Tempered glass is one of the most common types of glasses used for safety reasons. It is four times stronger than regular glass and can withstand greater amounts of pressure without breaking. Unlike regular glass that breaks into sharp shards, tempered glass breaks into small, rounded pieces that help prevent injuries. This type of glass is found in car windows, door and shower enclosures, racquetball courts, patio furniture and many other applications where people are at risk for impact or high temperatures.
The tempering process takes annealed glass and heats it up to over 700 degrees Celsius in an intense furnace. Once it has reached this temperature, it is transferred to a quenching oven where it is rapidly cooled down with a series of nozzles that blast the glass with cool air at preset angles. This cooling causes the exterior surfaces of the glass to compress and gives it its strength.
During the tempering process, it is important to note that the stresses of the glass must remain balanced. If there are any uneven stresses on the surface of the glass, it will crack or break. This is why it is necessary to complete any cutting or forming on the glass before tempering. Attempting to cut or drill a piece of tempered glass while it is still hot will cause it to explode into fragments.
In addition to the structural benefits of tempered glass, it also offers several other advantages. It is easier to clean, has improved thermal properties and provides increased energy absorption when compared with untempered glass. In some cases, local building codes require the use of tempered glass for these reasons as well as to protect occupants from injury.
It is also a popular choice for home security because it is designed to shatter into tiny pebbles when broken. This makes it much harder for an intruder to gain entry into a house because the force needed is not great enough to cause the entire window to collapse.
The disadvantage of this type of glass is that it can be more expensive than other types of glasses and it can present a potential fire hazard if the material is shattered by high temperatures. However, these risks can be minimized by choosing a manufacturer that offers tempered glass and by having the glass inspected to ensure it is safe before using it.
If you are looking for a supplier of quality tempered glass, consider Swift Glass for your next project. Their experts will make sure your glass is tempered and tested to ensure it’s up to code. Contact them today to learn more about their services or to request a quote for your next glass project. They have a large selection of doors and windows to choose from that are tempered to the highest standards. They offer a wide variety of finishes to choose from and can customize their products to meet your needs. They also offer a variety of different window treatments and blinds to complete your design.