Tempered Glass: Revolutionizing Window and Door Solutions

When shattered, tempered glass windows can help protect a building’s occupants and equipment from the hazards of large shards of fragmented glass debris. 

Below, we discuss what makes tempered glass different from standard glass and its key benefits and potential downfalls.

What is Tempered Glass?

Manufactured through a process of extreme heating and rapid cooling, tempered glass is much harder than standard glass. Regular, annealed glass undergoes a thermal tempering process that increases its strength and changes its composition to shatters differently. 

The glass is heated in a furnace to over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit and then quickly cooled using high-pressure air blasts. This cools the outer layers of the glass much more quickly than the internal layers, so when the inside cools, it pulls away from the outer layers. As a result, the inside remains in a state of tension, while the outside goes into a state of compression. These competing forces are what make tempered glass so much stronger than annealed glass.

Due to the tempering process, when this type of glass is broken, it breaks into small, rounded chunks instead of sharp, jagged shards.  Regular, untreated glass is known to shatter into sharp pieces called spall, which are a significant cause of injury in the cases of extreme weather or attacks like bomb blasts. Tempered glass is often referred to as “safety glass” for its ability to prevent spall and keep building occupants safe. 

The growing popularity of tempered glass in the window and door industry is a testament to its outstanding qualities. As consumers increasingly demand safer, more energy-efficient, and aesthetically pleasing building products, tempered glass is poised to become the material of choice for modern construction. With ongoing advancements in glass manufacturing technology, we can expect even more innovative applications and enhanced performance in the future, further solidifying its position as a game-changer in the world of architecture.

There are many options to enhance window and door safety in both residential and commercial installations, so the decision comes down to what will best suit your needs. If you’re unsure, contact “Golden Flower Windows and Doors” and our representatives will do everything we can to guide you to the right product for you.