Laminated & Tempered Safety Glass
Ensuring Safety
Safety glass refers to any glass that when broken does not pose a safety hazard. It wasn't until 1972 that building codes were revised to mandate safety glazing in doors and other high traffic areas. Until then numerous injuries including loss of limbs and even death were attributed to broken glass that allowed large sharp shards of glass.
Current building codes require safety glazing in all doors, side-lites, walking surfaces, bathroom tub and shower enclosures, patio furniture and other applications to ensure the safety of any person that may come into contact with glass in these potentially dangerous traffic areas. The two most common types of safety glass are Laminated and Tempered glass.
Laminated glass like that in your car windshield is manufactured by laminating 2 pieces of glass together with a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) inner-layer. When broken, the glass cracks but stays together so there is no danger of lacerations. Laminated glass also provides a level of security when used in storefronts or other secure locations as it remains in place even when badly broken due to the strong PVB inner-layer.
Tempered glass is manufactured by heating glass to approximately 1200º Fahrenheit followed by rapid cooling of the outer surfaces. This rapid cooling causes a tension between the outer and inner surfaces. This tension increases the strength of the glass approximately sixfold. When the glass is broken, this tension causes it to shatter into small blunt granules rather than large sharp shards.
Best Glass is your one-stop, glass solution for all types of safety glass for your home, office or business. We've been serving the greater Phoenix area since 1991 and have helped people just like you ensure their families safety by using the proper safety glass for their needs.
