Toughened glass is a fantastic addition to homes, offices, and retail spaces. Durable and safe, tempered glass has multiple benefits – including heat, weather, and impact resistance – making it the obvious choice for commercial and residential projects.
With toughened glass being so strong, is it possible to cut it to size? Let’s take a closer look at the uses of toughened glass and whether it can be drilled or cut to size.
How strong is toughened glass?
As the name suggests, tempered or toughened glass is processed for resilience, strength and durability. Five times stronger than untreated glass, this type of safety glass can bear heavy loads and will break into small fragments rather than sharp shards if it shatters.
This combination of strength and safety makes it suitable for multiple uses – from shower screens and display units to cab glass for machinery.
Is toughened glass the same as laminated glass?
Laminated and toughened glass are both types of safety glass, but they’re not the same. The big difference is how they react when broken.
When laminated glass breaks, the pieces hold in place – that’s why it’s ideal for windscreens. A plastic interlay sandwiches two sheets of glass together, bonding them like glue.
On the other hand, toughened glass is extremely robust and has much higher impact resistance than laminated glass. This toughness makes it a versatile choice for commercial, industrial and residential use.
Can you drill toughened glass?
Tempered glass is impossible to drill without it shattering. To prevent any shattering, it needs to be drilled before the tempering process.
How to tell if glass is toughened?
If you’re unsure whether you have tempered glass to hand, it’s best to check before attempting to drill. To help you avoid an expensive mistake, there are ways to identify tempered glass and prevent it from shattering.
- Visible imperfections: The surface of toughened glass often has slight distortions due to the heating process.
- Glass Stamp: The only way to truly identify if a glass is toughened is to look for a toughened glass stamp. Anything else is a chance.
How is toughened glass cut to size?
The simple fact is that glass can’t be cut or drilled after the toughening process. If you want the benefits of tempered glass without costly mistakes, it must be cut to size and then put through the reinforcing process.
Cutting and shaping
First, your glass must be precision cut and edged appropriately, including any cut-outs for cables and sockets. It’s now ready to be toughened using heating and cooling.
Rapid cooling
As the outer glass compresses, the inner core goes into tension. The result is toughened glass that is impressively strong and robust, ready for use in multiple environments.
Find durable toughened glass cut to size
Get your toughened glazing right from the start of your project with Caldwells Windows. We supply made-to-measure glass products, toughened in our own plant for a perfect fit. Our expert team is here to help, so please feel free to get in touch today to find out more.
