Do Glass Break Sensors Work?

Absolutely. A glass break detector senses the sound of breaking plate, tempered, laminated, wired, coated and sealed insulating glass. A glass break detector uses a microphone to listen for the specific acoustical frequency that is generated by breaking glass. They work very reliably.

There are also dual tech glass break detectors. Dual tech glass breaks detect and confirm both “flex” (impact) and “audio” (shattering) frequencies, allowing it to analyze an event that accurately simulates a breaking window rather than other similar noises. Both flex and audio signals must be detected within a specified time frame, cutting down on the potential for false alarms.

Glass breaks sensors are active any time your system is armed even in the stay mode. These sensors generally have a range of 25 feet in any direction. That means one sensor can cover lots of windows in a single room, as long as there are no doors or walls blocking the “sight” of the sensor. The glass break’s installation instructions should be followed for maximum results.

The preferred mounting location for a glass break is on a wall or ceiling, opposite the protected glass. It should be within 25 feet of the protected glass, within clear view of the protected glass, at least 6.5 feet from the floor, at least 3.3 feet from forced air ducts, and at least 3.3 feet from sirens or bells greater than 2 inches in diameter.

The glass break should be between the protected glass and any heavy window coverings. When heavy window coverings are present, the detector can be mounted on the frame of the window. Avoid mounting the glass break on the same wall as the protected glass, on free-standing posts or pillars, or in rooms with noisy equipment. Glass break detectors should be tested at least once a year with the manufacturers glass break detector tester.