Whenever we consider installing glass railings into any home or large commercial building, this question always arises in mind, which type of glass panel should I buy for my glass railing system? Tempered and Laminated are the most common options, both offer different advantages according to their manufacturing purposes, but most people are not able to summarize a comprehensive comparison between these two types of glass.
So here we’ll give you a one line answer before going to a detailed guideline. Tempered glass panels are typically the perfect option for residential uses, while laminated glass panels are most likely used in commercial buildings and projects. Although we’ll always recommend you to search your local building codes from your local or city officials as many localities like Florida or other areas require laminated glass railings for outdoor spaces.
Tempered Glass
What is Tempered Glass?
Tempered glass is a normal piece of glass that undergoes several heating and cooling processes to make it more toughened and stronger to breaking and cracking. The process of heating through which tempered glass engages is “Tempering” which is where the tempered name comes into market.
One advantage of tempered glass which makes it an excellent option for residentials is that, when it breaks it doesn’t crack into large parts, instead it breaks into millions of small pieces which reduces the risk of any serious injury.
The tempering process involves multiple heating and cooling procedures instantly to give more safety and strength to the normal / annealed glass, by which the outermost layer of glass panel is becoming extraordinarily stronger due to rapid cooling of extreme hot glass which causes the center of glass is “in tension” which provide exceptional strength and durability to the tempered glass rather than non-tempered glass.
Tempered glass is treated in excessive temperatures such as 1100° to 1200° which is extremely high temperature for any material, and then hot glass suddenly cools down to become tempered.
Purpose & Uses Of Tempered Glass:
Tempered glass is known as the “safety glass” due to its high durability and strength, so the purpose and uses of tempered glass are also large as its strength. It is considered as the shatter resistant glass, Although it can also break when a huge amount of force is applied on it. Still it will shatter into a web-like pattern that remains in its frame, however it can also come outside when the connecting pieces weaken or glass is treated with few tempering processes.
There are a lot of uses of tempered glass due to its lightweight, heat resistant, toughened and safer glass characteristics which break it into small pieces rather than large sharp and blunt pieces. Some of them are mentioned below. It can be used in;
Balconies and decks as frameless or framed glass balustrades,
In patios as sliding doors or windows,
As walls in interior house to
In vehicles as side rear windows,
Elevators interior etc.
Fact: Tempered glass can’t be repaired after severe damage.
Laminated Glass
What Is Laminated Glass?
Laminated glass is like a layer of cake or sandwich, made from two pieces of tempered glass panel which are joined together by a thin center layer, which ensures that if one or both layers of glass break, the frame of the glass will still stay in contact with each other. It is the safest, strongest and toughest option for commercial architectural buildings.
Laminated glass is first treated to banish any air bubbles between these three layers after joining them with each other. After that one or two rounds of tempering process occurs to develop more safety features. Now, the glass is again heated but under pressure to bring a shatter resistant glass in results.
Laminated glass has the ability to be stretched flexibly through which it can easily be folded or settled into its position. More stronger laminated glass is made by the addition of further layers into existing pieces of glass.
Purpose & Uses Of Laminated Glass:
Laminated glass is generally designed for the windshields of vehicles to minimize the risk of glass injuries for the victims of road accidents. So if one side of the glass experiences a high pressure impact, only that side will break, not the whole glass (depending on severity of force), which ultimately reduces the risk of severe injuries.
Laminated glass also blocks 95 to 97% sunlight radiations, which protect the passengers and people from ultraviolet rays. It also diminishes the high frequency sounds and provides a soundproof environment.
Laminated glass can be used in all kinds of needs such as;
Used in tall buildings as windows and walls,
In balconies as frameless glass railings,
Skyscrapers,
In vehicles as windshields,
Commercial buildings like offices also use laminated glass.
Fact: Laminated glass can easily be repaired by using a special clear adhesive if the damage on glass is minor like a crack or small breakage.
How To Choose The Right Glass Railing
Are you ready to install glass balustrades into your homes, contact RF Transparent and get a secret discount after subscribing. After reading the benefits and features of laminated or tempered glass you’re almost aware of what your needs and requirements are.
But still if you’re facing trouble on how to choose the right glass railings for your home then this article is a perfect guide for you.