Tempered or Laminated? Clarifying the Right Choice in Safety Glass

Choosing the right safety glass for your project often comes down to two options: laminated or tempered safety glass. Both types are designed for greater protection than standard float glass provides. However, it is important to note that they work differently. Understanding the differences between the two types of safety glass will help you choose the right one for your application.

Why is tempered safety glass a strong choice?

Tempered glass is made through a special heat application treatment. This process makes it almost five times more durable than ordinary glass. Even if tempered safety glass breaks due to extensive force, it shatters into rounded fragments, as opposed to sharp pieces, reducing the risk of injury.

This makes tempered safety glass the right choice for:

• Showers
• Partitions in interiors
• Doors to patios or balconies
• Sliding windows

Tempered glass provides strength, clarity, and resistance to most everyday impact. It’s dependable when safety and durability are the top priorities. However, the downside is that when tempered glass breaks, it disintegrates and must be replaced.

Is laminated glass the most secure option?

Laminated glass is made of two or more layers of glass bonded by a strong interlayer, typically PVB (polyvinyl butyral). The interlayer holds the others together even if it cracks, preventing collapses or gaps.

This makes it the ideal safety glass for:

• Storefronts and displays
• Skylights
• Glass balcony barriers
• Sound-controlled spaces
• Fall protection 
• Forced entry prevention

Going beyond just safety, laminated glass offers additional benefits, including noise reduction, UV shielding, and enhanced security. If your safety glass needs to stay intact after impact, laminated safety glass is the right choice for your project.

Which one should you choose?

Your project’s needs will determine the right choice.

• For interiors and safety from everyday impacts, tempered glass.
• For overhead installation, security, or acoustics, use laminated glass.

All Team Glass & Mirror Ltd. has your needs covered

We at All Team Glass & Mirror Ltd. in Woodbridge, Ontario, offer a wide range of products, including fabricated safety glass, tempered glass, and laminated options for any project. We transform and shape glass or mirrors tailored to any project. Browse our categories section or contact us for more details. We also offer water jet cutting services to clients in Toronto and the GTA. Our glass products are delivered to clients across North America.