The name of glass somehow comes with vulnerability and extreme delicacy in our minds. Therefore, many people don’t know about the safety glass. In the variety of glass types and its use for construction projects, this blog is exclusively focused on the safety glass and how it serves the best for people’s property.
Nowadays glass is not just about aesthetics. Given that, the commercial and residential projects are using glass that is not less than any strong material. Let’s find out what is safety glass and should you buy it for your next home or office renovation task.
What is Safety Glass?
Safety glass is a strongest type of glass that is known for its enhanced safety features and optimal durability.
This glass is so strong that it has minimal chances to crack or break. Therefore, it is best regarded for using as a safety glass against threat of security breach and break-in incidents. Mostly safety glass design comes in toughened glass, laminated glass, and wire mesh glass.
How is safety glass made? Manufacturing of Safety Glass
Safety glass is made with careful industrial process and it can be manufactured in two different ways. Safety glass can be manufactured by laminating two sheets of ordinary glass with each other using a thin interlayer of plastic. The other process of making safety glass is by strengthening glass sheets using heat treatment.
In the heat-strengthened safety glass process, the glass is cooled rapidly which is faster than that of annealed glass.
Tempered glass is then cooled and strengthened in heat. Heat makes the glass safe and more durable against crack and break. Singing multiple liters of glass in the application also adds strength to the glass.
Properties of safety glass
Heat resistance
Safety glass is highly resistant towards heat and that is why it’s best for making fire doors, and places where heat to much more than usual.
Safety and Strength
Safety glass offers reasonable durability and safety against breaking. This glass is very difficult to break easily which is why it’s the best choice when it comes to break-in incidents. Safety glass is up to 5x stronger than annealed glass.
No injury
Reduced injury risk means safety glass would not hurt or injure humans and pets upon breaking. The breaking of this glass does not result in sharp shards and spalls.
Safety glass offers optimal level of soundproofing. It means the room where safety glass is used will be free from noise and the outside voices. That is why it’s best for offices, conference rooms and more such places.
Types of Safety Glass
Laminated glass
Laminated glass is best for its durability as it is laminated with the sheets of panes with layers of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) between two or more glass lites.
This glass is best to reduce noise pollution and works best for added safety. It does not shatter easily and there are no pointy spikes upon breaking laminated glass making it a safe glass category.
Tempered glass
Tempered glass is a type of safety glass made with heading the annealed glass in a uniform manner. Tempered glass is durable and comes with durability and strength which makes it a safer option and it has better resistivity against wind impact and heat.
This glass survives well in case of impact when used on buildings. It’s a best safety glazing material and when it breaks it makes small cubes which minimize the injury chances.
Tinted glass
Tinted glass offers safety in terms of privacy. This glass has tinted color that works best when you don’t want to compromise on your focus and privacy.
Mostly, tinted glass is used in car windows and works best for UV rays, infrared rays. Therefore your car interior remains in ideal temperature range.
Frosted glass
Just like pattern glass, frosted glass comes with added privacy. However, it has reduced visibility for this very reason. This is again a safety glass which also makes sure to cool down the temperature in your homes and hence reduce electricity bills.
Burglary glass
Burglary glass offers an added safety approach because it resists penetration and forced entry. Therefore this glass is ideal when you want safety from theft and break-ins.
It also bears a significant amount of impact from heavy objects such as hammer and bricks and crowbars. Moreover, this glass is optimal when you want safety from accidental impact and it doesn’t break easily.
Wired glass
Wired glass is a safety glass type that possesses safety properties such as being tough and durable. This glass is not easily breakable. Wired glass is a common design that is exclusively workable for blocking fire coming into the building..
This glass offers people time to escape from the building in case of some emergency. Wired glass is mainly used in commercial buildings and it naturally prevents the glass from shattering into small pieces.
Applications and uses of Safety Glass
Homes and offices
For homes, safety glass is especially used in cookware and plates because of its durability and smooth textures. Safety glass is used in refrigerators, for doors, and tables and in bathroom shower doors. For glass partitions in the office, safety glass masks are usability noticeable as they are strong, durable and look aesthetically stunning.
Constructions
For home, interior, and construction safety glass is highly in use. From skylight to the shower doors and windows, the use of safety glass comes with added safety when in case of impact, wind blow and breaking. Glass shards are not something you get serious injury from.
Vehicles and Automobile Industry
Safety glass is widely in use for vehicles and in cars. The glass car as a safety barrier against breaking and the bulletproof glass and passenger vehicle windows makes the ideal choice for enhanced safety for the human. The windshields are laminated with safety glass to prevent the risk of accidents. It’s also in use for driving masks.
Architectures Projects
Safety glass is hugely used in architecture and construction projects due to the durability and versatile performance. For example, safety glass is used in glass railing, doors, and in windows in high-rise buildings that withstand high winds and sudden impacts. Moreover, safety glass is also used as a skylight and its skylights are laminated with safety glass due to less breaking incidents.
Benefits of Safety Glass
Noise reduction
Safety glass is highly beneficial for reducing noise and cancelling the sound effect. The safety glass is best when you want focused working in the office and homes as it minimizes the outside noise , be it from high traffic and road or on school and airport.
Durable
Safety glass is durable and adds to strength when you want safety against theft and break-ins. Also its durability is best when you use it in cars as it is less likely to break under stress and impact. This glass is best to withstand heavy winds and the impact of sudden blows.
UV protection
Safety is UV protected. This means if your home windows are using safety glass, you are less likely to get faded curtains and furniture. Also it works best for when you’re driving as the UV factor keeps you safe from harmful sun rays.
Drawback of Safety Glass
Can’t drill
Toughened glass or safety glass can’t be drilled. Once it’s shaped it’s hard to re-cut the glass and if you do so it will break the white pane and shatter it. To still, you need everything precise from measurement to the dimension which is challenging.
Spontaneous breakage
Safety glass is durable and strong. However, at times it may suffer from breakage to nickel sulphide inclusions.
How to Choose the Right Safety Glass
Choosing the safety glass for your home and commercial use depends on what your requirements are. In homes, safety glass usually goes best as it does not break easily. However, for commercial use you need to specify if you work with certain chemicals as the glass should react with the chemicals.
If you want multiple variations in the safety glass category, UAE glasswork readily offers you the options plus they guide you which glass would work best for your commercial and home use.
Mostly it’s best for a safety approach where impact and winds are at high risk. However, safety glass is less customizable which means it’s not quite suitable for aesthetics. There is not as you should not choose safety glass – as its Safety Glass after all!
Why to choose Safety Glass
Choosing the right safety glass means you have to specify your needs in the first place. It means you should know where you want to use the glass. If it’s on car windows and for home use, safety glass is best for its durability.
But keep in mind safety glass is not much for aesthetically advanced. It means there is no versatile option that you can get. For aesthetics you might like to choose texture glass or patterned glass. Safety glass is known for its unbreakable approach and noise reduction.