GLASS INDUSTRY · COMPARISON
Tempered vs Laminated vs Insulated Glass (IGU)
Tempered, laminated and IGU glass are not direct substitutes. One is a heat-treatment process, one is a layered safety construction, and one is a multi-lite insulating unit; they can also be combined.
What does tempered glass provide?
Heat treatment increases mechanical strength and changes breakage behaviour. Cutting, drilling and edgework must be completed before tempering.
What does laminated glass provide?
An interlayer helps retain fragments after breakage and can support safety and acoustic objectives.
What is an IGU?
Two or more glass lites are assembled with a cavity and spacer. Thermal and solar performance depend on the selected glass build-up.
Can these be combined?
Yes. A project may use, for example, tempered Low-E outer glass and laminated inner glass in one IGU.
How should the RFQ be written?
Describe the full make-up, processing, performance target, dimensions and end use rather than using a single product label.