Cutting single-pane safety glass - is that possible?


ESG glass allows only a very small amount of processing after its production. As a rule, all cutting and grinding work is therefore done before curing. Whether you can still cut ESG glass, and which safety glasses are easier to work, you can find out here.

Cutting and grinding work on toughened glass

The production of ESG glass is made of ordinary window glass. It is heated up until it changes its properties, and then cooled down abruptly.

Rapid cooling produces a high residual stress in the glass because the surface cools faster than the glass core. This residual stress in a cutting test would cause the glass to shatter immediately into crumbs.

ESG glass can therefore neither be ground nor cut to size. If tempered glass panes do not fit, they can not be used. It must be made new, matching in size slices.

Cutting laminated glass

VSG glass, on the other hand, has a completely different structure. Here, the impact resistance and the splintering ability does not come from the glass itself, but from the construction method.

For the properties of laminated safety glass, a viscoelastic plastic film is responsible, which is firmly laminated together with the two (or more) glass panes. The glass itself, however, remains unchanged in terms of its properties in these panes.

The cutting of laminated glass is complicated and complicated. As a rule, it can only be cut and processed by the master glazier.

With bulletproof glass (laminated glass with a thickness of more than 25 mm) cutting is no longer possible in all cases. The thick film must be cut through cleanly, the thickness of the glass panes creates a risk of breakage.

VSG glass is cut professionally today mainly with special techniques:

  • Infarotstrahler
  • laser technology
  • water radiators

This allows for clean, smooth cuts as well as a clean cut through the film. If, on the other hand, the film is not cut through sufficiently smoothly, tensions in the glass can occur, which can later lead to glass breakage very easily.

Tips & Tricks

If you need a special tempered safety glass, such as a piece of furniture, it is best to use a glass with a glass to the exact extent. So you get a matching disc that does not need to be cut. The best way to do this is to use ESG-H glass, so that the risk of a possible spontaneous breakage of the pane is excluded from the outset.
Cutting single-pane safety glass - is that possible?

FAQ - 💬

❓ Is it possible to cut toughened glass?

👉 Can toughened glass be cut? Yes, your toughened glass for shower enclosures, balustrades, splashbacks or any other application can be cut to any size and shape you require. Cutting tempered glass, however, happens before the glass toughening process so it's easier and more precise.

❓ How do you cut a single pane glass?

👉 The process for cutting glass follows these simple steps:

  1. Thoroughly clean the glass you intent to cut.
  2. Lay the glass on a clean, flat, layered surface.
  3. Measure the glass to the required dimensions.
  4. Score the glass with a glass cutter, using a straightedge for guidance.
  5. Snap the glass along the scored line.

❓ Why can't you cut toughened glass?

👉 Toughened Glass is not able to be cut, drilled or shaped once the toughening process has been completed. This is because toughened glass is specifically designed to distribute pressure and will crack and shatter if the tensions within the glass are broken.

❓ Can tempered glass be professionally cut?

👉 Before you temper glass, it is first cut into the desired shape and size. Once you temper a piece of glass, it is very difficult to cut it again without shattering it. Typically, only professionals with special laser cutters can cut tempered glass.

❓ Is toughened glass the same as safety glass?

👉 Toughened glass, also known as tempered glass after its method of production, is a type of safety glass that is five times stronger than annealed and laminated glass of the same size and thickness.

❓ What is the difference between safety glass and tempered glass?

👉 Safety glass is also known as tempered glass or strengthened glass, because it has been processed using heat to make the glass stronger. Safety glass might also owe it's safer properties to having been laminated. When safety glass breaks, it crumbles into small, blunt pieces instead of shattering into sharp shards.

❓ How do you cut shatterproof glass?

👉 0:041:40How To: Cut Laminated Glass

❓ How can you tell if glass is tempered?

👉 Examine Its Edges Normally, tempered glass has completely smooth edges due to the extra processing it goes through, while other types of glass usually have scuffed or ridged edges. If the edges of the glass exposed, run your fingers along them.

❓ What happens if you try to cut tempered glass?

👉 Therefore, tempered glass is very popular and certainly has its benefits. One of the downsides is that it cannot be cut. Because it is safety glass, it will break into those small harmless round pieces if it is cut after tempering.

❓ How much does it cost to cut tempered glass?

👉 A budget-friendly option, tempered glass costs just $20 per square for cutting.

❓ Can you use a wet saw to cut tempered glass?

👉 First, I want to state that truly tempered glass cannot be cut. It will explode once the outer surface is breached. So the glass you cut with a wet porcelain tile saw was very likely not tempered.

❓ How to cut glass safely?

👉 The preparation on how to cut safety glass must be done outside or on a hardwood surface. Do not cut glass in a carpeted room, as glass particles may get stuck in a pile. Always, do make sure you have full-duty gloves on and safety goggles on. Prepare a clean, smooth, hard glass cutting surface like a solid workbench or a thick sheet of plywood.

❓ Can single pane glass windows be cut to size?

👉 If your house was built before 1970, there is a good chance that it retains its original windows with single pane glass. Our vans carry a good selection of single glass which can be cut to size and replaced on the same day.

❓ What are the rules for safety glazing?

👉 • Ordinary wired glass is not safety glass. • For double-glazed sealed units, the rules apply to both pieces of glass. • All safety glazing should be permanently marked in accordance with BS6206. The markings should be still visible after the glass has been fitted and the beading and pointing has been completed.

❓ Can laminated glass be cut to size?

👉 Yes, annealed laminated glass can be cut to size. The glass needs to be cut while it is still in the lamination film, and special tools and techniques are required. Semi tempered glass laminated glass and fully tempered laminated safety glass cannot be cut again. Does laminated glass noise-proof?


Video Board: Easiest Way To Cut Laminated Glass