Seven Key Differences Between Tempered Glass and Regular Glass

While a rose by any other name may still smell sweet, glass by another name is not the same. Tempered glass, for example, is safer and stronger than regular glass. It is heat and shock-resistant and can be used for a large variety of applications.

What is Tempered Glass?

To best understand what tempered glass is, it is best to compare it to regular glass, which is made in a variety of shapes, colours, and patterns. However, all regular glass, whether blown, sculpted, or formed into sheets, is created by combining materials (sand, soda ash, limestone, etc.), melting them together, forming them, and then slowly cooling and reheating them. Glass that is made this way is called annealed glass, but many tend to call it standard or regular glass.

In contrast, tempered glass is heated to an extremely high temperature and then rapidly cooled with blasts of high-pressure air. This creates tension inside the glass, which makes it stronger and creates a stress pattern that causes the glass to break into safe pebble-shaped pieces instead of sharp shards and jagged pieces like regular glass. Tempering glass also leaves a smooth edge around the glass, which adds to its strength. Other differences resulting from the manufacturing process are:

• tempered glass may have an etched or sandblasted mark in the corner of the glass as a manufacturer’s mark and proof of legitimate tempered glass
• tempered glass is more expensive than regular glass because it requires an extra step and therefore extra equipment and more time
• tempered glass will shatter if it is cut, while regular glass can be, and is, sized and cut after manufacturing

The Safety of Tempered Glass

Because tempered glass is stronger and breaks into round, cube-like pieces rather than sharp, pointy shards, it is safer than regular glass. Its shock resistance and higher heat threshold also add to tempered glass’s safety. For this reason, it is often used:

• in high contact/traffic areas, i.e. hallways, windows, stair and balcony railings, space partitions
• in showers and public environments where broken glass could seriously hurt people, i.e. glass showers, swimming pools, stores and shops, etc.
• in ovens, fireplace screens, stovetops, kitchen backsplashes
• in doors and windows, especially in high-rise buildings

Comparison Between Tempered Glass and Regular Glass

To make it even easier to compare tempered glass and regular glass, we have prepared the following chart.

Difference	Tempered Glass	Annealed/Regular Glass
How It’s Made	rapidly cooled	slowly cooled
Edge	smooth	rough
Corner	often has a mark, called a bug, in the corner	doesn’t usually have a bug
Cost	more expensive	base price
Cutting	cannot be cut after manufacturing	often cut
Breaking Pattern	pebble-sized pieces	shards, pointy and jagged pieces
Strength	four to seven times stronger than regular glass; can withstand temperatures up to 470◦F	can withstand 6,000 psi; may crack in response to quick temperature changes of 60◦F and more; break at 302◦F to 392◦F

Where to Find Tempered and Regular Glass in the GTA

Whether you’re looking for glass for home or work, Verrage Glass and Mirror Inc. in Vaughan has you covered. We’ve been providing an array of annealed and tempered glass products to communities throughout the GTA since 1989. Contact us today to find the glass or mirror that’s right for youin Woodbridge, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Markham, Vaughan, and the surrounding areas.