Bullet resistant glass is designed to withstand one or several rounds of bullets depending on the thickness of the glass and the weapon being fired at it. While often referred to as bullet-proof glass, that is a misnomer. So what gives bullet-resistant glass the ability to stop bullets?

Through a process of lamination, a polycarbonate material is layered between sheets of glass which are then bonded together. A bullet fired at a sheet of bullet-resistant glass will pierce the outer layer of glass, but the layered polycarbonate material will absorb the bullets energy and stop it before it exits the final layer. The ability of bullet-resistant glass to stop a bullet is determined by the thickness and specific makeup of the glass. Since the bullets from handguns and rifles vary greatly in their force and penetrating power, each application needs to be designed to meet those specific requirements.

Best Glass has been helping businesses by providing bullet resistant glass for their commercial windows and doors since 2002. We’ll be happy to have one of our knowledgeable glaziers look at your location and offer you a number of options so that you can make the most informed decision possible. Your safety and security are our number one priority.

To speak with one of our experts today, call 510-708-7064 / (415)654-2015 Or you can contact us online:

A somewhat generic term, High Performance Glass refers to glazing that is utilized for its performance capabilities rather than just its aesthetic qualities. Performance requirements may include impact resistance, heat gain, reflectivity, privacy, acoustical, fire rating, safety or its ability to shed water spots and dirt accumulation.

Manufacturers meet these requirements in a number of different ways. Solar heat gain for example is controlled through the use of various Low-E (also called spectrally selective) coatings. Impact resistant glass is accomplished by laminating multiple layers of glass together with a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) inner-layer. Laminated glass can be engineered to provide for bullet and blast resistance as well.

Other ways to create High Performance Glass is through Electrically charged inner-layers, ceramic pattern applications and chemical etching. These options can all provide a wide range of custom applications, color, graphics and privacy too.

Spandrel glass is a heat processed glass with a ceramic frit permanently fused to the surface of the glass. Heat strengthening allows spandrel glass to be twice as strong as annealed glass. When tempered, spandrel glass is five times stronger than annealed glass and is more resistant to thermal stresses as well. Available in monolithic, laminated and insulating units, spandrel glass is widely used for building non-vision areas to mask construction materials. When used in curtain-wall systems along with vision glass, spandrel glass can help create the illusion that a building is constructed entirely of vision glass.

Available in several colors including black and white, spandrel glass is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Whether you’re designing a new building, refurbishing an existing building or just replacing a broken piece of spandrel, we can help Best Glass has been installing spandrel glass in numerous applications since 2002. Working with business owners and contractors alike, we’ve been able to able to meet any design challenge that has been presented to us.

To speak with one of our experts today, call 510-708-7064 / (415)654-2015 Or you can contact us online:

Nothing is more attractive and inviting than an all glass entrance door. Retail businesses that rely on high visibility find frameless glass doors to be the answer. Whether it’s an executive office, mall storefront, or custom home application, frameless glass doors provide a more open, light filled appearance while making a bold design statement. With a wide variety of metal and hardware finishes, you can create a look that’s uniquely yours.

While Blast Resistant window systems have been used by the military for years in hostile locations, only recently have they been specified for installations here in the United States. The events of Oklahoma City and 9/11 have forever changed how we look at security and occupant safety.

While specifications can vary depending on the application, blast resistant systems consist of heavy duty aluminum extrusions loaded with steel and secured with specially designed anchoring systems. The glazing is typically made up of two different types of glass fabricated into a dual pane insulated unit. The outboard lite is usually tempered and can withstand initial forces before breaking. The inboard lite is a laminated glass with a thicker than normal inner-layer of a PVB (polyvinyl butyral). This inboard lite can break and deform without allowing glass fragments to enter the interior space.