In the field of building security, the safety of glass windows and doors is of vital importance. Ordinary annealed glass is fragile and becomes a target for intruders. At the same time, in extreme weather conditions, broken glass will produce sharp edges that may injure people around. Therefore, it is particularly important to find safer glass solutions, one of which is tempered glass.
Definition of tempered glass
Ordinary annealed glass breaks into sharp fragments with irregular edges after breaking, and these fragments are called “shards”. In extreme weather or explosion events, these sharp fragments have the tendency to fly and cause harm to people around. To reduce this risk, scientists have developed a method to strengthen the glass through intense heating (tempering).
Specifically, the manufacturing process of tempered glass involves heating ordinary glass to extremely high temperatures and then cooling it rapidly. During this process, the outer layer cools and solidifies first, while the inner layer pulls outward as it cools, which creates tension inside the glass and changes its properties. In this way, instead of breaking into dangerous sharp fragments when hit, tempered glass will split into small and blunt particles, reducing the risk of injury to people around.
Uses for tempered glass
While tempered glass has its advantages in terms of safety, there are some situations where it may not be the best choice. Here are some common recommended uses for tempered glass:
Windows
In commercial settings and some residences, tempered glass or other types of safety glass are suitable for windows, especially when the windows are large and close to walking surfaces.
Doors
All types of doors, including swing, sliding, and folding doors, should use tempered glass, regardless of size.
Wet areas
Doors and windows in wet environments such as bathrooms, swimming pools, and saunas should use tempered glass due to the higher risk of falls.
Areas near stairs
Building codes generally require that glass near or adjacent to stairs, as well as glass used for stair handrails, must use some form of safety glass, such as tempered glass. In addition, steps with glass surfaces should also use safety glass.
Summary
Tempered glass has become an important material in building and home design due to its superior safety and durability. Although it is very effective in some situations, choosing the right type of glass still needs to be evaluated based on specific needs.
