Kitchen glass splashbacks need to be hard-wearing and sturdy. You don’t want the expense of having a splashback fitted only to see it crack or break if you accidentally knock something against it.

Damaged splashbacks can be hard to fix. The only way to make a cracked or broken splashback look like new again may be to replace it.

More importantly, you also need to think about safety issues that come from the kitchen environment itself. Kitchen splashbacks may be regularly exposed to heat and steam. Their glass needs to be able to withstand these changes in temperature.

Typically, safety regulations set standards on the kind of glass you should use here. For example, if your glass will be close to where you cook, then you may have to use specially toughened glass that is thick enough to cope with high temperatures without cracking or breaking.

If any part of your glass splashback will sit directly next to or behind your cooktop or oven, then you have to factor additional safety considerations into the installation mix. This is more of a problem if you have a gas rather than an electric or induction supply.

Even a toughened safety glass might carry cooking heat into the wall it sits on. In the worst case scenario, this could cause a fire or a gas explosion if you do cook with gas.

Your responsibilities here depend on how close the glass is to your cooktop or oven. If the distance is great enough for the heat to dissipate somewhat before it hits the glass, then you might not need to add any protective measures.

However, if there is a chance that cooking heat will transfer directly to the glass and make it too hot, then you may need to add a fire-resistant material, like boarding, to the wall before the splashback is installed. This boarding helps prevent heat from the splashback getting into the wall. The material must be fire resistant (non-combustible) in accordance with AS/NZS 5601 Appendix C.

You can have spaces cut into glass splashbacks to fit around your kitchen’s power points. However, you usually need to do this before a splashback is ordered. You typically can’t do this after a toughened safety glass splashback has been made or installed.

If you won’t be moving or adding power points in the area, then you can simply order your splashback to fit your existing electrical set-up. However, if you will be making any power point changes on the wall that will hold the splashback, then you should sort this out first.

The spaces you’ll have cut into a splashback need to be measured and cut exactly. So, at the very least, you need to know exactly where your power points will be located before you place an order. To be on the safe side, it’s worth getting your electrician to sort out your power points before you order the splashback. This avoids problems if you have to make last minute changes to planned electrical locations.

For more advice on how to get a stylish glass kitchen splashback that will stand the test of time, meet safety regulations and fit your space exactly, then contact South Melbourne Glass. Our glass splashback experts can help you design and install the perfect splashback.