At some point in time everyone one of us is going to experience glass breakage and the first question is always going to be:
“How did this glass break?”
Sometimes the answer can be obvious, like a baseball hitting it. Today, we will focus on some other factors that are not so obvious, and on laminated glass strength.
Considerations:
- The first thing to consider is the design of the glass part. If it is fabricated with sharp 90 degrees inside corners, it will be doomed from the start. A radius is always needed in these areas. See image below for different edge finishes.
- Depending on the size of the glass and how it will be used, you will need to consider using the correct thickness and type of glass.
- Hole locations are another critical consideration, especially if the glass is going to be tempered for added strength and safety considerations.
- Even the type of edge finish can have a dramatic effect on the strength of the glass.
Testing UltraVue® Laminated Glass Strength
We tested the strength of Tru Vue UltraVue Laminated Glass (4.4mm thickness) to demonstrate how much stronger the glass can be with the proper edge finish applied to it. Find out which edge finish makes the glass stronger when we add weight to it: waterjet cut edge, flat edge grind, or flat edge polish, in this video.
Learn more about JIT’s glass edge options.
About The Author(s)
JIT Companies
Ron Beltz
Ron Beltz is the Chief Executive Officer and Owner of JIT Companies Inc. in Green Isle, Minnesota. Ron began his waterjet and stained glass restoration business in 1984. The company was previously known as CGC Studios or Classic Glass. In 2006, Ron combined the glass, laminating and waterjet divisions under one umbrella forming JIT Companies as it is known today.