Mar 29 2023 Sophia

Tempered glass is a type of safety glass that is commonly used in windows, shower doors, and other applications where safety is a concern. It is created by heating the glass to a high temperature and then rapidly cooling it, which makes the glass stronger and more resistant to impacts. However, tempered glass is also prone to a phenomenon known as spontaneous breakage, which can cause the glass to shatter without warning. In this article, we will explore why tempered glass is prone to spontaneous breakage and how to prevent it.

 

What is Spontaneous Breakage?

Spontaneous breakage, also known as “exploding glass,” refers to the sudden and unexpected fracture of tempered glass without any apparent external force or impact. This type of breakage can occur in tempered glass for several reasons, including:

Nickel sulfide inclusions

This is the number one cause of spontaneous breakage.

During the tempering process, small particles of nickel sulfide can become trapped inside the glass. Over time, these particles can expand and cause the glass to break.

Thermal stress

When tempered glass is exposed to extreme temperature changes, such as direct sunlight or cold drafts, it can cause the glass to expand and contract rapidly. This can lead to stress on the glass, which can cause it to break.

Installation defects

If tempered glass is not installed properly, it can put stress on the glass and cause it to break.

Cases of spontaneous breakage in Singapore

Over the past decade, there have been at least 530 reported cases of exterior glass breakage. And this number does not even take into account breakage of shower glass panels!

The two most notable cases of spontaneous breakage that occurred recently are:

1. Serangoon Condominium (September 2022), where a bathroom glass door in a unit shattered suddenly, injuring a two-year-old and her grandmother, who was bathing her. Both the girl and her grandmother suffered cuts to their entire body. The girl also suffered injury to her face but was fortunate that she was not looking up, which could have been potentially more deadly if the shards were to enter her eyes or mouth.

 

2. Siloso Beach Resort (June 2022), where the hotel glass shower door suddenly shattered, injuring a woman who was there on a staycation with her family. It took more than an hour to remove all the glass shards from her body.

Why is tempered glass known as a “safety glass” if it can cause such serious harm?

Tempered glass is known as a safety glass because it is designed to break into small, rounded pieces instead of sharp, jagged shards when it is shattered. This makes it less likely to cause injury in the event of breakage.

However, it can still cause injury if the pieces are large enough or if the force of the impact is strong enough. It is especially dangerous when it happens around children, the elderly, or pets as they are smaller in stature and more fragile. Hence, when the glass shatters and fall from above them, it can cause serious harm.

 

How to prevent spontaneous breakage

While spontaneous breakage cannot be completely prevented, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk. Two ways include:

Installing safety film

A safety film for shower screen is a type of adhesive film that is applied to the surface of a glass shower screen to improve its safety. The film is made of a strong, shatter-resistant material that is designed to hold the glass together if it breaks, preventing sharp glass shards from flying out and causing injury.

Safety film for shower screens is an affordable and effective way to improve the safety of your bathroom and reduce the risk of injury from broken glass. It can be applied on existing tempered glass, which makes for fast installation and a more sustainable choice.

Use laminated glass instead of tempered glass

Laminated glass is a type of safety glass that is made by sandwiching a layer of clear or tinted plastic, typically polyvinyl butyral (PVB), between two or more layers of glass. The plastic interlayer in laminated glass helps to hold the glass together if it is shattered, preventing it from breaking into sharp, dangerous pieces that can cause injury. This makes laminated glass a popular choice for applications where safety is a primary concern, such as in automobile windshields, building windows, skylights, and glass railings.

Although this is a safer option as compared to tempered glass, it is also much pricier. It can cost 2 to 3 times more than tempered glass. Laminated glass is also heavier and thus less suitable for bathrooms.

Conclusion

Tempered glass is a strong and durable type of safety glass, but it is also prone to spontaneous breakage. This can be caused by nickel sulfide inclusions, thermal stress, or installation defects. To reduce the risk of spontaneous breakage, it is important to take precautions. A great way to do so is by installing safety films on your existing shower screens. The film will hold glass shards together in an event of breakage, giving you enough time to replace the glass safely and without incident. By taking these steps, you can keep you and your loved ones safe, and tempered glass can continue to be a safe and reliable choice for households.

 

Got any questions about safety films that haven’t been answered here? Feel free to contact us. We’re happy to help home owners in their home solutions journey.

At Jestac, we distribute world-class 3M Safety Films for customers across Singapore. If you are shopping around for safety films and other interior solutions, feel free to take a look at our safety films, visit our blog, or request custom pricing by contacting us.

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