Different Types of Tempered Glass: Choosing the Right Solution for Your Application

Tempered glass, also referred to as toughened glass, is widely recognized for its superior strength, heat resistance, and safety performance. Used across a wide range of industries—from architecture and automotive to electronics and interior design—tempered glass is essential in any setting where enhanced durability and human safety are required. However, not all tempered glass is the same.

For engineers, contractors, OEMs, and designers, understanding the different types of tempered glass is critical to choosing the right material for each application. At Shottglass, we provide a complete line of high-performance tempered glass solutions, tailored to meet varying functional, structural, and aesthetic needs.

1.Flat Tempered Glass: The Industry Standard for Strength and Clarity 

Flat tempered glass is the most commonly used form of toughened glass. It is made from high-quality float glass, which is heat-treated to achieve its strengthened properties. The surface remains completely flat after the tempering process, making it ideal for installations that require clean lines, high optical clarity, and dimensional precision.

Applications:
Office and residential windows
Commercial display panels
Glass doors
Shower enclosures
Glass furniture

Key Advantages:
Minimal distortion
High strength-to-thickness ratio
Consistent visual quality
Available in large panel sizes

At Shottglass, our flat tempered glass is engineered with a low self-explosion rate and reduced surface wave, delivering a premium product with lower maintenance costs and better safety assurance.

2. Curved Tempered Glass: For Architectural Innovation 

Curved or bent tempered glass is a high-end solution for design-driven applications. It goes through the same heating and cooling cycle as flat tempered glass but is shaped over a mold during the heating process. This results in a smooth, precisely curved surface without compromising strength or safety.

Applications:
Curtain walls
Glass balustrades
Revolving doors
Showcase and storefronts
Custom furniture

Key Advantages:
Tailored radius and curvature
Visual impact and modern aesthetics
Maintains the same safety performance as flat tempered glass
Ideal for challenging architectural demands

Curved tempered glass from Shottglass is frequently used in high-traffic commercial spaces where both design and durability are non-negotiable.

3. Laminated Tempered Glass: Maximum Safety and Noise Reduction 

Laminated tempered glass is produced by bonding two or more tempered glass sheets together with an interlayer (usually PVB or SGP). While each sheet is individually toughened, the lamination process adds additional safety features. If the glass is broken, the interlayer holds the fragments in place, preventing them from falling or causing injury.

Applications:
Skylights and overhead glazing
Bullet-resistant or impact-resistant glazing
Airport terminals and train stations
High-end facades
Automotive windshields

Key Advantages:

Superior safety and anti-shatter properties
Noise insulation
UV protection (depending on the interlayer)
Optional fire- or bullet-resistance
This type of glass is often required by building codes in overhead or public-facing applications. Shottglass offers laminated tempered glass in both flat and curved configurations.

4. Silk-Screen Printed Tempered Glass: Aesthetic Meets Functionality 

Silk-screen tempered glass is treated with ceramic-based paints that are fused into the surface during the tempering process. The printing can be decorative or functional, providing privacy, branding, shading, or anti-glare properties.

Applications:
Office partitions
Decorative facades
Signage and branding
Glass walls and doors
Appliance panels (microwaves, cooktops, etc.)

Key Advantages:
Long-lasting color that won't fade or peel
Customizable patterns and designs
Enhances privacy and light control
Maintains the full strength of tempered glass

As a value-added OEM solution, silk-screen printed glass from Shottglass can be tailored to meet branding or architectural themes with precise color matching and custom design layouts.

5. Low-Iron Tempered Glass: Crystal Clarity for Premium Project

Low-iron tempered glass contains significantly less iron content than standard float glass, which eliminates the green tint usually seen in thicker glass panels. The result is exceptional clarity, brightness, and color neutrality.

Applications:
Luxury retail showcases
High-end facades and glazing
Solar panels
Pool fencing
Interior partitions

Key Advantages:

Crystal-clear appearance
True color rendering
High transparency, even in thick panels
Pairs well with other coatings or laminations
Shottglass produces low-iron tempered glass for clients who demand exceptional optical clarity without compromising safety and strength.

6. Tinted and Reflective Tempered Glass: Light and Heat Control 

Tempered glass can also be made with tinting or reflective coatings for thermal insulation, solar control, or privacy. The color options range from light gray and bronze to blue and green, and can be combined with other functionalities like lamination or printing.

Applications:

Office towers and high-rise buildings
Hotels and commercial complexes
Sunrooms and conservatories
Solar control glass
Decorative facades

Key Advantages:

Reduces glare and heat gain
Enhances privacy without blinds or films
Aesthetic enhancement
UV protection

Shottglass offers tinted and reflective tempered glass solutions to meet regional energy regulations and climate-specific needs.

How to Choose the Right Type of Tempered Glass? 

When selecting tempered glass, it’s crucial to consider the following factors:
Application environment (indoor vs. outdoor, structural vs. decorative)
Safety requirements (laminated or non-laminated)
Optical clarity (low-iron or standard float)
Thermal performance (tinted or coated)
Aesthetic design (flat, curved, printed, etc.)
Size and thickness specifications

Partnering with an experienced manufacturer like Shottglass ensures that you receive expert guidance, top-grade raw materials, and precise fabrication, no matter the complexity of your project.

Tempered glass comes in many variations—each designed to meet specific safety, performance, and visual needs. Whether you require basic flat panels or fully customized curved, laminated, or printed solutions, Shottglass offers a one-stop source for high-quality tempered glass made in China and trusted worldwide.

With years of industry experience, advanced production lines, and flexible OEM services, we help our partners deliver better products on time, within budget, and above expectations.

If you're sourcing tempered glass for architectural, industrial, or commercial use, talk to our team today. Let’s build something stronger, safer, and smarter—together.