What Types of Glass Are Used for Partition Walls?

The three main types of glass used in office partition walls are toughened (tempered) glass, acoustic laminated glass, and frosted glass. Each serves a different purpose and the right choice depends on your priorities — whether that is cost, sound reduction, or privacy. All glass used in partitions must be safety glass compliant with BS EN 12600.

Clear Toughened Glass

Clear toughened glass is the most popular choice for office partitions. It is heat-treated to be approximately four to five times stronger than standard float glass, and if broken it shatters into small, relatively harmless granules rather than dangerous shards.

Available in 10mm and 12mm thicknesses, clear toughened glass allows maximum natural light to pass through the partition while maintaining visual connection between spaces. It provides sound reduction of approximately 32–35dB.

Best for: open-plan offices, breakout areas, reception areas, and anywhere that natural light and visual openness are priorities.

Acoustic Laminated Glass

Acoustic laminated glass consists of two sheets of glass bonded together with a specialist PVB (polyvinyl butyral) acoustic interlayer. This interlayer dampens sound vibrations passing through the glass, achieving sound reduction of approximately 38–40dB in a single-glazed partition — a significant improvement over standard toughened glass.

Our 12.8mm acoustic laminated glass is recommended for meeting rooms, boardrooms, HR offices, and any space where speech privacy is important. An additional safety benefit is that if the glass breaks, the fragments remain bonded to the interlayer rather than falling.

Best for: meeting rooms, conference rooms, boardrooms, private offices, and any space requiring speech privacy. However, acoustic glass only delivers its full benefit if combined with a door frame with perimeter seals — a frameless pivot door leaves gaps that let sound escape. If the office has a suspended ceiling, acoustic ceiling tiles above the partition are also needed to prevent sound travelling over the top. Learn more about glass partition acoustics.

Frosted (Satin) Glass

Frosted glass — also known as satin or obscured glass — is toughened glass with an acid-etched or sandblasted surface that diffuses light while obscuring the view through the partition. It allows natural light to pass through but prevents people from seeing clearly through the glass.

Available in 10mm frosted and 12mm frosted, this is a popular option for HR offices, medical consultation rooms, interview rooms, and private offices where visual privacy is needed without sacrificing natural light.

Best for: HR offices, medical consultation rooms, interview rooms, and any office area requiring visual privacy while maintaining light flow.

Toughened Laminated Glass

Toughened laminated glass combines the strength of toughened glass with the retention properties of laminated glass. It is typically required where there is a change in floor level of 600mm or more on the other side of the partition — for example, adjacent to a staircase, mezzanine or balcony. Requirements vary, so you should consult your local building control officer to confirm which glass specification is needed for your situation. Available in 12.8mm, 17.5mm, and 21.5mm options.

Decorative Window Film

Window film is a versatile way to customise clear glass partitions after installation without replacing the glass. Frosted adhesive film adds privacy while still allowing light through, and can be applied in bands, patterns or full-height. It is also a cost-effective way to add manifestation markings as required by Building Regulations.

Beyond frosted film, there are decorative options available including reeded (fluted) glass effect film, which has become increasingly popular for creating a textured, contemporary look. While we do not supply reeded glass, a reeded window film applied to clear toughened glass achieves a very similar effect at a lower cost. Other decorative films include patterned, gradient and coloured options to suit different office designs.

Which Glass Type Should You Choose?

Use our instant calculator to configure your partition with any glass type and see the price difference immediately. If you are unsure which glass suits your project, call us on 0800 772 3992 for advice.