Laminated vs Tempered Glass-How to Choose

So, you need to get safety glass, and the first glass seller you visit or call asked: “Tempered glass, or laminated glass?” Which one is a safety glazing material?

They both are. In order to understand which option you need, let’s go through how each is made, used, and priced. It’s easy to choose when you know exactly what your choices are, so here is laminated glass vs tempered glass:

What is Laminated Glass?

Laminated glass is like a layer cake. Between two layers of glass, there’s a layer of something else, and it’s that something else that has changed over the years. Laminated glass was invented in 1903, and it was the first safety glass. Most of today’s laminated glass has a layer of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB), a clear plastic film, in the middle.

PVB adheres well to glass and has good optical clarity. It’s effective at blocking UV radiation, and it provides sound insulation. There may be multiple layers of PVB sandwiched between multiple layers of glass, depending upon the application it’s made for.

Purpose of Laminated Glass

Laminated glass does not shatter. The flexible central layer holds it together when one or both glass layers are damaged (a blow from one side usually only cracks the glass on that side). This makes it safer as a car windshield in an accident, safer against burglary for street-level shop windows. Windows of tall buildings, frameless glass railings on balconies, and skylights all use laminated glass, which makes sense here in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) as we have occasionally seen baseball-sized hailstones!

Laminated glazing blocks 97%-99% of the UV-light that reaches it, protecting drivers, merchandise, and people in their homes. Laminated glass also dampens sound, especially high frequency (high-pitched) sound.

Pros of Laminated Glass

So, to review, laminated glass:

  • Holds together in the frame when it breaks
  • Often breaks only on one face
  • Is repairable
  • Gives the best protection from car accidents and burglary attempts
  • Blocks 97% – 99% of all UV light
  • Attenuates sound, especially high frequencies
  • Can be cut after lamination
  • Bulletproof glass is a multilayer type of laminated glass

Cons of Laminated Glass

So, why wouldn’t you choose laminated glass for everything? It sounds great! Well, if it were perfect, other choices would not still be in use. So, laminated glass:

  • Is the most expensive form of safety glass
  • Laminated glass vs tempered glass is weaker for its weight
  • Is not the most resistant to heat or thermal shock
  • Doesn’t resist scratches as well as tempered glass
  • Is the heavier, or has the lower strength-to-weight ratio
  • Appears slightly less clear

What is Tempered Glass?

Tempering works the same way for glass as it does for steel. The material is repeatedly heated and cooled rapidly to make it stronger. Tempered glass is actually 4-5 times stronger than non-tempered glass. This quick cooling (also called quenching), causes the outside surface of the glass to harden faster than the inner core.

As a result, the inner part of the glass is in tension. This tension gives tempered glass both its strength and its weakness. The weakness is that all cutting and drilling must be done before the tempering process. Any intrusion into that layer under tension will cause the entire piece of glass to shatter immediately, sometimes described as an explosion.

Purposes of Tempered Glass

​​Tempered glass has better heat and thermal shock resistance, so it’s used in:

  • Shower enclosures 
  • Bathroom fixtures
  • Glass tables and furniture
  • Cookware & oven doors, kitchen appliances

It comes in larger pane sizes, and shatters into smaller, safer pieces so common applications include:

  • Sliding glass doors 
  • Frameless glass balustrades
  • Interior partitions and walls 

Toughened glass is more resistant to impact, so it’s great for:

  • Outdoor tables 
  • Sports equipment (basketball backboards).

The lighter weight of this safety glass suits: 

  • Elevator interiors
  • Vehicle side and rear windows
  • Solar panels

Heat-treated glass has better clarity and scratch resistance for:

  • Computer and smartphone screens (Gorilla glass)
  • Diving masks and goggles
  • Glass shelving

Pros of Tempered Glass

Tempered glass vs. regular glass is about 4-5 times stronger, and it’s more affordable than laminated glass. It shatters into small, safer pieces if broken as compared to annealed (standard) glass, which can form dangerous sharp long shards. 

It can be manufactured larger, thinner and lighter than both laminated and annealed (standard) glass due to its higher strength-to-weight ratio. It has better clarity and transmits more light than laminated glass, and it’s more scratch-resistant.

Tempered glass is especially popular around cooking and serving because heat and thermal shock are less likely to break it. It’s also less breakable upon impact.

Cons of Tempered Glass

Tempered glass shatters completely into small pieces when broken, so it doesn’t stay in the frame or block entry to people, animals, or weather. These small pieces are less dangerous, but they will cut if not handled carefully.

Because of this, it’s really not possible to repair tempered glass. Any and all cutting or drilling must be done before the tempering process. Is there a way to tell if glass is tempered before cutting or drilling it?

Look for a small etched mark in a corner that says “tempered” or “temp”. It’s best to bring it to a glass expert if you’re still not sure after that.

How to Choose the Right Toughened Glass

Think of where you will be installing the glass that you’re looking for. Which of the above advantages are more important for your intended use? Is there a disadvantage that you absolutely must not have in your finished project?

If, after reading this far, you still want or need the advantages of laminated glass vs tempered glass, guess what? You don’t actually HAVE to choose! Panes of tempered glass can be laminated, so it is possible to get a combination of the two!

Get Your Laminated & Tempered Glass Panels Today

Has this page helped you to decide? If you’re ready to order your choice for use in the GTA, you’re already in the right place! If you’re still not sure, we can help you to decide. Contact us for a quote, or anything else that you want to know!

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