Safety Glass – Tempered & Laminated
Tempered glass is a very common safety glass that serves many purposes. Tempered glass
has specific properties that make it ideal for many uses that could be potentially dangerous
if tempered glass was not used. Tempered glass is designed to be much stronger and less
likely to break than other glass options. In the event tempered glass does break, it shatters into
hundreds of small, blunt pieces to prevent the harm of sharp, jagged edges.
We use tempered glass in all our shower enclosure installations. Tempered glass is also used
in many window and door applications as well.
Laminated glass is a type of safety glass that holds together when shattered. In the event of
breaking, it is held in place by an interlayer, typically of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), between its
two or more layers of glass. The interlayer keeps the layers of glass bonded even when broken,
and its high strength prevents the glass from breaking up into large sharp pieces. This produces a
characteristic “spider web” cracking pattern when the impact is not enough to completely pierce
the glass.
Laminated glass is normally used when there is a possibility of human impact or where the glass
could fall if shattered. Skylight glazing and automobile windshields typically use laminated
glass. In geographical areas requiring hurricane-resistant construction, laminated glass is often
used in exterior storefronts, curtain walls and windows. The PVB interlayer also gives the
glass a much higher sound insulation rating, due to the damping effect, and also blocks 99% of
transmitted UV light.
