Understanding the Differences Between Annealed Vs Toughened (Tempered) Laminated Glass:
Selecting the ideal type of glass for windows, rooflights, or other glazing features requires more attention than simply checking which one is relatively cheap. A common oversight is the difference in types of laminated glass, in this case, 8.8mm annealed laminated glass versus toughened laminated glass. These two types of glass have quite a difference in their cost and functionality, even though they may look alike on the surface.
In this post, we tackle the features of these two types of laminated glass in regards to their strength, cost, and other factors that they uniquely address.
What Is Laminated Glass?
Before getting into the differences, let us take a step back and review what laminated glass can do. Simply put, laminated glass is the result of two or more pieces of glass being joined together with an interlayer plastic, PVB, EVA, SGB, or some other material fused with glass. This has the benefit of making the glass much stronger. Moreover, in the event that it is broken, the glass does not come apart into loose, sharp and dangerous shards.
To ensure maximum safety in applications, laminated glass is often used in guarded areas such as windows, Roof Lights, and Skylights. The interlayer also offers UV protection, among other essential advantages.
What Is 8.8mm Annealed Laminated Glass?
8.8mm laminated glass is made by sandwiching two layers of annealed glass (non-toughened glass) with an interlayer. It’s often used in vertical residential windows. The main advantage here is cost; it’s much cheaper to produce compared to high-performance toughened laminated glass options.
Key Points Annealed Glass:
✔ Cost-Effective: One of the biggest advantages of annealed glass is that it’s an affordable type of glass. Which makes it the best pick for low-budget projects.
✔ Basic Safety Benefits: If this glass breaks the laminated interlayer keeps the glass fragments together preventing dangerous pieces of glass from scattering.
Limitations of Annealed Glass:
❌ Annealed laminated glass is not very strong. If the glass is exposed to sudden temperature changes like extreme heat or a strong impact. It can easily crack or break.
For example: For instance, when there is a sunny day, the glass heats up much more quickly in the areas that are directly exposed to the sun, while parts of the edge remain shaded by trees or buildings. This uneven expansion creates stress within the glass; should the difference in temperature become too great, cracking may occur.
❌ Structural Integrity: This type of glass should not be used in structural or architectural glazing as it does not have the strength to withstand most modern designs.
Use Of Annealed Glass:
Annealed Glass is mainly used in residential house windows also for vertical glazing (in low-risk areas). It can also be used for noise reduction and like decorative panels.
We also Provide Rooflight Solutions:
Circular Rooflights.
Modular Rooflights.
Ridge Rooflight.
Custom Made Rooflights.
Toughened (Tempered) Laminated Glass: The Stronger & Safer Alternative:
Let’s discuss the other side of it: Toughened laminated glass, which is also called Tempered Glass. By virtue of being tougher and sturdier, it stands out for use in certain applications, especially where glass is exposed to a lot more stress and designs of greater complexity.
Where Is It Used?
Such type of glass is commonly applied in environments that require somewhat more resistance, such as structural glazing, Bespoke rooflights, or walk-on glass. Perfect to be applied when sudden temperature changes or any heavy physical load might occur.
Perfect if you are designing, for example, a glass floor or a rooflight exposed to maintenance personnel; in this case, the recommendation would be toughened laminated glass.
Key Points of Toughened (Tempered) Glass:
- ✔ Superior Strength: Toughened laminated glass can handle high impact forces, heavy loads and extreme weather conditions.
- ✔ Thermal Stress Resistance: This glass can handle sudden changes in temperature much better than annealed laminated glass.
- ✔ Safer Breakage Pattern: If this glass breaks it shatters into small blunt pieces which reduce the risk of injury.
- ✔ Long-Term Durability: Toughened laminated glass is more resistant to wear and tear. Which makes it ideal for high-traffic areas.
Limitations Toughened Glass:
❌ Higher Cost: As I told you this glass is tough because of the additional toughening process. This glass is more expensive than annealed laminated glass.
❌ Cannot Be Modified After Toughening: Unlike annealed glass this toughened glass cannot be cut or drilled after processing.
This glass is mainly used in Rooflight Installations (especially walk-on glass rooflight) and High-rise building windows. This is also used in Glass floors & staircases. Balustrades, railings, and glass canopies are also used for Security Glazing for commercial buildings.
Cost Comparison:
Short-Term Savings vs Long-Term Investment:
At first glance, you might think that 8.8mm annealed laminated glass and toughened laminated glass are similar in cost, but the reality is that they vary quite a bit.
- 8.8mm Annealed Laminated Glass: The cost of this glass is lower, largely because it’s made with annealed glass, which doesn’t require the additional toughening process. This makes it a great choice for budget-conscious projects, but the trade-off is that it’s not as durable as tougher alternatives.
- Toughened Laminated Glass: The production process for toughened laminated glass is more complex and expensive. First, the glass needs to be toughened and laminated which adds to both the cost and production time. However, this additional cost provides a much stronger and more durable glass, making it a good investment for applications where strength and safety are crucial.
While the initial price difference might seem significant, the long-term benefits of using a tougher, more durable glass often outweigh the upfront cost, especially in high-stress or high-traffic areas.
Which One Should You Choose?
The decision between Annealed laminated glass and toughened (tempered) laminated glass depends on the specific needs of your project:
- ✅ Choose 8.8mm Annealed Laminated Glass if budget is a priority The glass cannot handle high impact forces or temperature Fluctuations. It can be use for standard windows or decorative applications.
- ✅Choose Toughened Laminated Glass if the safety and durability are important to you.
The glass can easily handle heavy impact or high stress forces & extreme temperatures. It can also use in many areas Like for rooflights, balustrades, floors, or structural glazing
Final Thoughts:
- Both Glass Annealed laminated glass and toughened laminated glass plays a crucial role in the roof glazing industry. The annealed laminated glass offers a low-budget solution with a basic safety need.
- The toughened laminated glass provides a superior strength and long-term durability. Which makes it best & preferred choice for high-impact applications.
If you’re confused about which glass type suits your project? The best Idea is to consult with a glazing expert so that you can understand what type of glass you can use and how much budget will require to install a glazing of your choice. for your glazing. To make an informed decision based on your specific requirements and budget.
Additional Glass-Related Articles:
Benefits Of Laminated Glass.
Low-E Glass VS Solar Control Glass.
Glass Guide & Information
