred solution for windows, railings, stairs and walkable glass surfaces.

On the other hand, tempered fall protection glass is suitable for large windows, thanks to its very strong double glazing.

According to the structural needs and the intended use of the building, the window manufacturer chooses the glass with the most suitable technical features.

Anti-fall glass: what the law requires

European law EN 12600 requires specific features for each anti-fall glass. In fact it classifies glass according to its level of protection.

Its purpose is to have common reference parameters to protect the customer, the manufacturer and installer of the doors and windows.

In fact, a non-regulatory window can represent a real danger inside and outside the building.

Therefore the law provides that:

• doors and windows have internal and external anti-fall glazing sheet, laminated or thermally tempered;
• each window has internal safety glass and fall protection glazing , for heights of at least 4 meters from the ground.

Compliance with the law, the experience of the manufacturer and the attention and competence of the installer guarantee a high level of safety in any context and allow a serene use in domestic or public environments, protected from risks that may be serious even.

Only manufacturing expertise can create a perfect balance between safety and aesthetics, creating glass, windows, stairs and partitions that comply with the law and are perfectly integrated into the style of the building.