Toughened glass or tempered glass is an extremely strong and durable material, and it can be used in both commercial and residential settings for a variety of reasons. Homeowners and business owners alike tend to opt for toughened glass for its many benefits, and in some cases, it is absolutely necessary to use. In this blog post, we will answer the question ‘when do you need toughened glass?’ and read on to find out the answers…

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Doors & Windows That People May Trip Or Fall Into

Toughened glass is up to 5 times stronger than regular glass, so it can withstand significant amounts of pressure. So, it is ideal to use for doors and windows that people may trip or fall into, as it is very unlikely that it will break and injure the person. In the worst-case and unlikely scenario that the glass shatters, the glass breaks off into small glass shards, which cause less serious injuries and damage than the large pieces produced from regular glass.

UK Regulated Areas

In the UK, there are certain areas where having toughened or safety glass is a legal requirement in your home. These are:

Any pane of glass partly or wholly less than 800mm from floor level
Glass in doors below a 1500mm threshold
Any glazing within 300mm of a doorway

These regulations were put into place under the ‘Building Regulations 2010’ to limit the risk of injuries caused by glass. Therefore, making toughened glass is required, as if the breaking was to occur it would have minimal injuries. You can read more about the regulations in the official government document.

This is one of the reasons why it is so important to check that the glass you are using is toughened. There are a few different ways to do this. One of the easiest ways to do this is to check if the glass has an identifier, which can be found on the corner of the glass sheet. The stamp will show the manufacturer’s name and the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) standards. Occasionally, the frame may cover the stamp or it might fade. If this is the case you can check by inspecting the glass, so if it has slight imperfections and smooth edges, then it is toughened glass.

Any Glass Exposed To Heat

Toughened glass is very resistant to heat, and can withstand temperatures up to 300°C, due to the tempering process. The process of toughening glass involves heating regular glass up to 650°C and cooling it with jets of ice-cold air. This makes the glass extremely tough and able to last through extreme heat conditions. Therefore, if the glass is going to be exposed to heat, it is necessary to use toughened glass for safety and durability purposes.

This is essential in both commercial and residential settings. For example, in the home, you might need toughened glass that can withstand heat for glass splashbacks in kitchens. In commercial settings, you may want the reassurance that the glass can last through extreme conditions, e.g. in a restaurant kitchen.

If you are very concerned about your glass installation being exposed to heat, then you might want to check out heat soaked glass. This type of toughened glass goes through hours in a heat-soaking oven during the manufacturing process, providing it with extra strength.

Why Use Toughened Glass

Toughened glass has many properties that provide that material with benefits that regular glass does not offer. It provides safety, strength and durability to glass structures. Here are some of the benefits that toughened glass provides, which may sway you to invest in toughened glass for your next project:

Strength: Toughened glass is extremely strong due to the tempering process. This process makes glass up to five times stronger as well as up to 500% more resistant to heat. Therefore, it is extremely hard to break and may last a long time.
Safety: One of the most important benefits of toughened glass is the safety element. It is very difficult to break toughened glass, but if it does break, it shatters into small pieces that cause less damage and injuries. Toughened glass can withstand huge amounts of pressure, so if someone falls into the glass, it is almost impossible to break.
Durability: A great thing about tempered glass is that it is very durable. This means that the glass will last you for many years, and will not need to be regularly replaced. Saving you time, money and effort.
Versatility: Tempered glass has many uses in both commercial and residential settings, for both practical and decorative purposes. So, if you have an idea or a requirement for a glass installation, it is highly recommended that you go with toughened glass. It is worth noting that toughened glass looks almost identical to regular glass.