Laminated tempered glass: manufacturing processes and recommendations

Demand for tempered laminated architectural glass is constantly growing. It meets a need among architects, their design offices and inspection bodies for higher-performance, lighter and safer structural products for cutting-edge applications. Tempered laminated glass (VFT) improves the mechanical and thermal resistance of traditional laminated glass. This eliminates the risk of collapse and loss of glass protection in the event of physical impact, spontaneous breakage due to nickel sulfide (NiS) inclusions or thermal shock. The manufacturing process is more difficult and demanding than for traditional laminates. They are much more sensitive to processing conditions, to the choice of interlayer (creep) and above all to the quality of the tempered glass (flatness and shaping) used for assembly. The manufacturer must control all these parameters in order to improve production yields and supply a quality product that will perform well and last for many years. Typical structural applications for tempered laminated glass include external glass cladding, railings (engraved or not), staircases, floor slabs, beams, posts, bracing, curtain walls, double-skin façades and roof glazing. This article reviews the requirements and recommendations for the manufacture of tempered laminated glass and its application in the building industry.