Spontaneous glass breakage takes place when tempered glass fractures or shatters without any probable cause. Although it may seem like a random incident, there is usually a reason why it happens. Typically, it’s is due to nickel sulfide inclusions that are oftentimes contained in float glass. These imperfections can potentially cause the glass to break if their pressure point is hit enough times.
However, there are certain things that you can do in order to decrease the chance of spontaneous glass breakage from happening. But remember that such an occurrence is rare, and while you don’t want it to take place, tempered glass breaks into tiny, roundish pieces that would be unlikely to cut someone if it were to happen.
Keep quality in mind.
Although the possibility of spontaneous glass breakage taking place is small, one way to protect against it is to always consider quality. Float glass made in the United States, for instance, is of the highest quality with very minimal nickel sulfide inclusions, making it less likely to break than poorly fabricated, low-quality glass.
You also want to make sure the glass is going to be tempered correctly; that way, if it does break, whether in a commercial, residential or retail environment, the glass won’t fracture in a way that would hurt someone. This is why you should choose your glass manufacturer wisely, as the type of fabricator you work with will have a direct effect on the quality of the finished product.
Properly tempered glass breaks into small pieces.
One of the many benefits of tempered glass is its ability to break into thousands of minute pieces that would be unlikely to cause anyone nearby harm. Plus, it is an extremely tough material—four to five times stronger than annealed glass—that can withstand a significant amount of stress. So even though spontaneous glass breakage can potentially take place, the chances are slim and the repercussions aren’t detrimental.
