If you have ever had something hit your windshield, then you probably noticed that instead of it breaking into a million pieces, it just cracks, and all the glass stays in place. Whereas if you break one of your side doors’ windows, the glass will shatter and leave a huge mess. This is because a different type of glass is used for both. On one hand you have laminated glass, which is what you would find on a windshield, whereas tempered glass is what you might find on a side door. Now you might ask “Why use different types of glass for different windows?” Well, that is exactly what this blog will teach you.
Laminated Glass
It is no coincidence that laminated glass is primarily used on the windshield of the vehicle. The windshield being on the front of your vehicle has the highest chance of breaking during impact. Instead of breaking into a bunch of pieces and causing potential harm to the vehicle’s passengers, the laminate glass will crack and hold the pieces of glass in place. Additionally, in the event that a person is not wearing their seatbelt during a crash, the laminate glass will help prevent an individual from ejecting out of the car. Because of its ability to handle a strong impact without breaking, laminated glass is also used for things like shop windows.
Tempered Glass
For most vehicles, the windshield would be laminated glass and the rest of the glass would be tempered. Tempered glass has its benefits as well. Tempered glass will break into thousands of little pieces that are not sharp so they will not harm anyone in the vehicle. This glass type is commonly used for cooking dishes, sunglasses, and phone screens. There is no way to repair this glass once cracked, it can only be replaced.
Things to consider
When it comes to your vehicle, knowing what type of glass you have on which windows is important because there are potential risks associated during emergency situations. For instance, some vehicles are made with laminated glass in the front half of the car to reduce the chance of ejecting out the side window. Additionally, it can provide the driver with a quieter driving experience as laminated glass reduces overall sound from entering the cabin. However, the risks to this are that it will be much more difficult to break out of the car or break into it in an emergency situation. Ordinary glass breaking tools will not work on laminated glass and even 1st responders will have a hard time cutting through the glass to get you out. If you do have a vehicle with laminated side windows, it would be a good idea to have a vehicle escape plan.
