Safety glass, sometimes known as tempered glass, is a practical choice for many applications in the home. Unlike other kinds of glass, this type is less likely to break and cause injury to a person or damage to an object. If you’re seeking a safer alternative for your residential glass projects, here are a few ways to use this material.

How to Use Safety Glass in the Home

1. Bathroom

Safety glass makes a smart addition to your bathroom, whether you need new shower doors or a glass surround for a bathtub. Bathroom glass should always be tempered, not just as a matter of safety, but also to meet certain residential code guidelines.

Since bathroom surfaces can become wet and slippery, people are more likely to slip in this room. Safety glass shatters into rounded fragments, reducing the likelihood of an injury if you were to strike the material during a fall.

2. Doors

Residential glass doors are always designed with safety glass. Whether it’s a sliding, swinging, or bi-fold door, the glass should be as stable as possible. Since doors see significant use and may be on the home's exterior, where they're exposed to the elements and potential impacts from flying debris, tempered glass will protect your family if the material shatters.

3. Stairway

Glass can also be used as a rail for the stairs or the balusters that provide both decoration and support to the banister. The clean lines and minimalist aesthetic work well in homes with contemporary design schemes. If the safety glass decorating the staircase were to break, the person using the steps or someone below wouldn’t be at risk of serious injury.

4. Windows

Many windows in the home must also be equipped with safety glass, especially if any are larger than 9 square feet, the top is more than 36 inches from the ground, or the bottom is less than 18 inches from the ground.

Since it’s less inclined to shatter into pieces, an unwelcome intruder may have a much harder time breaking inside. Safety glass is also energy-efficient, minimizing heat loss or gain to reduce the amount you need to use your HVAC system.

If you’re seeking a reliable company to install safety glass in your home, turn to the team at Rochester Auto Glass & Mirror Co. in New York. They'll work closely with you to ensure they add high-quality residential glass to all the desired areas of your home. Visit them online to learn more about their services and products, or call (585) 454-1850 to discuss your project.