Smart Glass IS Safety Glass

Those that are familiar with Smart Glass understand that one of its main functions is used for privacy,  because the glass can change from frosted to clear with the flip of a switch.   What most haven’t fully considered is Smart Glass used as safety glass.

So, what is safety glass? Safety glass can be defined as a type of glass that is manufactured through processes designed to make it less likely to break into dangerous shards. When safety glass does break, it either breaks into small pebble size pieces that are less harmful, as with tempered glass, or it breaks into a spider web pattern that adheres to the laminated layer, as with laminated glass.

Safety glass can be used for a number of different applications, but the most well known uses include passenger vehicle windows, shower doors, glass doors and tables, refrigerator trays and bullet-proof glass.

So why would Smart Glass be used as safety glass? Because there are times when controlled privacy AND safety/security are needed.  For example, Glass Apps sold a Smart Glass window to a cannabis dispensary in Colorado. They wanted safety glass that they could also make private so their customers would not be able to see where they retrieved their products. Well it ended up that a perpetrator decided to break into their store. He threw a rock at the outside windows, which were laminated with a security film, and was able to get into the lobby of the store. He then threw the same rock at the Smart Glass to try and break into the area that contained the product, but was unable to break through the laminated Smart Glass.

To give you an example of how tough laminated Smart Glass is, check out the video below. The glass is being hit with a hammer, with a full-force swing.  Yes, the glass breaks, but it stays intact. No shards. This is how safety glass reacts to blunt force.

If you have questions, or would like to know more about Smart Glass security applications, please contact us.