When a glass fabricator puts glass through the tempering process, the material is first heated in a furnace and then rapidly cooled. As a result, tempered glass is five times stronger than regular or annealed glass. It can better handle thermal stress, which makes it harder to break. And even if tempered glass does break, the pieces aren't sharp and jagged but dull and round, so anyone near the shattered glass is far less likely to be harmed.

Because of its strength, tempered glass is used to create many different items, from retail display cases to sports arena enclosures. But the heating and cooling process leaves the material less flat than annealed, or non-tempered, glass.

The amount of deviation in flatness depends on glass thickness, width, length and other factors, but the overall bow and warpage should not exceed industry tolerances depending on the material's dimensions.

During the tempering process one of the goals of the glass fabricator is to make sure that the glass doesn’t warp too much.  That's why the fabricator usually won't temper 1/8-inch thick glass because it has the highest tendency to warp.

Does that mean you can’t temper 1/8-inch thick glass?

Not necessarily.

If done correctly, 1/8-inch thick glass can be tempered and transformed into an exceptional finished product, suitable for various uses where thinner glass with less weight is desired.

If you need 1/8-inch thick tempered glass, contact several glass fabricators, but keep in mind these key qualities. Some won't be able to do it properly but others will get it done right.