Laminated safety glazing
Artglass AR 99 Protect — Laminated Safety Glazing for Art
Invisible, laminated protection for the irreplaceable.
- Laminated: two glass layers bonded with PVB film
- Shatter-resistant — glass shards stay on the interlayer
- Up to 100% UV protection
- Reflection under 1%, light transmission ~97.5%
Made to order at the Groglass factory in Riga — typically 1–2 weeks.
- Thickness
- 4.4 / 6.4 mm
- Reflection
- ≤ 1%
- Transmission
- ~97.5%
- UV protection
- Up to 100%
Some artworks need more than optical perfection — they need physical protection. Artglass AR 99 Protect is made from two sheets of anti-reflective low-iron glass bonded with a PVB interlayer: if the glass ever breaks, the shards stay held on the film instead of damaging the artwork.
The lamination does more than protect against breakage. The PVB interlayer raises UV protection up to 100%, while the anti-reflective coatings keep reflection below 1% — invisible glazing that meets the safety demands of high-traffic public spaces, travelling exhibitions and seismic zones.
AR 99 Protect is available in large formats up to 2250 × 3210 mm, in standard thicknesses of 4.4 and 6.4 mm, with heavier build-ups available on request.
Technical data
Specifications
| Substrate | Laminated low-iron glass + PVB interlayer |
|---|---|
| Light reflection | ≤ 1% |
| Light transmission | ~97.5% |
| UV protection | Up to 100% |
| Thickness | 4.4 / 6.4 mm (up to 13.5 mm on request) |
| Maximum sheet size | 2250 × 3210 mm (88.5″ × 126″) |
| Cut to size at the factory | 250 × 250 to 2900 × 1900 mm (4.4 / 6.4 mm), minimum order one full sheet |
| Residual reflection colour | Neutral green |
| Shatter resistance | Yes |
| Standards | ISO 1096-2 Class A · ISO 18916 · ISO 18902 |
Applications
Best for
- High-traffic public environments
- Museums and precious exhibits
- Wall displays in seismic zones
- Irreplaceable items of high monetary or sentimental value
In the workshop
Cutting & handling
- Both sides must be scored before breaking: score one side, flip, score the other side along the same line, then break.
- After both glass layers are broken, cut the PVB interlayer with a sharp narrow blade.
- Frame with either side facing the artwork.
Complete illustrated guidelines, including cleaning and storage, are on the downloads page. Clean with ammonia-free glass cleaner and a soft microfiber cloth.
Compare
Against the rest of the range
| Property | AR 99 Water White | Lifetime Acrylic | AR 70 | AR 92 | AR 99 Protect | UV 99 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substrate | Low iron | Hard-coated acrylic | Low iron | Low iron | Laminated low iron | Float glass |
| UV protection | 99% | ~99% | > 70% | ~92% | Up to 100% | 99% |
| Light reflection | ≤ 1% | ≤ 1.1% | ≤ 1% | ≤ 1.2% | ≤ 1% | ~8% |
| Light transmission | ~98% | ~98% | ~98% | ~98% | ~97.5% | ~89% |
| Thickness | 2 mm | 3 / 4.5 / 6 mm | 2 / 3 mm | 2 / 3 mm | 4.4 / 6.4 mm | 2 mm |
| Shatter resistance | — | ✓ Yes | — | — | ✓ Yes | — |
| Anti-static | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Cutting | One side (score the non-film side) | Either side | Either side | Either side | Both sides | One side (score the non-coated side) |
| Reflection colour | Neutral green | Neutral green | Neutral green | Neutral blue | Neutral green | None |
| Max sheet size | 1219 × 1727 mm | 1970 × 2580 mm | 2250 × 3302 mm | 2250 × 3302 mm | 2250 × 3210 mm | 2250 × 3302 mm |
| Popular sizes | 1000 × 1600 / 1200 × 1600 mm | 11 standard sizes, 405 × 510 up to 1970 × 2580 mm | 1000 × 1600 / 1200 × 1600 / 1219 × 2050 mm | 1000 × 1600 / 1200 × 1600 / 1219 × 2050 mm | 2250 × 3210 / 1605 × 2250 mm | 1000 × 1600 / 1200 × 1600 / 1219 × 2050 mm |
Optical values per EN 410 (2 mm glass). Standard cut sizes and non-standard dimensions available — ask us for details.
Questions
About AR 99 Protect
How does the shatter protection work?
AR 99 Protect is a laminated product: two sheets of anti-reflective glass bonded with a PVB film, the same principle as a car windscreen. If the glazing breaks, the fragments remain stuck to the interlayer instead of falling onto — or cutting into — the artwork.
Can AR 99 Protect be cut to size?
Yes. In the workshop it means scoring both sides: score one face, flip the sheet, score the second face along the same measurement, break, then cut the PVB interlayer with a sharp blade. We can also have it cut precisely at the factory, from 250 × 250 up to 2900 × 1900 mm in 4.4 or 6.4 mm. Factory cutting is ordered by the full sheet: the minimum order is one full large sheet, cut into the sizes you need. It pays off for a set of pieces that together fill a sheet, not for a single small pane.
When should I choose AR 99 Protect over Lifetime Acrylic?
Both are shatter-resistant with maximum UV protection. Choose AR 99 Protect when you want the rigidity, scratch resistance and feel of real glass — for example in permanent public installations. Choose Lifetime Acrylic when weight matters: large formats, travelling exhibitions and shipping.
Guides
Further reading
- Museum grade
Museum-Grade Glass: What It Means and When It's Worth It
What "museum glass" actually means — anti-reflective coating, 99% UV block and a water-white substrate — and an honest look at when the upgrade is worth it. - Choosing glazing
Picture Frame Glass Thickness: 2 mm, 3 mm, Laminated or Acrylic?
How thick picture frame glass is, when 3 mm or laminated glass makes sense, which acrylic thickness large frames need, and what thickness does to weight and rebate depth. - Glazing guide
Picture Framing Glass Types: How to Choose the Right Glazing
Regular, non-glare, anti-reflective, UV-protective, laminated and acrylic glazing compared — a framer's guide to choosing the right glass for any artwork.
Alternatives
You may also consider
Lifetime Acrylic
Museum-grade acrylic that stays crystal clear
- UV
- ~99%
- Reflection
- ≤ 1.1%
- Thickness
- 3 / 4.5 / 6 mm
AR 99 Water White
The clearest museum-grade glass on the market
- UV
- 99%
- Reflection
- ≤ 1%
- Thickness
- 2 mm
AR 92
Near-invisible glass with elevated UV protection
- UV
- ~92%
- Reflection
- ≤ 1.2%
- Thickness
- 2 / 3 mm
Get pricing for AR 99 Protect
Build a structured quote request — sheet sizes, box quantities, cut-to-size pieces — and we respond with pricing and availability within one business day.