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You may be thinking, do I need toughened safety glass for my greenhouse? The short answer is yes but keep reading to find out more about toughened safety glass and what makes it so special.
Did you know, we’ve made the bold choice to only offer 4mm thick, grade A, toughened safety glass complete with rounded edges for additional safety, with our Rhino greenhouses?
What is toughened safety glass?
Toughened safety glass is also referred to as tempered glass, it starts its life as a standard piece of glass (sometimes referred to as annealed or float glass), before going through a process designed to make it stronger and more durable.
How is toughened safety glass made?
The most widely used method for making toughened safety glass is tempering glass with heat and cold.
This method involves heating standard glass up to a temperature between 620°C to 650°C. The glass stays in the furnace until it has reached the required temperature before leaving the furnace so that the top and bottom can be rapidly cooled using jets of cold air.
This rapid cooling contracts the glass surface, forcing it into a state of compression while the inside is in a state of tension. Glass is much stronger under compressions as the compressive forces must be exceeded for the glass to break.
Typical uses of toughened safety glass
Toughened safety glass has several domestic uses, but it also has commercial and architectural applications including glass partition walls, windows on the side of high-rise buildings, glass desks and much more. This is all thanks to its ability to withstand massive differences in temperature, high wind, and changes in weather conditions.
5 main benefits of toughened safety glass
1. Safety
In the unlikely event that toughened glass does break, it’s designed to shatter into small pieces rather than sharp shards of glass which can cause injury if handled incorrectly. The toughened glass we use for all our Rhino greenhouses is supplied with rounded, polished edges to further minimise the chances of you cutting yourself during assembly or cleaning.
2. Durability
Toughened glass is typically more than 4 times stronger than untoughened glass, making it a great choice for its durability and less likely to break.
3. UV Protection
Toughened/tempered glass can absorb around 65% of UV rays giving it an SPF of 16. Every bit of protection helps, especially when spending time outside in your Rhino greenhouse (hint, hint).
4. Sound Reduction
Did you know, toughened glass has nearly twice as much soundproofing ability compared to standard glass? Meaning you’ll be able to enjoy the peace and quiet in your greenhouse.
5. Heat Resistance
Capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 250°C for greater safety in the event of a fire, which is why its commonly used in schools, high-rise buildings, offices and much more.
Did you know...
- The development of Toughened glass can be tracked back to the 17th century, but the first patent wasn’t obtained until 1874 by Francois Barthelemy Alfred Royer de la Bastie (now that’s a name!).
- In the 1930s 3 companies began to produce tempered glass for the automotive windshield (1 company was British – Pilkington Company).
- The front and rear windows on your car are usually toughened glass whereas the front windshield is usually laminated glass.
Explore the Rhino range to find your perfect greenhouse.
