Why Glass? The Architectural Strength of a Seemingly Fragile Material
From the Skydeck in Chicago to the Grand Canyon's Skywalk, some of the world's most breath-taking architectural wonders rely on one material: glass. While it may seem a fragile choice for high-traffic or structural applications, glass is the material of choice for engineers and architects over alternatives like plastics. At Glass Floor Systems, this is a core principle behind our products- Learn More.
This blog post explores why glass is the superior choice for walk-on applications and how a seemingly vulnerable material is, in fact, one of the strongest and most trusted in modern construction.
The Strength of Glass vs. Plastic
When it comes to load-bearing applications, glass is the undisputed champion. Unlike plastics, which can scratch easily and degrade over time from UV exposure, our architectural glass is engineered for durability and longevity. The process of toughening and laminating glass creates a product with immense tensile strength. In the rare event of a break, the layers of glass are held securely by a robust interlayer, preventing a fall and containing the damage, a critical safety feature that is unmatched by plastic alternatives.
Clarity and Longevity
A key reason architects choose glass is its superior clarity and resistance to yellowing. Over time, many plastics will begin to discolour and lose their transparency due to sun exposure. This a major issue for a material designed to bring light into a space. Glass, on the other hand, maintains its clarity and pristine appearance for decades, ensuring your floor, well cover, or hatch will look as good in ten years as it does today.
Glass in Our Flooring Products
The same principles that are used to build the world's most famous glass structures are applied to every single product we make.
Our Walk-on Glass: Just like a glass sky bridge, our walk-on glass panels for wine cellars and well covers are made with multiple layers of toughened and laminated glass. This ensures they can safely withstand the same load capacities as a traditional floor, giving you peace of mind. Checkout our Glass Webshop for options and pricing.
The Seamless Look: We understand that a major benefit of glass is its elegance. We use a painted or frosted border to conceal the frame and sealant, ensuring a clean, uninterrupted clean finish.
Safety Features: We go beyond a basic glass panel. Our products come with features like invisible anti-slip coatings and certified structural frameworks, ensuring your glass floor is not just beautiful, but also completely safe and compliant.
When you choose a product from Glass Floor Systems, you are choosing a solution built on the same principles of engineering excellence and safety that have made glass a leading architectural material around the world.
View our Gallery for inspiration or get in touch for a quote 0114 229 1578 or email sales@glassfloorsystems.co.uk