Tempered glass

Tempered Guardian glass is the perfect choice where building codes or design specifications require safety glazing. Fully tempered glass is four to five times stronger than annealed glass of the same thickness and configuration. When broken, tempered glass breaks into relatively small fragments that are less likely to cause serious injury.

Tempered glass is typically produced by heating ordinary glass to above 600° C, then rapidly cooling it to lock the surface in a state of compression and the core in a state of tension. This greatly increases its strength. As a result, tempered glass cannot be cut or drilled. In fact, any alterations, such as edge grinding, sandblasting or acid etching can cause premature failure.

Whether a sweeping one-piece windshield for an RV, a sports car’s backlight or a European truck’s sidelight, much of the glass that Guardian provides to the transportation industry is tempered glass. Since tempered glass breaks into relatively small fragments, it is less likely to cause serious injury if broken.