SECTION 4
Thermally Treated Soda Lime Silicate
Glass Products
Contents
1 Scope
2 Introduction
3 Heat strengthened soda lime silicate glass
4 Thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass
5 Heat soaked thermally toughened soda lime
silicate safety glass
Bibliography
1. Scope
This Data Sheet examines, in general terms, the various types of
thermally treated soda lime silicate glass products.
Thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass is covered in
detail in the GGF Data Sheet 4.4 - Quality of Thermally Toughened
Soda Lime Silicate Safety Glass for Building.
This Data Sheet does not apply to:
• curved thermally treated glass products.
• spontaneous breakage of thermally treated soda lime silicate
glass products
NOTE: See GGF Data Sheet 4.12.3: Curved glass – Part 3: Curved
thermally treated glass products
NOTE: See GGF Data Sheet 4.4.2:Thermally treated soda lime
silicate glass products – Spontaneous breakage,
2. Introduction
Glass always breaks due to excessive tensile stresses being applied
to the surface or/and edges of the glass and over stressing either
the natural sub-microscopic “Griffiths Flaws” or larger flaws caused
by damage to the glass.
The earliest discovery of a stronger form of glass was “Prince
Rupert’s Drops” which were made from tear drops of molten glass
cooled rapidly.These were more entertaining than useful, but could
resist hammer blows at levels of force which would shatter
annealed (untreated) glass.
Glass and Glazing Federation
Tel: 020 7939 9100 Fax: 0870 042 4266
4.4.1 November 2014
The physical reasons for this phenomenon was not known at the
time of the discovery, but results from the fact that glass taken
above a critical temperature contracts to a lesser extent if it is
cooled more rapidly.
The effect of quenching a glass panel cools the surface very rapidly,
but the interior of the glass cools less rapidly and contracts to a
greater extent than the surface layers.The heat treated product has
a set of built- in stresses as a result of the different rates of
contraction.The stresses are compressive at the surface with a
balancing tensile stress in the central region.
The built-in compressive stress at the surface of the glass has to
be overcome before the flaws in the surface become susceptible to
over stressing.The effect is to provide a product which is more
resistant to applied forces, be they of mechanical, impact or
thermal origin.
There are three different types of thermally treated glass products
available:
• Heat strengthened soda lime silicate glass – EN 1863
• Thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass – EN 12150
• Heat soaked thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass –
EN 14179
3. Heat strengthened soda lime silicate glass
3.1 Manufacturing Stress Levels
Heat strengthened glass is made from non-wired annealed glass
which has been heated to a uniform temperature above 650˚C
and cooled fairly rapidly, usually by blowing cold air evenly at both
surfaces. Heat strengthened glass has a built-in stress as a result of
this process, giving a surface compressive stress in the range of
25 N/mm2 to 42 N/mm2, i.e. 3,600 psi to 6,000 psi.
3.2 Strength Characteristics
Heat strengthened glass will resist thermal stresses and thermal
shock at levels more than two times higher than annealed glass.
The figure quoted in EN 1863-1 is 100K.This should be sufficient
to cope with most of the thermal stresses encountered in glazing in
buildings. Heat strengthened glass has a maximum operating
temperature of 200˚C
While every attempt is made to p sent up to date
inf rmation, this data sheet, produced by the Glass
and Glazing Federation, is issued f r guidance but
without responsibility f r any advice given therein or
omission theref m or f r the consequences of acting
in reliance thereon and all liability on the part of the
Glass and Glazing Federation however arising in
connection therewith is expressly disclaimed.
Thermally Treated Soda Lime Silicate Glass Products
3.3 Thermal Characteristics
Heat strengthened glass will resist thermal stresses and thermal
shock at levels more than two times higher than annealed glass.The
figure quoted in EN 1863-1 is 100K.This should be sufficient to
cope with most of the thermal stresses encountered in glazing in
buildings. Heat strengthened glass has a maximum operating
temperature of 200˚C
3.4 Fracture Characteristics
Heat strengthened glass is designed to give some of the advantages
of toughened glass, e.g. a proportion of the increased strength and
thermal resistance, while retaining the fracture characteristics of
annealed glass. In order for this to occur, the levels of built-in
stresses must be sufficiently low to eliminate the possibility of
violent crack propagation after a fracture is initiated.
The maximum compressive surface stress must be below
42N/mm2, i.e. 6,000 psi, to comply with this requirement.
Since the fracture characteristics of heat strengthened glass are
similar to annealed glass, it should not be considered as a safety
glass.Therefore a classification under the pendulum impact test, i.e.
EN 12600, should not be claimed. However, if heat strengthened
glass is used in a situation that requires a safety glass then it should
be laminated to enable it to obtain an EN12600 classification.
NOTE:The laminated product should conform to EN 14449.
3.5 Thickness Limitations
The fragmentation requirement requires that the built-in stress are
limited and this can lead to difficulties in providing uniform cooling
at a sufficiently slow rate when the glass thickness is more than
10mm. In practice heat strengthened glass can only be supplied
10mm or thinner.
3.6 Optical Distortion and Bow
Heat strengthened glass is susceptible to optical distortion and bow
in a similar manner to toughened glass (see 4.6),but the slightly less
onerous processing regime and the lower levels of built-in stress
make it possible that the amount of distortion and bow will be less
than in toughened glass.
The possible reduction in bow and distortion means that heat
strengthened glass may be a more visually pleasing product than
toughened glass where opaque cladding panels or reflective glasses
are required to have higher resistance to thermal stress than
annealed (untreated) glass.
3.6.1 Nickel Sulfide Inclusions
See GGF Data Sheet 4.4.2:Thermally treated soda lime silicate glass
products – Spontaneous breakage.
3.7 Marking
The heat strengthened soda lime silicate glass in accordance with
EN 1863-1 shall be marked as follows:
• Manufacturers trade mark or name
• The standard number, i.e. EN 1863
3.8 Compliance
Heat strengthened soda lime silicate glass that meets the
requirements of EN 1863-1 shall be manufactured and approved
to comply with EN 1863-2.
4. Thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass
4.1 Manufacturing Stress Levels
Toughened glass is made from non-wired annealed glass which has
been heated to a uniform temperature above 650˚C and cooled
rapidly, usually by blowing cold air evenly at both surfaces.
Toughened glass has a high built-in stress as a result of the rapid
cooling, giving a surface compressive stress in the range of
80N/mm 2
to 150N/mm2, i.e. 11,600psi to 21,700psi.
A thermally toughened glass, suitable for safety glass applications is
likely to have a surface compressive stress greater than 100N/mm2,
i.e. 14,500psi.To confirm that the thermally toughened glass can
claim resistance to accidental human impact it must be classified for
pendulum impact performance in accordance with EN 12600.
4.2 Strength Characteristics
Toughened glass will resist mechanical forces more than 4 times
higher than annealed glass, although it is often not possible to make
full use of this, because toughened glass has only the same modulus
of elasticity as annealed (untreated) glass.The design of a
toughened glass pane is often governed by deflection limitations
rather than strength limitations.
(See also GGF Data Sheet 4.4: Quality of Thermally Toughened
Soda Lime Silicate Safety Glass for Building, Section 9.2: Mechanical
strength).
The strength of toughened safety glass is sufficient to allow it to be
used in a number of structural and semi structural roles. In
particular, toughened glass has a usable and reliable strength for
holes and notches, which make it suitable for bolted connections,
provided these are suitably designed.
(See also GGF Data Sheet 4.4: Quality of Thermally Toughened
Soda Lime Silicate Safety Glass for Building, Section 6: Edge and/or
surface work, holes, notches and cut-outs and BS 6262-6: 2005).
4.3 Thermal Characteristics
Toughened glass will resist thermal stresses and thermal shock at
levels more than 5 times higher than annealed glass.The figure
quoted in EN 12150-1 is 200K. It has a maximum operating
temperature of 250˚C, above which it is possible for the built-in
stresses to be gradually released.
4.4 Fracture Characteristics
Due to the high levels of built-in stresses, once a fracture is initiated
in toughened glass, it propagates violently due to the released
energy.The effect is to disintegrate the glass into numerous small
pieces, the edges of which are generally relatively harmless and are
unlikely to cause cutting and piercing injuries like broken pieces of
annealed glass
(See also GGF Data Sheet 4.4. Quality of Thermally Toughened
Soda Lime Silicate Safety Glass for Building: Section 4: Fracture
Characteristics).
It is because of this fragmentation after fracture that thermally
toughened soda lime silicate safety glass when classified in
accordance with EN 12600 is regarded as a safety glass. When it is
classified as a safety glass it can then be used in critical locations (as
defined in BS 6262-4: 2005). It is necessary to ensure that the
toughened glass has sufficiently high built-in stress to provide the
fragmentation characteristics required for a safety glass.
Thermally Treated Soda Lime Silicate Glass Products

The fracture pattern, under controlled fracture conditions, can be 5.2 Manufacturing Process
used to assess the quality of toughened glass. A minimum count of
Heat soaked thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety is
40 particles in a 50mm square, under these controlled fracture
manufactured initially as thermally toughened soda lime silicate
conditions, is evidence of a toughened safety glass.
safety glass that is then subjected to the heat soak process cycle.
(See also GGF Data Sheet 4.4: Quality of Thermally Toughened
The heat soak process cycle consists of heating the glass up to
Soda Lime Silicate Safety Glass for Building: Section 11:
280˚C.The glass is then held at a temperature between 290˚C
Fragmentation test).
±10˚C for a period of two hours. After the holding period the glass
4.5 Thickness Limitations is cooled in a controlled manner.

There are no practical limits on the thicknesses of non-wired
annealed glass that can be thermally toughened. However,
depending upon actual thickness and/or thickness variation certain
products may not be able to be classified for resistance to
pendulum body impact.
4.6 Optical Distortion and Bow
The heating of the glass softens it sufficiently to allow gravitational
or other forces to cause minor distortions of the glass, leaving it
optically less perfect than the annealed glass from which it was
made.The toughening process may also cause some bow in the
glass. While manufacturers make efforts to keep the distortion and
bow to a minimum, it is inevitable that some will occur.
Any distortion or bow will be much more noticeable when the
glass is viewed in reflection.This is particularly the case with opaque
cladding panels and reflective coated glasses.
(See also GGF Data Sheet 4.4: Quality of Thermally Toughened
Soda Lime Silicate Safety Glass for Building, Section 5.3: Flatness).
4.7 Nickel Sulfide Inclusions
See GGF Data Sheet 4.4.2:Thermally treated soda lime silicate glass
products – Spontaneous breakage
4.8 Marking
The thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass in
accordance with EN 12150-1 shall be marked as follows:
• Manufacturers trade mark or name;
• The standard number, i.e. EN 12150,
NOTE: If a critical nickel sulfide inclusion is present then the glass
should break during the heat soak process.
5.3 Properties
The heat soaked thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass
has the same properties as thermally toughened soda lime silicate
safety glass. (See clauses 4.1 to 4.6)
5.4 Nickel Sulfide Inclusions
Heat soaked thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass is
manufactured so as to limit the likelihood of critical nickel sulfide
inclusions being present in the final product.
According to EN 14179-1: -
The risk of spontaneous breakage, on a statistical basis, due to the
presence of critical nickel sulfide inclusions is one breakage per 400
tonnes of heat soaked thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety
glass.
NB:This residual risk is on a statistical basis and does not
necessarily refer to any specific batch.
(See also GGF Data Sheet 4.4.2:Thermally treated soda lime
silicate glass products – Spontaneous breakage.)
5.5 Marking
The heat soaked thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass
in accordance with EN 14179-1 shall be marked as follows:
• Manufacturers trade mark or name;

And when used in critical locations, see BS 6262-4: 2005, • The standard number, i.e. EN 14179,
• EN 12600 classification And when used in critical locations, see BS 6262-4: 2005,
4.9 Compliance • EN 12600 classification
Thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass that meets the
5.6 Compliance
requirements of EN 12150-1 shall be manufactured and approved
to comply with EN 12150-2. Heat soaked thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass that
meets the requirements of EN14179-1 shall be manufactured and
5. Heat soaked thermally toughened soda lime silicate
approved to comply with EN 14179-2.
safety glass
5.1 General
The description of a heat soaked thermally toughened soda lime
silicate safety glass from EN 14179-1 can be presented as follows:

Heat soaked thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass has
a similar break pattern to thermally toughened soda lime silicate
safety glass according to EN 12150. It also has a known level of
residual risk of spontaneous breakage arising from the possible
presence of critical nickel sulfide (NiS) inclusions in the thermally
toughened soda lime silicate glass.
Thermally Treated Soda Lime Silicate Glass Products

Bibliography
British Standards:

BS 6262-4: 2005 Glazing for buildings -

Part 4: Code of practice for safety related to human impact

BS 6262-6: 2005: Glazing for buildings - Part 6:

Code of practice for special applications

European Standards

EN 1863-1: Glass in building - Heat strengthened soda lime silicate

glass - Part 1: Definition and description

EN 1863-2: Glass in building - Heat strengthened soda lime silicate

glass - Part 2: Evaluation of conformity/Product standard

EN 12150-1: Glass in building - Thermally toughened soda lime

silicate safety glass - Part 1: Definition and description

EN 12150-2: Glass in building - Thermally toughened soda lime

silicate safety glass - Part 2: Evaluation of conformity/ Product
standard

EN 12600: Glass in building - Pendulum test - Impact test method

and classification for flat glass

EN 14179-1: Glass in building - Heat soaked thermally toughened

soda lime silicate safety glass - Part 1: Definition and description

EN 14179-2: Glass in building - Heat soaked thermally toughened

soda lime silicate safety glass - Part 2: Evaluation of
conformity/Product standard

EN 14449: Glass in building – Laminated glass and laminated

safety glass

GGF Data Sheets

GGF Data Sheet 4.4 Quality of Thermally Toughened Soda Lime

Silicate Safety Glass for Building

GGF Data Sheet 4.4.2 Thermally Treated Soda Lime Silicate Glass
Products – Spontaneous Breakage