There are many design options for shelters. You can choose shape, size, extras, and materials. Our most popular shelters—whether bus, sports, or waiting ones — use strong steel structures, glazed with polycarbonate or toughened glass. Choosing the right glazing for outdoor shelters is about more than appearance. The glazing material is critical for safety, durability, vandal resistance, visibility, and long-term performance.
Two of the most commonly used options – polycarbonate and toughened glass- have distinct advantages. This is why we use both materials across our range, depending on the application and environment. This guide explains the differences and helps you decide which is best for your project.
Safety & Impact Resistance
One of the primary reasons for arriving at the decision to install a shelter is typically that you require more protection – from the weather, vandalism or theft. A safe and secure shelter can be made entirely out of steel, and in fact, we do have models that offer precisely that – corrugated steel roofs, steel mesh sides, and a steel frame. However, sometimes this isn’t practical, and you may prefer to provide some visibility, which can, in itself, make users feel safer while inside the shelter. You may also have visual considerations and want the shelter to blend more with the environment. This is where transparent materials are the best choice.
Saying this, when it comes to anything less strong than steel, there is an extra consideration, which is how likely it is to shatter in case of impact. Impact resistance is a metric you should account for when deciding on your shelter design.
Polycarbonate is one of the most impact-resistant glazing materials. It is very hard to break under normal use. It can withstand heavy impacts without shattering. This makes it ideal for high-risk or high-traffic environments, such as schools, public transport hubs, and areas prone to vandalism.
Toughened glass, on the other hand, is heat-treated to be significantly stronger than standard glass. If it does break, it shatters into small, blunt fragments rather than sharp shards, making it much safer than ordinary glass. However, it can still break under extreme force.
What does this mean for your shelter choice? If you are in an environment with high vandalism rates or in a location where vehicle impact is very likely, we often recommend polycarbonate side panels and roofs. On the other hand, if your shelter will be in a low-risk location where you expect little to no trouble with vandals, users or vehicles, you can comfortably choose toughened glass.
Vandal Resistance & Security
When it comes to vandalism, polycarbonate has the clear advantage. Polycarbonate sheets are flexible, allowing them to absorb impacts without cracking and making them resistant to stones, kicks, and other deliberate damage. This reduces repair costs and downtime over the product’s lifespan.
Toughened glass offers good resistance to scratching and easier graffiti removal, but is more vulnerable to deliberate, heavy impacts. In public or unsupervised areas, repeated vandalism can lead to replacement costs.
For public-facing, unsupervised, and urban locations, we typically recommend polycarbonate. For more controlled, secure, or monitored sites, toughened glass is also a fine choice.
Clarity & Appearance
Visual appeal and looks are understandably almost always part of the calculation. On these metrics, toughened glass provides excellent optical clarity and a premium finish. It remains crystal clear over time and suits architectural, modern, or high-end developments where aesthetics are a priority.
Polycarbonate is also transparent and allows good visibility, but it’s not glass. Over many years, it can develop slight surface wear or clouding if exposed to abrasion or pollution, particularly in very busy environments, which is likely to be the case in urban areas.
UV Stability & Weather Performance
Wear and tear from sun and weather exposure is another aspect you need to plan for, especially with outdoor structures.
Modern polycarbonate is often UV-stabilised and performs extremely well outdoors. It resists yellowing and maintains strength under prolonged sun exposure, making it suitable for long-term external use.
Toughened glass is naturally UV stable and does not degrade or discolour in sunlight. It also performs well in all weather conditions and does not expand or flex with temperature changes. These qualities give it a slight edge over polycarbonate, especially in areas where temperatures can be extreme, either hot or cold.
Long-Term Wear & Maintenance
The long-term performance of both materials is great. Polycarbonate excels in durability but can be more susceptible to surface scratching over time, particularly in gritty or high-contact areas. Toughened glass resists scratching better and is easy to clean, making it ideal where appearance must be maintained.
However, they differ in ease of replacement and cost. Polycarbonate is lightweight, easy to replace, and generally low maintenance. While glass is heavier, the replacement cost can be higher if it is damaged.
Polycarbonate is a good choice when low maintenance and high durability are the main concerns, while toughened glass is better when long-term visual quality matters a lot, and the cost of repairs won’t be an issue.
Why We Use Both Materials
The short answer here is that, at Shelter Store, we don’t believe in a “one-size-fits-all” approach. That’s why our shelter designs often offer both polycarbonate and toughened glass options, or even a combination of the two. If they don’t on our product listing, make sure to contact us to see if we can design something that’s just right for you.
We typically use polycarbonate where safety, vandal resistance, and longevity at a lower cost are the priority. Toughened glass is usually chosen for locations where visual impact, clarity, and architectural quality matter most. While some shelters combine materials — for example, polycarbonate roofing panels for impact resistance and toughened glass side panels for clarity and aesthetics, like in our Ruby Bus Shelter. This flexibility allows customers to specify the right balance of performance, appearance, and cost for their specific site.
Which Glazing Is Right for Your Shelter?
To sum this all up, you need to ask yourself:
- Is the shelter in a high-risk or public location?
- Is vandalism a concern?
- Is appearance critical to the surrounding environment?
- Will the shelter be used heavily and frequently?
- Is there any room for repairs in my budget?
If safety and durability are the priority, polycarbonate is often the best choice. If visual quality and long-term clarity matter more, toughened glass may be the better option. In many cases, a combination of both delivers the best overall solution.