stronger glass that lasts

glass that’s all about safety, even when it breaks

Tempered glass window is often referred to as “safety glass window.” And for good reason. It’s more resistant to breakage than normal float glass. And if it is broken, it usually breaks into relatively small particles, which are less likely to cause injury.

There are two main types of heat treated glass, heat strengthened and fully tempered glass. Heat strengthened glass is twice as strong as annealed glass whilst fully tempered glass is typically four to six times the strength of annealed glass and withstands heating in microwave ovens. The difference is the residual stress in the edge and glass surface. Fully tempered glass in the US is generally above 65 MPa whilst Heat Strengthened glass is between 40 and 55 MPa.

Characteristics – Tempered Glass

  • Tempered glass is approximately five times stronger than annealed glass of equal thickness
  • Tempered glass has greater resistance to thermally-induced stress than heat-strengthened or annealed glass
  • Suitable for use as a safety glass
  • Tempered glass is also mandated in other parts of the world by individual country regulations or specifications

Applications – Temper Glass

  • Suitable where safety glazing is required
  • Fire knock-out panels
  • All glass entrances and storefronts
  • Extreme wind loads
  • Fireplace enclosures

Manufacturing – Temper Glass

  1. The heating process places the surface of the glass in a state of compression and the core in a state of compensating tension.
  2. The annealed glass is placed on a conveyor. The glass is heated to approximately 1150 degrees Fahrenheit.
  3. Rapid Cool: the glass is cooled (quenched) by the application of high pressure air.
tempered glass process tempered glass process tempered glass process