How do I determine when to use heat-strengthened glass and when to use fully tempered glass?
Fully tempered glass is more commonly used in safety glazing applications since its breakage pattern results in innumerable small fragments of more or less cubicle-shaped pieces of glass which may vacate the opening (Please check local code requirements for approval to use fully tempered glass as a safety glazing material.). Heat-strengthened glass is used in areas where fully tempered breakage patterns would not be desirable, such as in spandrel applications. Heat strengthened glass has a breakage pattern similar to standard annealed glass. Heat-treating may be necessary to address thermal stress concerns. For example: It is recommended that Versalux Grey 2000 substrates be heat treated (heat-strengthened or fully tempered). It is recommended that Versalux Blue 2000R, Versalux Green 2000R, and Versalux Green 2000T products be heat treated (heat-strengthened or fully tempered) when the reflective coating is glazed towards the interior of the building. Versalux Blue R, Versalux Green R,
