If you’ve never heard of annealed glass, it is a glass treatment used in manufacturing windows. Anyone who is shopping around for residential or commercial windows should know what it is and how it compares to other options like tempered glass. Here are the basics about annealed glass products.
What is Annealed Glass?
Annealing is a glass-cooling process. The glass gets thermally treated and then cooled down. This is done to reduce the stress on the glass; when completed, the glass can be drilled, cut, and polished. Annealed glass is less likely to shatter during these processes. It tends to be less expensive than tempered glass, but it can be more flexible and versatile. You’d be more likely to see annealed glass in a commercial setting when the designs are sleek and stylish. Annealed glass is sometimes called float glass or non-tempered glass and can be custom-cut and drilled.
Tempered Glass
The majority of windows and glass that you see in residential and commercial buildings is made from tempered glass. This gets heat-treated, so it’s up to five times stronger than annealed glass. If tempered glass breaks, it fractures into much smaller pieces than annealed glass, so that makes it safer, too. Tempered glass is also used in vehicles shower and tub enclosures, patio furniture, and fireplace doors.
Annealed glass is often used because it responds so well to heat stress and costs less. Other options for glass installation include Lexan and Plexiglass. At First Class Glass and Overhead Doors, our trained staff can explain all of the options in great detail and help you choose the right one for your needs.