How to avoid the potential problem with glass wall breakage over time?

Curtain wall mostly plays a significant role in the modern architecture. They can be more cost-effective and can be installed faster than precast panels, granite or brick exteriors, and have reduced structural support requirements because of their lighter weight.

As it is well acknowledged, glass wall panel is the soul of any curtain wall facade. Internal and external glass panels have been used in a wide range for both homes and offices today. They look sublime and open up spaces without compromising the safety and security of people around them. When coupled with the right kind of glazing options, they also offer sound insulation and shower in heaps of natural light. Unlike distempered or papered walls, curtain wall panel can remain free from dust and do not peel off. However, there is no doubt that it is easy for glass panels to be brittle over time in applications. Generally speaking, the fragile nature of glass can be countered by manufacturing toughened safety glass. Tempered or toughened surfaces are created through the process of heat tempering. In this method, a pane of standard annealed or float glass is cut to size and rolled into a 680°C preheated furnace. And, the heat takes the glass pane beyond its transmission temperature. After applying heat, the glass surface can be made to cool down rapidly. Rapid cooling allows the outer layer of glass to lose warmth faster than the inner layer. This process creates “centre tension” and strengthens the glass surface.

If you are planning to use glass curtain wall for your house, tempered glass panel would be a better choice, because tempered glass surface is at least five times tougher than standard annealed glass. These panes can withstand temperature differentials and are very hard to break. If they deal with a substantial impact, toughened glass panes shatter into blunt and tiny pebble-like pieces that are harmless. Another type of glass used to counter the problem of brittleness is laminated glass. This type of glass has a Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB) layer sandwiched between two layers of standard glass, the special PVB interlayer holding the panes together in place. Therefore, if you are planning on getting glass wall panels installed inside your home or office, use either toughened or laminated glass. The right glazing option is the ultimate fix for the issue of brittleness.