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But how do you decide which is best for your project? 

Considerations include where the glass will be used, application type, specific benefits, and what you want to achieve.

Safety measures aside, both types provide decorative elements with high-level protection, while maintaining feature-rich designs. 

 

Tempered Glass

Also known as toughened glass, this is clear before undergoing a specialized tempering process. The tempering process involves heating and quick-cooling glass; this rapid hardening strengthens the glass and makes it more durable. 

A fabricator performs an air-quenching process, whereby pre-cut and -edged glass undergoes rapid heating and cooling through air jets in a tempering furnace. This is followed by chemical treatment. 

According to trends and techniques research platform Glass Academy, following the aforementioned steps: “the mechanical strength of tempered glass is four to five times higher than that of annealed glass.”

While safety glass lowers the chance of breakage, accidents, and other elements will occur. Should tempered glass shatter, it results in small, pebble-like shards, rather than sharp edges. 

Tempering reduces the chance of serious injury, but it must be executed by an experienced fabricator. Skipping this step could result in spontaneous breakage, stress damage, and other imperfections. If the glass isn’t properly edged and packed by a glass fabricator, damage could occur, even before shipment and delivery. 

Tempered glass boasts a higher bend threshold, and thus is used to construct large commercial buildings in areas experiencing severe weather. 

It also costs slightly less than laminated glass.

Laminated Glass

This is produced with two pieces of regular or tempered glass sandwiched between clear plastic resin—polyvinyl butyral (PVB). Should breakage occur, all layers are held together, instead of shattering into pieces or pebbles. 

Laminated glass is created through a process comparable to tempering. The glass is customized to meet client specifications, before undergoing design, cutting, and shaping. It’s then run through specialized washing machines, designed to reduce large pane gaps. 

After being prepared, the panes are carefully transferred to a temperature-controlled, debris-free clean room where they are subjected to heat and constriction, eliminating air pockets between layers. The controlled application of heat and pressure also ensures transparency.

Laminated glass also provides wellness and productivity benefits, blocking damaging UV rays while still facilitating natural light for less stress and increased creativity.

Many designers opt for colored laminated glass. This involves a heated pigmentation process mixed with tinted glass and coatings. The aforementioned natural, bright appearance can be achieved with colored and transparent laminated glass. 

Applications

Laminated glass is often used in office or hotel settings because of natural light and soundproofing elements. Other applications include frameless glass doors and railings, skylights, and balconies. It’s also ideal for glass flooring, windows, and windshields.