Sheet glass & safety glass
Glass
Float, low-iron, toughened, laminated and decorative glass, supplied in stock sheets or cut and processed to your sizes.
Choosing the right glass
Start with where the glass will go. Safety requirements, the size of the pane, how much light and privacy you need and how the edges will be seen all affect the choice. The table gives typical starting points; we confirm the final specification with every quote.
| Application | Typical glass | Typical thickness |
|---|---|---|
| Picture framing, cabinet doors | Clear float or low-iron | 2–6 mm |
| Shelves and table tops | Toughened float or low-iron | 6–12 mm |
| Kitchen splashbacks | Toughened, colour-backed low-iron | 6 mm |
| Shower screens | Toughened, clear or satin | 8–10 mm |
| Frameless partitions and doors | Toughened or toughened laminated | 10–12 mm |
| Balustrades | Toughened laminated, sized by calculation | 13.5–21.5 mm |
Glass types
Eight families of glass cover almost every building and interior application. Most can be combined; for example, low-iron glass can be toughened, laminated or colour-backed.
Clear float glass
Standard annealed glass with a slight green tint visible at the edges. It is the starting point for most processed glass and suits glazing, framing, shelving and furniture where safety glass is not required.
- Common thicknesses: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15 and 19 mm
- Supplied as stock sheets or cut to size
- Can be toughened or laminated after processing
Low-iron glass
Also called extra-clear glass. Reduced iron content removes the green tint, giving truer colours and a crisper look for splashbacks, display cases, balustrades and premium shower screens.
- Most noticeable difference at 10 mm and above
- The preferred base for white and pale colour-backed glass
- Available toughened and laminated
Toughened glass
Heat-treated safety glass around four to five times stronger than float glass of the same thickness. If it breaks, it shatters into small, blunt fragments. All cutting, drilling and edgework must be completed before toughening.
- Thicknesses from 4 to 19 mm
- Manufactured to EN 12150
- Heat-soaked option (EN 14179) for balustrades and overhead use
Laminated safety glass
Two or more panes bonded with a PVB or ionoplast interlayer. If the glass breaks, the fragments stay bonded to the interlayer and the opening stays closed. It also blocks most UV and can reduce noise.
- Common make-ups: 6.4, 8.8, 10.8 and 13.5 mm
- Toughened laminated glass built to specification
- Manufactured to EN 14449; acoustic interlayers available
Satin & frosted glass
Acid-etched or sandblasted surfaces diffuse light while blocking direct views. Acid-etched satin glass has a smoother, more even finish that is easier to keep clean than sandblasted glass.
- Typically 4 to 12 mm
- Can be toughened after processing
- Popular for partitions, doors, shower screens and cabinet fronts
Tinted & coloured glass
Body-tinted glass in bronze, grey or green reduces glare and solar heat gain. Colour-backed (painted) glass gives an opaque finish in almost any colour for splashbacks and wall cladding.
- Body tints: bronze, grey, green and blue
- Colour-backed glass matched to a RAL code or sample
- Toughened versions for heat-exposed areas behind hobs
Patterned glass
Rolled glass with a textured surface that gives privacy while letting plenty of light through. A good fit for bathrooms, internal doors and period properties; many patterns are graded on a 1–5 privacy scale.
- Usually 4 and 6 mm
- Can be toughened for doors and low-level glazing
- Reeded and fluted designs for contemporary interiors
Fire-rated glass
Specialist glass that keeps its integrity (E), or integrity and insulation (EI), for a stated time in a fire test. It is used in fire doors, screens and escape routes and must be installed in a compatible, tested framing system.
- Integrity-only ratings such as E30 and E60
- Insulated ratings from EI30 upwards
- Supplied with product certification
Glass questions
Quick answers to the questions we are asked most often about choosing glass.
Which glass is best for a kitchen splashback?
Toughened low-iron glass with a colour-backed finish is the usual choice. Toughening is essential behind hobs, and low-iron glass keeps colours true, especially whites and pale shades.
Do I need safety glass in doors and low-level glazing?
Yes. Building regulations require safety glass in critical locations such as doors, side panels and glazing close to floor level. Toughened or laminated glass meets this requirement, and we can advise on your specific situation.
How should I measure for glass?
Give width first, then height, in millimetres for each pane. For openings, measure in at least three places and use the smallest figure, then allow for any fitting tolerance specified by your installer or hardware supplier.
Glass cut to size for every project
We supply glass cut to size for windows, doors, furniture, kitchens, bathrooms, shopfronts and commercial interiors. Choose the glass type below, send us your sizes, and we will cut, edge, drill and process every piece to order in our Dublin workshop.
If you are not sure which glass you need, start with where it is going. Doors, showers, low-level glazing and furniture need safety glass, so choose toughened glass or laminated glass. For privacy, look at frosted and fluted glass. For colour and clarity, see low-iron, tinted and colour-backed glass.
Every order of glass cut to size is checked before production, and can be collected in Dublin or delivered across Ireland.
Need glass cut to size?
Send your sizes, thickness and glass type and we will reply with a clear, itemised quote.