Most swimming pools are surrounded by solid swimming pool fencing in Australia. The law makes it mandatory for pool owners to secure the poolside area. Since there are no guidelines related to the material to use, people go with beautiful and elegant glass fences made using toughened glass. The reason why only this glass is used is the strength and extreme durability that make it powerful enough to withstand any heavy impacts.
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THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE TOUGHENED GLASS
Toughened glass is also named tempered glass and is manufactured by subjecting annealed glass to control chemical and thermal treatments. The thermal tempering process is also initiated, which puts the outer surface of the glass into compression. This makes the glass more robust than other glasses, and hence, it is also considered safer.
PROPERTIES OF TOUGHENED GLASS USED IN GLASS FENCES
RESISTANT TO THERMAL BREAKAGE
The heat and sunlight impact the glass and make it expand and contract. This expansion and contraction are inconsistent, and as a result, ordinary glass can develop cracks. But this does not happen with toughened glass used in semi-frameless and frameless glass fences. This glass comes with excellent heat-withstanding capacity, and hence, the risk of thermal damage gets eliminated.
STRENGTH
Depending on the glass, you will enjoy different types of strength variations with the toughened glass of your glass fences. Researchers show that it can withstand surface compression of at least 10000 lbs per square inch. With the increasing width of the glass, the surface compression also increases, and mostly frameless glass fences come with a 12-millimetre toughened glass. There are no risks of damage if they somehow come in contact with any climate or disaster.
RESILIENCE
Due to excessive heating and cooling, the chemical composition of toughened glass goes through an alteration, and this makes it more resilient and an ideal glass to use in glass fences. This ensures that the toughened glass withstands any harsh impact. In fact, in the event of these impacts and clashes, if this glass breaks, instead of breaking into bigger, sharper and harmful pieces, it breaks into harmless, circular chunks. This way, the risk of any significant injury is completely eliminated, and they are easy to clean once the glass breaks.
It is known to be both thermally and physically very strong, and experts say that due to the process it goes through, it becomes five times stronger than any ordinary glass we see on our windows and doors. It can be used in different creative ways in areas where strength and durability are needed, like frameless glass fences. They are also used in commercial buildings and areas, where frameless glass doors are used.
