Safety mirrors for bathrooms and commercial premises

Large mirrors are a staple of interior design. In bathrooms, hotels, spa areas and public buildings, they fulfil far more than their traditional function: they make rooms appear larger, reflect light and can even become a defining feature of the space. However, as mirror surfaces become larger and are used in new ways, the safety requirements for them are also increasing. New laminated glass mirrors such as ‘Stratobel Mirox’ from AGC Glass Europe combine the design possibilities of traditional mirrors with the safe breakage behaviour of laminated safety glass.

In the bathroom, mirrors were long considered a clearly defined fixture mounted above the washbasin. Today, mirrored surfaces span the entire width of washbasins, extend from floor to ceiling or cover entire walls. In bathrooms in particular, this can enhance the perception of space: reflections create optical depth, natural and artificial light is reflected back into the room, and wall surfaces recede visually. However, as the scale changes, so too does the technical assessment: a small mirror surface mounted above the washbasin must be assessed differently in terms of safety than a floor-to-ceiling mirrored wall, whether in a bathroom or in an area with footfall and traffic. For accessible glazing in public and commercial areas, relevant requirements are set out in standards such as DIN 18008. Instead of conventional mirrors, safety laminated glass mirrors are used here, in which the glass shards adhere to the interlayer in the event of breakage.

Safety becomes part of the design

‘Stratobel Mirox’ from AGC Glass Europe is aesthetically indistinguishable from a conventional Mirox mirror, but utilises a laminated glass construction. This allows larger mirror walls and other reflective elements to be installed with a clearly defined level of safety. Large-scale wall cladding in bathrooms and wellness areas is a possibility. In corridors, foyers, lifts or other high-traffic indoor spaces such as fitness centres, ‘Stratobel Mirox’ laminated glass mirrors can also be used specifically to guide light and enhance both the visual and functional aspects of a space. Depending on the application, AGC Glass Europe offers the laminated glass mirror in two variants. ‘Stratobel Mirox Mono’ combines a mirror pane with a float glass pane. This construction is particularly suitable for reflective wall cladding. ‘Stratobel Mirox Duo’, on the other hand, consists of two sheets of mirror glass. This allows, for example, the creation of partition walls that function as mirrors on both sides. For interior designers, the second variant in particular opens up additional possibilities: the mirror no longer needs to be mounted on a solid wall, but can itself become an integral part of a space-defining structure.

Defined breakage behaviour

Both variants are laminated with one or two special PVB interlayers offering high adhesion. With a single interlayer, Stratobel Mirox achieves Class 2B2 in accordance with EN 12600, a safety class that is relevant, for example, for wall cladding subject to impact in commercial settings. With two interlayers, it additionally achieves Class P2A in accordance with EN 356 for resistance to penetration or break-through. The laminated glass mirror thus exceeds the safety requirements set out in EN 1036-1 for a standard mirror. A copper- and lead-free protective coating on the silver layer ensures health protection and durability, emitting only very low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde. Stratobel Mirox is available in four thicknesses (33.1, 33.2) and bears the CE marking in accordance with the harmonised standard EN 14449:2005.

Further information on mirrors, designer glass and other products from AGC Glass Europe can be found at www.agc-yourglass.com or directly in the shop at www.agc-store.com.