GLASS INDUSTRY · HEAT TREATMENT
Heat-Strengthened vs Fully Tempered Glass
Heat-strengthened and fully tempered glass belong to the same heat-treatment family, but they are not the same product. Strength level and breakage behaviour lead to different project uses.
What is heat-strengthened glass?
Float glass is heated and cooled under controlled conditions to increase strength above annealed glass, but not to the level of fully tempered glass.
What is the main difference from tempered glass?
Fully tempered glass provides higher mechanical strength and different fragmentation behaviour. Heat-strengthened glass may be selected for different façade and laminated-glass objectives.
Where is it considered?
Façades, spandrels, IGUs and certain laminated project build-ups may use it where thermal-stress resistance is part of the design requirement.
How should it be written in an RFQ?
Avoid a generic “heat-treated glass” label. State heat-strengthened or fully tempered together with thickness, dimensions, build-up and project standard.
Who should confirm the final selection?
The glass type and safety classification should be verified against project engineering, applicable standards and processor capability.