Understanding Safety Glass in Santa Fe, NM

When it comes to window glass, you want to consider the options that offer both safety and aesthetics. Your budget is another important factor. To help you choose the right glass for your home or business needs, you should know the basics of the different types of safety glass and what each offers. Below is a brief guide to understanding residential and commercial safety glass in Santa Fe, NM.

What is safety glass?

The best-known types of safety glass include wire glass, tempered glass and laminated glass. But what are they exactly? Safety glasses are designed to have greater mechanical strength and stronger impact resistance. In other words, compared to standard glass, these types of glasses are less likely to break or cause injury when broken or shattered. Also, certain grades of safety glass are fire resistant. People who want window glass with fireproof or anti-burglary functions often turn to safety glass, but it can also be installed for decorative purposes.

High-quality standard glass works well in many situations, while safety glass may be the better option for homeowners and business owners looking to increase safety and security or meet building codes. From retail storefronts to commercial doors to shower doors, there’s a type of safety glass for everyone.

Laminated glass

This type of safety glass is constructed using layers of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) set between two or more sections of glass. The piece is then fused under pressure and heat in an autoclave, which is a special oven. Laminate glass can be clear or tinted, and its thickness can range from .015 inches to .09 inches. Furthermore, the process of laminating glass can be applied to clear, tinted, reflective, heat-strengthened or tempered glass.

Though known to offer safety, laminated glass has many other functions—including burglar resistance and sound reduction. If it breaks, pieces of glass stick to the PVB as opposed to launching or falling. A good example of laminated glass being used for this purpose is in your car windshield. Windshields have a layer of laminate sandwiched between two layers of auto glass.

Tempered glass

The final product after completing the heating process to produce tempered glass is a tough safety glass unit. This type of glass has a thickness ranging from .0125 inches to .75 inches. The tempering increases the tensile strength or bending of the glass, which makes it better able to resist the forces of strong winds, heat and impact. When tempered glass breaks, it shatters into small pieces to reduce the chances of causing serious injury.

Wire glass

Another type of safety glass is wire glass. This glass has a welded wire net that’s designed into the molten glass, but the wire does not enhance glass strength. The true benefit comes when the glass shatters—the wire glass holds the section of glass in the window sash instead of letting it blow outward or inward. It also meets many of the fire codes enforced in most states.

Call Santa Fe Glass & Mirror for more information about residential and commercial safety glass in Santa Fe, NM!

Categorised in: Safety Glass

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