Check out the categories below to reveal further information.
Clear Float Glass
2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 6mm & 10mm clear
4mm, 6mm & 10mm tinted
Horticultural (Greenhouse) glass
3mm clear
Cut to size from standard sizes
Standards 18″ x 24″ (457 x 610), 24″ x 24″ (610 x 610) & 28.75″ x 56″ (730 x 1432)
Laminated Safety Glass
6.4mm, 8.8mm, 10.8mm & 12.8mm clear
Acoustic laminated in various thicknesses
6.4mm tinted
6.4mm Opaque
6.8mm Obscure Stippolyte
Mirror Glass
4mm & 6mm Clear
4 & 6mm Tinted
4 & 6mm Antique (clear & tinted)
Wired Glass
6mm Clear wired, 7mm Cast (Obscure)
Fire Glass
7mm Pyroguard C730 fire glass 30 minutes integrity only
We also offer fire rated glass in variable thicknesses & fire ratings
Ceramic Glass
4mm Ceramic glass suitable for stoves & fires
Back Painted Glass
4mm & 6mm Lacobel back painted glass
Patterned Glass
4mm Obscure glass in various patterns
Toughened Safey Glass
4,5,6,8,10,12,15 & 19mm clear
4,6 &10mm tinted
4,6 & 10mm Satina frosted obscure
4 & 6mm Patterened
Properties
Tempered glass is about four times stronger than annealed glass. The greater contraction of the inner layer during manufacturing induces compressive stresses in the surface of the glass balanced by tensile stresses in the body of the glass. Fully tempered 6-mm thick glass must have either a minimum surface compression of 69 MPa (10 000 psi) or an edge compression of not less than 67 MPa (9 700 psi). For it to be considered safety glass, the surface compressive stress should exceed 100 megapascals (15,000 psi). As a result of the increased surface stress, when broken the glass breaks into small rounded chunks as opposed to sharp jagged shards.
Compressive surface stresses give tempered glass increased strength. Annealed glass has almost no internal stress and usually forms microscopic cracks on its surface. Tension applied to the glass can drive crack propagation which, once begun, concentrates tension at the tip of the crack driving crack propagation at the speed of sound through the glass. Consequently, annealed glass is fragile and breaks into irregular and sharp pieces. The compressive stresses on the surface of tempered glass contain flaws, preventing their propagation or expansion.
Any cutting or grinding must be done prior to tempering. Cutting, grinding, and sharp impacts after tempering will cause the glass to fracture.
The strain pattern resulting from tempering can be observed by viewing through an optical polarizer, such as a pair of polarizing sunglasses.
Uses
Tempered glass is used when strength, thermal resistance, and safety are important considerations. Passenger vehicles, for example, have all three requirements. Since they are stored outdoors, they are subject to constant heating and cooling as well as dramatic temperature changes throughout the year. Moreover, they must withstand small impacts from road debris such as stones as well as road accidents. Because large, sharp glass shards would present additional and unacceptable danger to passengers, tempered glass is used so that if broken, the pieces are blunt and mostly harmless. The windscreen is instead made of laminated glass, which will not shatter into pieces when broken while side windows and the rear windshield have historically been made of tempered glass. Some newer luxury vehicles have laminated side windows to meet occupancy retention regulations, anti-theft purposes, or sound-deadening purposes.
Other typical applications of tempered glass include:
- Balcony doors
- Athletic facilities
- Swimming pools
- Façades
- Shower doors and bathroom areas
- Exhibition areas and displays
- Computer towers or cases
Buildings and structures
Tempered glass is also used in buildings for unframed assemblies (such as frameless glass doors), structurally loaded applications, and any other application that would become dangerous in the event of human impact. Building codes in the United States require tempered or laminated glass in several situations including some skylights, glass installed near doorways and stairways, large windows, windows which extend close to floor level, sliding doors, elevators, fire department access panels, and glass installed near swimming pools.
Laminated Glass
WAKEFIELD GLASS & ALUMINIUM > LAMINATED GLASS
Laminated glass is a type of safety glass that holds together when shattered. In the event of breaking, it is held in place by an interlayer, typically of polyvinyl butyrate (PVB), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) , or Thermoplastic Polyurethane , between its two or more layers of glass. The interlayer keeps the layers of glass bonded even when broken, and its high strength prevents the glass from breaking up into large sharp pieces. This produces a characteristic “spider web” cracking pattern when the impact is not enough to completely pierce the glass. In the case of the EVA, the thermoset EVA, offers a complete bounding (cross-linking) with the material whether it is glass, polycarbonate, PET, or other types of products. TPU is the best choice for Bullet-Resistant Glass.
Laminated glass is normally used when there is a possibility of human impact or where the glass could fall if shattered and also for architectural applications. Skylight glazing and automobile windscreens typically use laminated glass. In geographical areas requiring hurricane-resistant construction, laminated glass is often used in exterior storefronts, curtain walling and windows.
Laminated glass is also used to increase the sound insulation rating of a window, where it significantly improves sound attenuation compared to monolithic glass panes of the same thickness. For this purpose a special “acoustic PVB” compound is used for the interlayer. In the case of the EVA material, no additional acoustic material is required, since the EVA provides sound insulation. TPU is an elastic material, so sound absorption is intrinsic to its nature. An additional property of laminated glass for windows is that an adequate TPU, PVB or EVA interlayer can block nearly all ultraviolet radiation. A thermoset EVA, for example, can block up to 99.9% of all UV
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We offer sealed double glazing units cut to size incorporating clear, obscure, tinted glass toughened, laminated & low E coated glasses with the options as follows
Spacer Bars 6mm to 20mm in 2 mm steps in silver, gold, black brown & warm edge
Leaded Diamond, Rectangular & Queen Anne leaded units to 1 or both sides of outer pane
Coloured Designs
Georgian effect bars available in white, brown or Quadra gold
Solar control available in clear or tints
Self cleaning glass to outer pane
Critical Locations are considered to be:
1. Glazing in doors – Glass which is wholly or partially within 1500mm from floor level. As the drawing below shows, any glass in doors that does not start over 1500mm from the floor must be safety glass.
2. Glazing adjacent to doors – Windows/side panels wholly or partially within 300mm of the edge of a door and which is also wholly or partially within 1500mm from floor level must be safety glass.
3. Low Level Glazing – Not covered in (1) OR (2) ABOVE – Other glazing that is wholly or partially within 800mm from floor level. This means that windows that are not located within 300mm of a door must use safety glass if the bottom of the glazing is within 800mm of the floor level.
Glazing in ‘Critical Locations’ should either:
1. Break safely, if it breaks, i.e. laminated or toughened Class C safety glass complying with BS6206. Or if it is installed in a door or in door side panels and has a width or height exceeding 900mm it should be Class B of BS 6206. These requirements do tend to change and it may also be stamped with an EN number.
Please note:
• Ordinary wired glass is not safety glass.
• For double-glazed sealed units, the rules apply to both pieces of glass.
• All safety glazing should be permanently marked in accordance with BS6206. The markings should be still visible after the glass has been fitted and the beading and pointing has been completed.
The most common form of safety glass (and the lowest cost) is 4mm toughened glass. This glass is used for almost all residential safety glazing and 4mm toughened comes in a large range of obscure patterns as well as the energy saving glass – Pilkington K glass.
Normal glass (annealed) can also be used as a safety glass in some instances as long as the glass is thick enough. As an example 6mm annealed glass can be used in doors up to a glazing width of 250mm but must not exceed 0.5sq.metre in area.
Other annealed glass regulations are as follows…
8mm glass can be used as safety glass if it does not exceed 1100mm in any direction
10mm glass can be used as safety glass if it does not exceed 2.25m in any direction
12mm glass can be used as safety glass if it does not exceed 3.0m in height or 4.5m in width
15mm glass can be used as safety glass in any size opening