Laminated glass is a composite product made by bonding two or more sheets of glass with an interlayer (typically PVB or similar) between them. When it breaks, the fragments are held together by the interlayer rather than flying off in dangerous shards. This greatly improves occupant safety. At AIS Glass, our LamiSafe-LT range is designed for heavy-vehicle like bus windshields (including buses) and offers added benefits: enhanced acoustic insulation, UV-ray blocking, high structural integrity, and enhanced driver visibility. In the context of buses, the front windshield is critical: it protects the driver and passengers from external impacts (stones, debris) and, in a crash, its laminated nature helps prevent full penetration and maintains roof support and integrity. For these reasons, laminated glazing is the preferred choice for bus windshields, and AIS supplies this in our mass-transport segment.

Yes, beyond normal glazing performance, bus glass must also support safety during accidents and emergencies . The bus body design standard AIS-052 states that emergency windows or hatches should be made of readily breakable safety glass and must provide a device to break the glass in an evacuation scenario. Additionally, IS 2553 (Part 2) includes tests for resistance to high temperature, humidity, and fire rating for laminated or composite glazing used in road transport. At AIS Glass, our bus-grade laminated windshields and tempered side/back windows are manufactured to meet these kinds of durability and safety criteria. While fire-retardant glazing is less common in standard bus window applications compared to building glass, we ensure our glass meets the mechanical and environmental tests required for road-transport safety, and we work with OEMs to integrate appropriate glazing solutions for emergency exits or special-application buses.

While the exact nominal thickness of glass for bus depends on vehicle design, curvature, size and glazing location, the codes give minimums. AIS-052 states that the minimum glazing thickness for windows should be as per IS 2553 (Part-2) as amended from time to time. IS 2553 (Part 2) itself provides thickness ranges for laminated and toughened panes depending on nominal class. At AIS Glass, we supply bus windscreens (laminated) in glass typically built to OEM-specified thicknesses that meet IS requirements. For example, laminated construction in heavy vehicles often uses 6 mm + 0.76 mm PVB + 6 mm or higher, depending on size/curvature. For side & rear windows, thicknesses might be typically between 4 mm and 6 mm as required. We always recommend following OEM and regulatory guidelines, and our engineering team works with bus manufacturers to specify the correct thickness for safe operation, optical clarity and durability.

Yes, emergency exits in buses are explicitly covered under AIS-052 and its amendments. The standard states that windows designated as emergency exits must use "readily breakable safety glass" and that, for fixed-glass emergency exits, a device, such as a hammer, must be provided adjacent to the window, accessible from inside and, must also be accessible from the outside when required. It further indicates that escape hatches may be made of ejectable, hinged, or breakable safety glass and must allow easy operation from inside and/or outside. At AIS Glass, for bus applications, we supply laminated or tempered glass solutions that can be engineered for breakability where required, and we support the integration of OEM-specified breaking devices.