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Frequently Asked Questions
How is glass toughened?
It is heated close to softening point.
Then cooled very rapidly at the surfaces.
The surfaces lock into compression.
The core is left in tension.
That balance is what strengthens it.
Why is it a safety glass?
Because of how it breaks.
It fragments into small blunt granules.
Not long sharp shards.
Injury risk is far lower.
That is why regulations require it.
Could it be cut to fit on site?
No, not at all.
Toughening is the last operation.
Cutting releases the locked-in stress.
The whole pane shatters instantly.
The same applies to drilling.
So what happens if it is the wrong size?
It is remade, not adjusted.
Even a few millimetres is fatal.
The lead time starts again.
Measure and confirm before ordering.
Check hole positions against actual ironmongery.
What is spontaneous breakage?
A pane failing with no impact.
Tiny nickel sulfide inclusions cause it.
They expand slowly over years.
Eventually the pane bursts.
It is rare but well documented.
Can that be reduced?
Yes, by heat soaking.
An additional process after toughening.
It provokes suspect panes to fail early.
Most are then identified before installation.
Specify it where failure would be serious.
Does it stay in the opening when broken?
No, it falls as granules.
There is nothing holding fragments together.
Overhead glazing needs retention.
So does anywhere people could fall.
Laminated glass is used there.