Tempered Safety Glass

There are two common types of safety glass.  One is called tempered glass and the other is laminated glass.  Tempered glass is 4 to 5 times tougher than regular glass.  To break it you must hit it with a very hard object.  For example, a shoe probably would not break it.  A small piece of ceramic material, which is very, very hard, will break it easily.  Car burglars use this trick often because it is quiet.  When it does break, it breaks or shatters completely into small pieces, which could cause very small cuts but would seldom or never cause a life threatening cut to an artery.

Where Is Tempered Glass Found?

Tempered glass is required by building codes to be used in doors, next to doors, and windows close to the ground, including insulated window units.  You also find tempered glass in frameless shower doors and framed shower doors.  Homes and businesses use tempered glass in all these applications.  Glass shops have the option to have an insignia emblazoned into the glass indicating the glass is tempered.  Building inspectors always inspect for this “bug.”

Tempering of glass involves heating the glass to a very high temperature and cooling it quickly.  This also makes it heat resistant to an extent.  You find tempered glass in coffee carafes, ovens, skylights, and computer screens.

Automobiles use both laminated glass and tempered safety glass.  The windshields are laminated and the windows, back glasses, and sunroofs for the most part are tempered.

How We Can Help You 

Here at Ace Discount Glass and Doors, we stock hundreds of commercial door glasses, called “lites” in the trade, that fit 95% of the commercial doors you will encounter.  We carry them in clear, bronze, and grey tint.  We also carry the popular sizes of patio doors and French doors with frames.  We can quickly fix most tempered glass that needs replacement or temporarily board it up until a custom piece can be fabricated.  If a customer breaks the glass in a storm door, then we can measure it and order the custom size.  Often we can get it in one or two days.  

 
We have maybe the largest inventory of any auto glass retailer in Texas.  That means we can quickly repair your auto glass when you come to our business, even on Saturdays and Sundays.  Please call us at 512-345-3105 for quick service on any glass repair.