Adelaide Glaziers: Technical Resource Series for Australian Property Owners
1. Understanding the 6.38mm Composition
In the Australian glazing industry, 6.38mm Clear Laminated Glass is considered the “gold standard” for versatile safety. It is a composite material made by bonding two sheets of glass with a high-strength interlayer.
The specific “6.38” measurement refers to the total nominal thickness, calculated as follows:
3mm Float Glass: The exterior pane providing clarity and scratch resistance.
0.38mm PVB Interlayer: A Polyvinyl Butyral film that acts as the “glue” and safety barrier.
3mm Float Glass: The interior pane.
Why it matters: Because the interlayer is permanently bonded, the glass remains transparent. If broken, the glass fragments adhere to the PVB film rather than falling out of the frame.
2. Australian Standards & Compliance
All glazing in Australia must comply with AS 1288:2021 (Glass in buildings—Selection and installation). 6.38mm laminated glass is classified as a Grade A Safety Glass under AS/NZS 2208.
Under these regulations, 6.38mm (or thicker) safety glass is legally required in:
Doors: All glass doors and “side-lites” (windows next to doors).
Low-Level Glazing: Any window where the glass is within 500mm of the floor level.
Wet Areas: Bathrooms, ensuites, and laundry areas where slip-and-fall risks are high.
3. Security & Impact Performance
While 6.38mm is primarily installed for Safety (protecting people from shards), it also provides a baseline level of Security. Unlike standard 3mm or 4mm window glass that shatters instantly upon impact, laminated glass is difficult to penetrate.
An intruder attempting to smash a 6.38mm pane will find that the glass “webs” but stays in place. This forces a criminal to make significant noise and spend extra time trying to tear the interlayer—a major deterrent for smash-and-grab burglaries.
4. Beyond Safety: Acoustic & UV Protection
Homeowners often choose 6.38mm laminate for its secondary lifestyle benefits, which standard glass cannot offer:
Feature
How It Works
Benefit
UV Filtration
The PVB interlayer blocks ~99% of UV rays.
Reduces fading on carpets, curtains, and furniture.
Sound Dampening
The “sandwich” construction breaks up sound waves.
Quieter interiors compared to 3mm/4mm float glass.
5. Laminated vs. Toughened Glass
Both are Grade A Safety Glasses, but they behave differently:
Laminated: Stays together when broken. Can be cut to size by a glazier on-site, making it perfect for emergency repairs.
Toughened: 4-5 times stronger but shatters into small “pebbles.” It cannot be cut once made; it must be measured and ordered from a factory (taking 3-5 days).
6. FAQ
Is 6.38mm glass fully soundproof?
No, but it is a significant upgrade over standard glass. For high-noise areas near main roads, we recommend 10.38mm laminate or Double Glazing.
Can 6.38mm be used in bushfire zones?
It depends on the BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) rating. In many cases, specific toughened or fire-rated glass is required for higher BAL ratings.
A point of view from a qualified glazier
Since starting Adelaide Glaziers, we’ve done thousands of panels of laminated glass. Although it’s not as strong as toughened glass, I’d still prefer laminated. The only time we use toughened glass is when we need to — for things like dog doors and other applications that specifically require toughened.
Does laminated glass break easier than toughened glass? Yes. A lot easier. But what I often tell my customers is that if your door is going to be broken by something like a lawn mower stone, a break-in, or rocks being thrown, then both toughened and laminated glass will break. So if it’s going to break, it’ll break regardless of whether laminated or toughened was chosen.
I’m known for my straight-up, honest, no-BS approach to selling glass. I’d rather lose a sale than sell my customer the wrong product. Where I will recommend toughened over laminated glass is if your kids keep breaking the glass or if it’s a high-risk area for minor knocks and bumps. If you bounce a basketball — not too hard, but still with force — there’s a high probability laminated glass could break, but I doubt you’d break a piece of toughened glass with a basketball being thrown at it (not with too much force, of course).
That said, my #1 pick is laminated glass. If I were building a new house, at a minimum it should be 6.38 clear laminated. It’s my favourite by a long shot for safety, security, and emergency risk.
For instance, if you have a toughened glass door and it breaks spontaneously, you’re left with an emergency. When toughened glass breaks, it shatters into thousands of small pieces. It might hold together in the door or window initially, but that’s only for appearance — one light push with a pinky finger and it will fall out, leaving thousands of sharp pieces of glass everywhere. You’ll still be finding glass months later, even after cleanup. (Read article here: spontaneous breakage)
The difference with laminated glass is that while it breaks more easily from an impact, the glass stays together. Even if a panel breaks while you’re away, your glass door or window will still hold together.
Photo below
You’ll notice the glass is holding together. Although the shop owner placed wrap on the glass, this is really only for looks — the glass was very much intact when we pulled it out. If this was toughened glass, it would be a security risk and the shop would be easily accessible due to the window being a weak entry point.
