If you're looking for new windows for your home, consider tempered glass. Windows made from tempered glass increase the safety and security level of your home, and are also longer-lasting than their non-tempered counterparts. Tempered glass retains its clarity well and is tough and durable in addition to having a wide array of home uses. But what is the difference between tempered glass and other kinds? How can you check to see if you already have tempered glass windows? What are some of the other advantages of installing tempered glass windows in your home? Keep reading to learn more!
Glass is glass, isn't it? Not exactly. All windows are not created equal. There are five distinct kinds of glass, made with different methods and having different features. Each type of glass has specific functions as well as use scenarios that it is best suited to. Let's take a closer look at these types of glass.
Float glass is what you think of when someone says "glass." It is molten glass that is poured into tins or molds to create large glass panels. By itself, float glass is pretty delicate and fragile. When it breaks, it tends to crack into large shards that can be extremely dangerous. For this reason, the float glass isn't used on its own. Instead, it is used as a base to create glass for windows, doors, and more.
Laminated glass is a combination of float glass and Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) resin. The resin is sandwiched between two layers of float glass, giving the glass strength and structure. This makes laminated glass particularly well-suited for use in hurricane and business windows or even car windshields. The PVB resin keeps laminated glass from shattering when it breaks. The pieces break but then stick to the resin. Removal is safe, although messy, and cleanup is fairly easy.
Obscured glass uses features like etching and beveling to render the glass opaque. Light can still get through, which will allow you to see shadows, but other people won't be able to see in at all. Obscured glass is frequently used in bathrooms for shower doors or partitions. You can also use obscured glass for windows in any room that requires a little extra privacy or as an inlay in your exterior door.
Annealed glass, also called standard glass, is slow-cooled float glass that has been thermally treated. The slow cooling process strengthens the glass against internal stresses but does not increase its overall strength. Annealed glass tends to be softer than other types and breaks into large, long pieces. These jagged edges can cause serious injury. For that reason, annealed glass is usually only used if safety isn't an issue. It is cost-effective, so it can be good for larger projects, but it isn't the best choice for homes if you have kids or if your windows are located in heavy-use areas.
Tempered glass is annealed glass that is chemically or thermally treated to increase its strength. The exterior is compressed while the interior is under tension. These opposing stresses cause the glass to shatter when it breaks. Unlike the jagged shards that come from broken annealed glass, broken tempered glass becomes like coarse granules. This makes it very easy to clean up while posing little risk of injury to others.
Due to these safety features, tempered glass is frequently used in consumer products like car windows, shower doors, or as inserts for tables and refrigerator shelving. It's also a very popular option in protection for cell phones and tablets. If you need bulletproof glass windows or doors, tempered glass is what you want. And it is commonly used for windows in businesses or homes that need some extra safety or security.
If you're paying for tempered glass, you'll want to make sure that you're actually getting tempered glass. There are a few ways to check the glass for yourself. Some methods can only be used when your glass is still in whole sheets. But don't worry. If you want to verify that your completed, installed windows are really tempered glass, there are two ways to check that, too.
Genuine tempered glass is marked by the manufacturer with a "bug." The bugs will have the manufacturer's name and verification that the glass adheres to Consumer Product Safety Commission standards. Usually, these small identifying marks are stamped in the corner of the glass. They are easy to see, so if you're buying the glass yourself, you can verify its authenticity. If you're going through a window replacement company or contractor, you'll have to either trust the staff or try one of these other verification methods.
If you have access to the edges of your glass, run your hand along one. Tempered glass has smooth, finished edges, courtesy of the extreme heat of the tempering process. In contrast, annealed glass, while not necessarily sharp, tends to have edges that are rough to the touch.
Looking for scratches and finding them wouldn't ordinarily be considered a good thing. But if you're looking for tempered glass, these scratches are a good sign, indeed. Imperfections in tempered glass are caused by tiny particles that either become melted into the glass or scratch the glass during the tempering process. So unlike annealed glass, which is free of such imperfections, finding them is an indication that you have tempered glass. Because bugs and edges are inaccessible in installed glass, you can use this method to check your glass after it has been installed.
This is a fun way to check your glass! Put on some polarized sunglasses and look through the glass into the light. Tempered glass will have spots or lines running through it. These marks are relics left behind by machine rollers used during the heating process. You might need to look closely and carefully; the marks can be hard to see.
Tempered glass windows are an excellent choice for many reasons. Besides the fact that it is multi-functional and safer for home use, you will be surprised at the versatility of this glass. But that's not all. Keep reading to learn exactly why tempered glass is the right option for a variety of home projects.
Having a window break doesn't happen often, thankfully. But when an accident happens, you want to keep everyone as safe as possible. Pets, kids, and even adults can be seriously injured when traditional glass breaks, both from the breakage and during the cleanup. Big pieces and jagged edges are dangerous for everyone and are difficult to clean up. But tempered glass doesn't shatter. Instead, it breaks into small, coarse pieces. It's still broken glass; it can still injure people if they are not careful when handling the pieces, so take care when cleaning it up. But generally speaking, the risk of severe injury from tempered glass is relatively small.
Tempered glass is naturally strong and tough. It is made that way by thermal processing during manufacturing. This strengthening means that your tempered glass is less likely to break than other kinds of glass. It can withstand strong winds, direct impact from small objects, and even small explosions. The glass is also scratch-resistant, which means that your trees won't leave marks on your windows on windy days. If you live in an area with severe weather conditions, think about adding tempered glass windows to your home.
That same strength can be another asset besides protecting your home from Mother Nature or a badly-thrown baseball. Tempered glass will put up a fight against nefarious characters.
Tempered glass can withstand temperatures up to 470°F. This makes it ideal for scores of uses, including stovetops, shower doors, and more. Whether you find it in your kitchen, bathroom or your windows, know that tempered glass is sturdy. Unlike regular glass, which does shatter when exposed to heat, tempered glass does not. This is important in a fire when glass shards would worsen an already dangerous situation or in your kitchen where constant exposure to high heat could be catastrophic.
Tempered glass can be used virtually everywhere glass is needed. Since it is strong and sturdy, you will frequently find tempered glass in coffee tables, stovetops, and refrigerators. The glass turntable in your microwave is tempered glass, as is the screen protector on your phone. In interior design, tempered glass is required for use in frameless construction like shower doors and glass partitions. Tempered glass can add innovative design features to your home in stylish and safe ways while maintaining its strength and beauty.
Tempered glass is a great way to add pattern or texture to your home. It comes in a wide range of designs to suit your unique wants and needs. Tempered glass can be clear, colored, frosted, or even stained. You can get it etched, textured, or engraved. There are plenty of options to meet all your desires, so let your creative side shine through and create the home of your dreams.
If crystal clear glass is what you want, go with tempered glass. While the tempering process makes it tough, the heat doesn't affect the clarity of the glass. Tempered glass is wholly transparent, which makes it particularly well-suited to use in windows and glass doors. That clarity also won't be affected by scratches or dings. Tempered glass is more scratch-resistant than other types of glass, so the surface will stay undamaged for a long time. Use in high-traffic areas or in parts of your home where the glass will frequently be jostled or scraped. Tempered glass windows will ensure that all your views of the outside remain beautiful and clear for years to come.
There are many advantages to having tempered glass windows in your home. Besides having scores of safety and aesthetic features that make it perfect for multiple uses in your home, tempered glass is more insulating and will increase the energy efficiency of your home. If that big picture window in the front of your house is annealed glass, think about making the switch to tempered glass. Not only will you find that your heating and cooling costs decrease, but tempered glass is the safer option for windows with a large surface area.
Additionally, while tempered glass is not the preferred glass for soundproofing, if simple noise reduction is your goal, then it will do nicely. Laminated glass is used for true soundproofing but is not inherently the best option for home windows. You can insulate your home against car and foot traffic noise by replacing your annealed glass windows with tempered glass ones.
Tempered glass is approximately 25% more expensive than basic annealed glass. Taking this into consideration, weigh the benefits of switching to tempered glass. We think it is worth the investment.
When it comes to building safety and security, glass windows and doors are a top concern. Since regular, annealed glass shatters so easily, it is a prime target for intruders and can be a source of danger in extreme weather circumstances when the glass may shatter, leaving sharp edges that can harm those nearby.
Fortunately, there are solutions to fortify glass windows and doors and improve overall safety and security. One of the solutions often offered is tempered glass. While tempered glass is useful in some scenarios, it isn’t the best solution in others. Here, we’ll explain what is tempered glass, what is tempered glass used for, and the best alternatives to tempered glass.
When regular, annealed glass breaks, it shatters into sharp, dangerous glass shards and leaves behind ragged edges in the window frame. The broken pieces are collectively referred to as spall. In extreme weather or bomb blasts, these sharp pieces often fly through the air and injure those nearby. Spall is one of the leading causes of injuries related to bomb blasts.
To mitigate these injuries, scientists came up with a way to strengthen regular glass in the manufacturing process through intense heating, called tempering, to prevent spall.
The glass is heated to extreme temperatures and then rapidly cooled via blasts of air which causes the outside layers of the glass to solidify before the inside layers do. As the inside layers cool, they pull at the outer layers, creating tension and changing the properties of the glass.
Instead of shattering into dangerous pieces, when tempered glass is struck, it shatters into small, dull cubes which is much safer for those nearby.
While tempered glass is very useful in many situations, it’s not the best solution when trying to increase security. Instead, you’re likely to find tempered glass used in other ways. It’s frequently used in mobile phones, phone screen protectors, kitchen appliances, and vehicle windows. In residential and commercial settings, here are the recommended uses of tempered glass:
Tempered glass, or some form of safety glass, is recommended in commercial settings and under certain circumstances in residential settings, depending on the size of the window and its proximity to walking surfaces.
Any swinging, sliding, or bifold door should use tempered glass, regardless of size.
Glass in wet areas like shower doors in bathrooms and doors and windows around swimming pools and saunas should be made of tempered glass due to the increased risk of falls.
Building codes require that glass near or adjacent to stairs and glass used for stair rails should use some form of safety glass, like tempered glass. Steps with glass surfaces should also be made using some form of safety glass.
Now that you know some of the better uses of tempered glass, here are some of the disadvantages so you can better understand if tempered glass windows and doors are right for you:
As we stated above, tempered glass is not the best solution to increase security in areas prone to smash and grab attempts. Although it is much stronger than conventional glass, when tempered glass does break it will completely shatter. This leaves you even more vulnerable to forced entry since criminals are so easily able to gain access by damaging just one piece of glass.
Tempered glass can’t be adjusted once it has undergone the tempering process, which means each piece of glass has to be custom manufactured. This makes it much more expensive to install than some other options, like security window films.
Impurities in tempered glass can cause it to spontaneously explode, creating dangerous openings and raining glass on anyone nearby.
Since any small injury to the window causes the entire window to break apart, it can be costly to maintain tempered glass windows since the entire window has to be replaced after any sort of impact or serious damage.
Fortunately, there are solutions available that can both increase security and prevent dangerous shattered glass: security window films and polycarbonate security shields.
While tempered glass would require the replacement of the entire window, security films, sometimes known as safety films, are an option for those that are looking for a faster and more affordable solution. They are made out of multiple layers of ultra-thin plastics and adhesives which, when installed properly over the existing window, hold the glass together upon impact. This simultaneously slows criminals to prevent theft and also keeps those inside safe and protected from dangerous flying debris.
Much like security films, polycarbonate security shields like DefenseLite are a retrofit solution which means they are applied over your existing windows. However, polycarbonate shields create a ventilated buffer zone to protect the original glass which saves you the hassle of a full replacement when damaged. Our engineered ventilation system protects windows from condensation, eliminating the need for costly maintenance.
These smash-proof polycarbonate panels deflect energy away, slowing criminals down and causing them to flee the scene. Since the original glass is left unharmed, there are no costly replacements with polycarbonate panels. This is a permanent solution, so the glass is always protected, keeping people nearby protected from dangerous glass debris in extreme weather or bomb blasts. They also provide additional benefits like noise reduction, UV protection, and temperature regulation. Installed by certified and trained professionals, DefenseLite retrofit panels are covered under warranty.
Hopefully, you’ve found some answers to your questions about tempered glass and how it should be used. If you’re looking for a way to increase both safety and security in your residential or commercial building, contact us at DefenseLite for more information about our custom engineered polycarbonate panels.