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Toughened Glass Windows

Bifolding doors with tempered glass
BSI kitemark for tempered safety glass
Tempered glass with safety kitemark

What Is Toughened Glass Used For?

Tempered or toughened replacement glass for increased strength.

What is tempered glass or toughened glass? They are both the same thing and known as superior safety glass as it is 5 times tougher and can resist up to 500% more heat. There is an advantage to apply in timber or uPVC windows and doors as it can tolerate more stress, higher impact and endure extreme temperatures in high risk areas. It is the better choice to provide extra security than standard clear glass.

To achieve the benefits in toughened glazing, glaziers have to heat annealed glass to very hot temperatures reaching to 650°C and then rapidly cooling it down. This tempering process strengthens the structure of the pane and improves the thermal properties for higher heat resistance, better shock absorption and naturally increases toughness.

Advantages

  • 1
    Tougher Glass

    Being almost 5 times stronger than standard glass, toughened glass will require a higher amount of force before it breaks compared to other safety glazing. Even against laminated glass it features a higher load and breakage resistance which lowers the chance of needing a replacement from accidental knocks.

  • 2
    Heat & Flame Resistant

    The tempering process utilises a thermal method to generate a heat resistance up to 5 times stronger than standard glass. Each manufacturer will have their specification to how much their product can withstand extreme temperatures, but generally most can reach to 250°C.

  • 3
    Safer Breakage

    Laminated glass is held together by an adhesive middle layer. When the glass breaks and shatters it is mostly held in place by this sticky sheet. Whereas, when toughened glass shatters it breaks into many pieces of tiny chunks and falls away. It is much safer than handling or exposing the jagged shards of standard glazing where there is a high risk of injury.

  • 4
    Used In Many Applications

    Toughened or tempered glass is useful in many applications, particularly where there is a high chance of breakage and contact. As well as being used in timber and uPVC window units in our field, they can be found on worktops, ovens, cars, bathrooms as shower screens, balustrades, shelving and used a partition wall.

Disadvantages

  • 1
    Cannot Recut

    Before being prepared for annealing process, toughened glass has to be cut to size. Any cuts after the annealing treatment will cause the safety glass to break into small and blunt pieces. All finishing cuts that are required to attach any accessories or to polish the edges should be done before the tempering process rather than after where the glass can be damaged.

  • 2
    Shatters Completely

    Although it is an advantage for tempered glass to shatter into small granular pieces rather have large shards or splinters in your window or door, it does leave a gaping hole. Sometimes, one pane of double glazing unit is left intact, but if both are shattered then a person can easily gain entry through the gap. A replacement is therefore needed as soon as possible, or the very least a boarding up service.

  • 3
    5-7 Day Turnaround

    The process to temper the glass and to hermetically seal the unit can take time as you need to allow the heating and cooling process to run its course. We state a minimum 5 days before you receive your ordered toughened glass window, although it can vary according to how busy we are. We will advise you approximately when to expect delivery of your order.

  • 4
    Slightly Wavy Surface

    If you expecting a perfectly smooth surface, then tempered glass may not be for you. Looking closely at toughened glass surface, you will just notice the wavy like appearance. The presence of this slight imperfection is due to the contact with the rollers during manufacturing.

To Order Your Toughened Glass Call Us

Tempered glazing service for your made to order glass application
Call Preston

Frequently Asked Questions


  • Is there a way of knowing if my glass is toughened?

    Recognising your glass as toughened is quite easy, you look for the kitemark code in the corner of the glass. The codes are either BS EN 12150 or BS EN 12600. If you see BS EN 14449 then you are looking at laminated glass.

    We normally use BS EN 12150 Kitemark products which certifies as a thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass as sanctioned by BSI Assurance UK Ltd.

  • How did my tempered glass suddenly shattered?

    Spontaneous breakage is when tempered glass breaks for no apparent reason, but it is rare. So, how does spontaneous breakage happen? During the manufacturing process, nickel sulphide stones can form within the glass. When subjected to repeated heating and cooling after installation, these stones can increase in size and eventually cause the glass to crack. Detecting the nickel sulphide stones is difficult as they are rather small. Other ways breakage can occur is from mishandling or unintentional striking of a sharp item.

  • Is toughened better than laminated glass?

    It is difficult to give an absolute answer to decide whether laminated is better tempered glass. It does depend on where a certain type is used and the conditions it has to bear. Each customer has to weigh the pros and cons before making a choice for their application. It is a decision between the stronger toughened glass that may leave an area exposed when broken or the laminated glazing which holds the glass together after a substantial impact, but is not as tough.