Tempered Glass

Tempered or toughened glass is a type of safety glass processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared with normal glass. Tempering puts the outer surfaces into compression and the inner surfaces into tension. Such stresses cause the glass, when broken, to crumble into small granular chunks instead of splintering into jagged shards as plate glass (aka: annealed glass) creates. The granular chunks are less likely to cause injury.

Tempered glass is used when strength, thermal resistance, and safety are important considerations. Tempered and heat strengthened glass can be three to seven times stronger than standard annealed glass. As a result of its safety and strength, tempered glass is used in a variety of demanding applications, including doors, shower doors and tables.

Tempered glass is used in buildings for unframed assemblies (such as frameless glass doors), structurally loaded applications, and any other application that would become dangerous in the event of human impact. Building codes in the United States require tempered (or laminated glass) in several situations including some skylights, near doorways and stairways, large windows, windows which extend close to floor level, sliding doors, elevators, fire department access panels, and near swimming pools.

Our estimators and installers are tempered glass replacement experts and are familiar with all the building code requirements that require it’s use. Whether you need tempered glass at your home or business, no one knows tempered glass replacement like The Glass Guru.