Guide
Which glass should a shopfront have?
Most shopfronts need toughened or laminated safety glass in doors and low-level panes, with laminated glass wherever security matters. Toughened glass resists impact and breaks into small pieces. Laminated glass stays in the frame when it breaks. The right choice depends on the risk, your insurer and where the pane sits.
Last updated 3 November 2026. General guidance only: confirm anything legal with your council or adviser.
What is the difference between toughened and laminated glass?
Toughened glass, covered by BS EN 12150, is heat-treated so it is far stronger than ordinary glass and breaks into small, blunt fragments. Laminated glass, covered by BS EN 14449, bonds two or more panes to a plastic interlayer. It cracks but stays in place, which keeps the shop covered and slows down anyone trying to get in.
Where does a shopfront need safety glass?
In England, Approved Document K identifies critical locations: glazing within 800 mm of the floor, glass in a door up to 1500 mm, and glass within 300 mm of a door up to 1500 mm. Glass there should be safety glazing or protected from impact. BS EN 12600 classifies how it behaves when struck.
Scotland sets its own rules in the Technical Handbooks, and Northern Ireland covers glazing in Technical Booklet V. Confirm what applies with your council's building control team. Employers in Great Britain also have a duty under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which covers glazed doors and screens in workplaces.
What does security glazing add?
Security glazing is laminated glass tested to BS EN 356. Classes P1A to P5A are tested with a dropped steel ball, and P6B to P8B with axe strikes. Higher classes resist more but weigh more, so the frame and door gear have to suit. Security glazing is £180 to £420 ex VAT per m² of glass.
Is double glazing worth having in a shopfront?
A sealed unit cuts heat loss and reduces condensation, which helps a heated shop with long opening hours. The frame matters too, so pair it with a thermally broken section if you can. Approved Document L deals with energy in England. Ask building control how it applies to your frontage before you choose.
What other glass options are there?
Glass can also deal with everyday problems such as heat, privacy and colour. Each option below can usually be combined with toughened or laminated glass, though the glass supplier will confirm what is possible at a given size. We set out the exact specification on the written quote.
- Solar-control glass: limits heat build-up on a sunny frontage
- Low-iron glass: clearer, with less green tint
- Obscure or acid-etched glass: privacy for treatment or meeting rooms
- Fire-resisting glass: tested with its frame, so the two go together