Tempered Glass vs Laminated Glass – Which is Better and How to Choose?
2. Window glass.
2. Glass stairs.
3. Glass railings.
2. Safe on shattering
3. 2x stronger
2. Durable
2. Self explosion with the variation in temperature.
2. Poor installation leads to many problems.
Table of Contents
- 1 Difference Between Tempered and Laminated Glass
- 2 Tempered and Laminated Glass Usage in Construction Industry
- 3 What is Tempered Glass?
- 4 What is Laminated Glass?
- 5 Key Features To Look for In The Glass- As A Building Material
- 6 Why is Tempered Glass More Popular Than Laminated in the Construction Industry?
- 7 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Difference Between Tempered and Laminated Glass
The main difference between Tempered and Laminated Glass is the shattering grade of both types of toughened glass. When it comes to the way of manufacturing tempered and laminated glass, both types are pretty different from each other. Tempered glass is produced by extreme heating and sudden cooling procedure to maintain its sturdiness while laminated glass is manufactured by sandwiching a PVB layer between two strengthened glass panes. Laminated glass is way more durable and unbreakable as compared to tempered one because the PVB layer absorbs extreme forces and lets the shattered pieces stick together. Laminated glass doesn’t shatter, while tempered glass may break under extensive forces and shatter into small harmless round pieces.
Laminated and Tempered, both are well-known as safety glass, but which is the best opt for employing in a high-profile building? As for tight security concerns along with the purpose to enhance the look, both versions of glass play different roles in distinctive scenarios. We will discuss both sorts of glass used in the construction industry today and consistently.
So let’s dig in!
Tempered and Laminated Glass Usage in Construction Industry
From flooring to railing systems and doors to overhead glazing, glass finds its applications everywhere in construction projects. However, there is a dedicated type of glass that serves the individual purpose best. Here are two main types of safety glass that are known for their wide applications in the construction industry.
What is Tempered Glass?
Tempered or toughened glass is highly valued in the construction industry. It is achieved through an extensive manufacturing process. The glass sheets are heated to a very high temperature first and then they go through a swift cooling process. The quick cooling process gives glass exceptional strength and resilience. Toughened glass is many times stronger than standard glass but couldn’t compete with laminated glass at some junctures. It can easily withstand hard impacts. And even on an impact hard enough to break it, it shatters into small harmless shards of glass. Therefore, it is given the status of safety glass.
Usage of Tempered Glass
Tempered glass is highly used in the construction industry. Just name an application, and toughened glass is perfect to be used there.
- From interior railing systems to windows
- Doors, glass shower enclosures to skylights
- Countertops to glass walls, toughened glass is used everywhere in the construction industry. Identifying a tempered glass is no hard science and easy like if the glass has smooth edges, imperfections on its surface, and is easily breakable on drilling then that’s tempered glass.
What is Laminated Glass?
Today, technology has advanced remarkably. A proof of the extreme technological advancement is the shatterproof laminated or safety glass. Owing to the technology, a material that was known for its fragility once is totally unbreakable now. Laminated glass is manufactured by fusing two or more glass panes together with an interlayer of adhesive resins. The intermediate adhesive layer is mainly responsible for the unbelievable strength of laminated glass. It can withstand repeated strikes without getting damaged. Even on hard impacts, the interlayer keeps the glass panes together in the frames, thus preventing forced entry or any damage to the property.
Usage of Laminated Glass
Due to its incredibly high strength value, laminated glass is used in bulletproofing. It is employed in high-profile buildings to provide enhanced security and safety. Common applications of laminated glass are as follows:
- Glass Facades
- Windows and Doors
- Glass Floors
- Skylights Glazing
- Glass Walls
- Windshie
Key Features To Look for In The Glass- As A Building Material
There are some parameters that determine whether laminated or tempered glass would be perfect to use in the construction industry. Take a look at these parameters that are MUST to be kept in mind while deciding on the material!
Strength – Glass material to use in construction projects, let’s say windows or doors, should be strong enough to bear the weight, jolt and jostles.
Durability – It should be resilient enough to withstand the changing weather conditions and daily wear and tear effectively.
Temperature Resistance – The building material should have good temperature resistance. For example, laminated glass panels can resist extreme weather fluctuations up to the limit than tempered glass.
Safety – Safety value is very important in the construction industry, so the glass type should provide safety to the residents. No one questions on the security traits of laminated glass.
Cost – The cost should be reasonable! Otherwise, the complete projects can become very pricey and somewhat impractical. For this, opt for tempered glass!
Why is Tempered Glass More Popular Than Laminated in the Construction Industry?
Tempered glass is highly used in construction projects. It won’t be an exaggeration to call toughened glass the favorite material of constructors. It has all the traits that constructors look for in building material. Strength, durability, visual appeal, and budget-friendly pricing, everything is just perfect. That’s why tempered glass is used more than laminated glass in the every second construction industry. Laminated glass has more usages where high-end security is concerned more than everything, and builders can afford this bulletproofing glass.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Laminated glass is manufactured by fusing two or more glass panes together with an interlayer of adhesive resins. The intermediate adhesive layer is mainly responsible for the unbelievable strength of laminated glass. It can withstand repeated strikes without getting damaged.
Tempered or toughened glass is highly valued in the construction industry. It is achieved through an extensive manufacturing process. The glass sheets are heated to a very high temperature first and then they go through a swift cooling process. The quick cooling process gives glass exceptional strength and resilience.
The core difference between the tempered glass and laminated glass is the degree of shattering of both types. Laminated glass is far stronger than the tempered glass as there is PVB layer in between the glass panes that lets the shattered pieces stick together. Whereas, the tempered glass breaks under the sheer pressure and force but in small round-edged pieces. Moreover, the manufacturing process of both types differs a lot.
