Acrylic & Polycarbonate vs. Glass

Safety/Security Mirrors are made with either 1/8" thick shatterproof acrylic or unbreakable polycarbonate. Acrylic mirrors are recommended for 90% of all applications. Polycarbonate mirrors are recommended for heavy-duty applications. These materials are far superior to glass mirrors for several reasons.

• Clarity - The optics of Acrylic and Polycarbonate are almost identical. Typically, Acrylic has a 20% brighter image than glass
• Resistance to breakage - Acrylic is 10-14 times more resistant to breakage than glass. Polycarbonate is 30 times more impact resistant than glass.
• Light Weight - Acrylic is less than half the weight of glass making it less expensive to ship and easier to install.
• Safety - Acrylic protects bystanders from injury. Even when subjected to high impact blows, acrylic (unlike glass) breaks into large, dull edged pieces that disperse at a low velocity. Polycarbonate is also fire resistant. All ASF American Mirror meet OSHA safety requirements.