How To Ensure That Your Glass Features Are Child-Friendly

Glass features such as balustrades, internal doors, shower enclosures or display cabinets make an elegant and stylish addition to your home. However, if you have a young family, you might have some concerns about the safety and durability of glass in your home. 

There is no need to compromise on aesthetics if you use the right products and follow the installation advice carefully. Here are some points to bear in mind for a home that is both beautiful and childproof. 

Always use tempered or laminated glass

The type of glass you use is key to a childproof home. In most cases, building regulations will stipulate that safety glass is used for integral features such as balustrades, doors and shower enclosures. This can either be tempered glass, which is heated to extreme temperatures and rapidly cooled, which makes it up to five times stronger than regular glass.

Tempered glass can withstand hard impacts, but in the event that it does break, it will shatter into small rounded pieces rather than dangerous shards. Laminated glass has a strong clear UPVC layer between the two panes, which will hold the glass in place even if it does crack. 

If you are installing the glass feature yourself, always ensure that you use safety glass and that it complies with the relevant standards. For certain areas, such as high-level balconies, laminated glass may be a legal requirement because it is stronger than tempered glass. It’s also possible that you can use glass that is both tempered and laminated.

If you have any older glass features with scratched, thin, or damaged glass, consider replacing them with modern safety glass. 

Use secure installation methods

If you are experienced in DIY and have the correct tools, you may wish to install glass features yourself. However, it’s essential that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to ensure that the glass is held securely in place. 

For large glass panels such as shower screens, partitions and balustrades, always use stainless steel or aluminium U channel strips of the appropriate size to securely hold the panels at the point where they meet the floor or walls. This will prevent the glass from tilting or tipping over. 

Install protective edge guards

If you have glass furniture such as coffee table tops or shelves with sharp corners, install clear silicone or rubber edge guards to cushion them. This will help to prevent injuries from accidental impacts, without disrupting the sleek appearance of the glass furniture. If you do not want to use silicone guards, then ensure that the glass has rounded and polished edges.

Install locks on glass cabinet doors and display cases

Children are naturally curious, and may be tempted to open the doors of cabinets or cases and play with the contents, or just to make a noise banging the doors open and shut. Therefore it’s a good idea to install childproof locks to prevent them from gaining access, particularly if you have fragile or precious items on display. 

If locking the doors is not a possibility, install soft-close hinges to prevent slamming and trapped fingers, and put valuable objects out of reach on higher shelves. 

If you have a tall glass cabinet, it should be secured to the wall to prevent it from being accidentally tipped over. If you have hard flooring, consider putting an anti-slip mat in front of the cabinet to reduce the risk of children accidentally running or falling into it. 

Ensure glass balustrades have sufficient height

Glass balustrades should be high enough to avoid tempting young children to clamber on or over them, particularly if they are guarding a drop such as on a staircase, mezzanine floor or balcony. They should also avoid having gaps that are large enough for a small child to squeeze through.

If you are installing frameless glass balustrades on a staircase, consider installing a handrail along the top for extra support, and to make the glass more visible.