Safety glass has become increasingly popular in modern architecture. It is often used for commercial buildings, residential homes and outdoor spaces, and most industries and consumers can benefit from the versatility of glass.
As a result, glass choices such as laminated glass and toughened glass now blend both functionality and aesthetics to ensure they are adaptable for most settings.
Both forms of glass discussed are considered safety glass. But what’s the difference, and which one is best for your home?
In this article, we delve into the specifics of each type and provide insights to help you make an informed decision.
What is toughened glass?
Toughened glass is a safety glass that is much stronger than standard glass. It is designed to break into small, blunt pieces rather than sharp shards, reducing the risk of injury if it breaks.
What are the benefits of toughened glass?
Strength & Resistance:
Known for its robustness, toughened glass stands up well to impacts, making it ideal for places like sports arenas or around children.
Safety Measures:
Breaks into blunt pieces, significantly lowering the risk of injury upon impact.
Toughened glass is four to five times stronger than standard glass of the same thickness, whereas regular float glass is less strong and more prone to breaking when subjected to impacts or thermal stress. Therefore, toughened glass has safety, strength and thermal benefits when compared to normal glass, and when making the best decision for the application of your home.
It’s additionally less prone to scratches and daily wear than un-toughened glass, giving it a longer lifespan in bustling areas.
Are there any disadvantages of toughened glass?
One consideration that needs to be made before deciding which glass is the best for you is that toughened glass can’t be drilled or re-cut once it has been formed. Any attempt to do so would cause the entire pane of glass to shatter.
Also worth considering is that although the pane shattering into small safe pieces can be beneficial, it can also be a disadvantage in some cases. In certain circumstances, it is sometimes of benefit for the glass to remain within its frame once broken. If a burglary occurs a pane of glass remaining in its frame could prevent the robbery from happening.
What about laminated glass?
Laminated glass is a type of safety glass that holds together when shattered. It is constructed by bonding two or more layers of glass with an interlayer, usually made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). This interlayer keeps the layers of glass bonded even when broken, and its high strength prevents the glass from breaking into large, sharp pieces.
Properties and Advantages of laminated glass:
- Safety: Laminated glass is highly resistant to breaking and, if broken, tends to remain largely intact due to the interlayer, reducing the risk of injury from sharp glass shards.
- Security: It provides better security against break-ins, as it is more difficult to penetrate compared to regular glass.
- Sound Insulation: The interlayer dampens sound, providing better acoustic insulation compared to single-pane glass.
- UV Protection: Laminated glass can block up to 99% of UV radiation, protecting interior furnishings from fading.
- Durability: It offers improved durability and can withstand impacts, making it ideal for areas prone to storms or heavy winds.
- Energy Efficiency: It can be combined with other technologies to improve thermal insulation, contributing to energy efficiency.
While laminated glass offers numerous benefits, it also has some disadvantages:
Disadvantages of laminated glass:
Weight:
It is heavier than single-pane glass, which can complicate installation and require stronger structural support.
Optical Distortion:
The interlayer can sometimes cause optical distortions, such as slight haze, bubbles, or imperfections, especially if the manufacturing process is not carefully controlled.
Limited Flexibility:
Laminated glass is not as flexible as some other types of safety glass. While it is strong and secure, it doesn’t flex under pressure as much as tempered glass, which can make it more prone to breaking under certain conditions.
Heat Sensitivity:
Laminated glass can be sensitive to high temperatures. Prolonged exposure to high heat can cause the interlayer to soften and reduce its bonding strength, potentially leading to delamination.
Toughened vs laminated: The key differences
Strength & Resistance:
Toughened Glass:
Known for its robustness, it stands up well to impacts, making it apt for places like sports arenas or around children.
Laminated Glass:
While it might be less resistant to initial impacts, its true strength lies in its post-breakage behaviour, providing barriers against break-ins or harsh weather.
Safety Measures:
Toughened Glass:
Breaks into blunt pieces, significantly lowering the risk of injury upon impact.
Laminated Glass
Maintains its structure even when shattered, further decreasing the chances of injury.
Seek expert guidance for the best fit
When choosing the best glass option for a project, it’s crucial to match the type of glass to the specific requirements and conditions of what you need. Different types of glass, such as laminated glass and toughened glass, have distinct properties that make them suitable for different applications.
As you can see although toughened glass and laminated glass are often considered to be very similar, they carry many different characteristics. Are you interested in implementing either toughened glass or laminated glass into your home or workplace? Express Toughening manufacture the highest quality glass available, providing the best possible service. Contact us to speak to an expert today.
