BSG's heat-strengthened glass is approximately twice as strong as annealed glass of similar thickness and configuration. Heat-strengthened glass generally fractures in a manner similar to annealed glass and tends to remain in the opening when broken. It is intended for general glazing where additional strength and/or resistance to mechanical and/or thermal stress are desired. Heat-strengthened glass is NOT a safety glazing product and therefore should not be used where safety glazing is required.
Due to its superior glass retention properties, heat-strengthened glass is the preferred heat-treated glass product for applications where additional strength is needed to meet mechanical loads (wind or snow) or thermal loads caused by certain tinted or coated glasses. Heat-Strengthened glass is widely used in laminated glass for additional strength, such as in overhead and sloped glazing. Heat-Strengthened glass cannot be used in any safety glazing applications.
Most architectural glass products can be heat-treated. Some patterned glass and decorative glass with a deep surface pattern may not be heat-treatable. Silk-Screened and ceramic spandrel glass are always either heat-strengthened or tempered as part of their fabrication process. When spandrel glass is incorporated into insulating glass units, both lites must be heat-treated. Heat-absorbing glasses, such as standard and high performance tints, reflective glasses and some Low-E glass, may require heat treatment to reduce the probability of thermal-stress breakage, especially when used as part of an insulating glass unit.
