10 Benefits of Toughened Glass

Have you ever wondered about the different types of glass there are in your home? How they are safe, sturdy and strong, despite the pressure that’s put on them? It’s likely that it’s toughened glass, also known as tempered glass, and there are multiple benefits to using this glass type in and around your home. 

Oven doors, shower screens, glass doors and many other things are created using toughened glass. But what makes it different to other glass? 

How toughened glass is manufactured

Toughened glass is made from standard glass which has undergone thermal tempering. This tempering furnace heats the glass to around 650°C after this it is rapidly cooled. This process is called quenching and it’s how the glass becomes hardened making it much stronger. 

10 Benefits of toughened glass

Strength

 

The most notable benefit of toughened glass is its strength. Compared with a standard glass of the same size and thickness it is four or five times stronger, which mean it requires huge amounts of force to break. 

Safety

In the unusual instance where toughened glass is broken, the glass shatters into small and even pieces, rather than sharp shards of glass which are hazardous to handle. These tiny pieces of glass aren’t sharp or jagged, so there is less chance of injury when cleaning it up. 

Heat resistant

Tempered glass can withstand temperatures of up to 250°C, which allows for greater safety in the event of a fire. Tempered glass is used in schools, high-rise apartments, offices and government buildings for this reason. 

Double glazing toughened glass is a great choice for heat insulation in the home too, which can help to reduce the cost of heating bills in winter too.  

Little change 

Whilst the glass is toughened during the quenching process, the glass does little change but get stronger. The colour, light transmission, composition and clarity of the glass does not change in this process. 

Sound reduction

Toughened glass is the ideal choice for those who would like to keep noise out or contained within a space. Compared with standard glass, toughened glass has nearly twice as much soundproofing ability. Soundproofing glass is ideal for use in studios, gyms, cinemas or restaurants where sound reduction is paramount. 

Can be coloured 

Another great benefit of toughened glass is that it can be painted to a RAL colour, so if coloured glass is something you’d like it can be done. This makes it a great option for those who would like the look of a glass wall, but would like a little privacy too. 

UV Protection

Typically tempered glass has an SPF of around 16 as it absorbs 65% of UV rays. What’s more, you can increase the SPF of the glass by oping for tinted finishes on the glass, the colours grey or bronze will block more UV rays. 

Durable 

The quenching process of toughened glass means that is structurally stronger and less likely to break. This makes tempered glass a great choice for home design aspects such as glass worktops or kitchen splashbacks, shower screens and glass tables. This toughened glass process ensures it is five times stronger and more durable than untoughened glass. 

Resistant to impact 

Like we mentioned above the glass is stronger and more durable, and it’s also more resistant to impact compared with ordinary glass. This makes it a great choice for many different situations, whether its in the home or in commercial properties or used in society, such as bus shelters. 

Versatile

The final benefit of toughened glass is that it’s incredibly versatile and can be used in a manner of different ways. It can be used on a variety of different furniture pieces in the home, can help to modernise the home when used on staircases or balconies. What’s more, the way the glass is treated with acid ensures that it’s incredibly easy to clean, making it ideal for use in the home. 

Are there disadvantages to toughened glass?

Like anything, of course there are downsides to consider, it’s just whether you consider these disadvantages more of a hindrance than the benefits. 

Toughened glass can’t be re-cut or drilled once it has been quenched, otherwise it would shatter. This means you have to ensure you get the right shape before it is toughened. 

In the unlikely event that the glass does break, the whole pane will shatter when broken.