Laminated vs toughened glass for an alfresco roof and walls

"Safety glass" covers two different products, and an alfresco enclosure usually uses both. Knowing which goes where makes quotes easier to compare and helps you spot one that cuts corners.

The two safety glasses in a sentence each

• Toughened glass is heat-treated so it is about four to five times stronger than ordinary glass. When it breaks, it shatters into small, blunt pieces.
• Laminated glass is two sheets bonded with a plastic interlayer. When it breaks, it cracks but the pieces stay stuck to the interlayer and the pane stays in the frame.

Overhead: laminated is the default

Glass in homes is covered by the National Construction Code's glazing provisions and the Australian Standard AS 1288 (glass in buildings, selection and installation). AS 1288 was revised in 2021, and sloped overhead glazing is one of the areas it covers in detail. The practical outcome for an alfresco roof: overhead glass is normally laminated. Toughened glass is allowed overhead only in limited cases, and in a double-glazed roof unit the inner pane is laminated.

The reason is simple. If a roof pane breaks, toughened glass falls as a shower of pieces; laminated glass stays up.

Walls and doors: toughened or laminated

For the walls, both are used:

• Toughened is common for sliding and stacking door panels and fixed walls: strong, and safe if it breaks.
• Laminated suits places where you want the pane to stay in the frame if it is struck, such as street-facing glass or a pane beside a pool, and it cuts more noise and UV.

Large panes and doors are also rated for wind. Windows and glazed doors must meet AS 2047, with a rating that matches your site's wind classification under AS 4055. A pane that suits a sheltered suburban backyard may not suit an exposed, elevated site, so the rating belongs on the quote.

Double glazing is a separate choice

Double glazing means two panes with a sealed gap between them. It keeps heat in and noise out and is chosen for comfort and energy rules, not safety. Each pane is still a safety glass where the standard requires one. If you'll heat the room most evenings, price it. See enclosed alfresco vs sunroom for when it's worth it.

What to check on a quote

When you compare quotes, the glass line should say, for the roof and for each wall:

1. Type: laminated or toughened (and whether it's double glazed).
2. Thickness, for example 6.38 mm laminated.
3. Any tint or coating: toned, Low-E or plain clear.
4. The wind rating of the doors and windows.

If a quote just says "glass", ask. Our alfresco enclosure cost guide has the full quote checklist, and our alfresco enclosure ideas show where each kind of glass goes.

We supply laminated, toughened, double-glazed, Low-E and toned glass. We list the glass for every panel on our written quotes, and price the job before we start. See our alfresco enclosures or ask for a quote.