Toughened Glass Cut to Size

Toughened glass is a form of safety glass (also called tempered glass) that has been heated to a very high temperature (typically over 600°C) and then rapidly cooled with jets of air in a controlled process. This heat treatment changes the internal structure of the glass, making it significantly stronger than standard float glass, and changes the way the glass behaves if it is broken.

Standard glass will break into large sharp shards if broken whereas toughened glass is designed to fragment into small pieces to significantly reduce the risk of serious injury.

Toughened glass is typically required in safety critical applications. Some examples include glass tables, shower screen glass, frameless glass doors and interior glass balustrades. Where there is risk of injury to people, an appropriate toughened or laminated safety glass may be required depending on application and regulations. For more information, read our guide toughened glass vs tempered glass.

Yes. Tempered glass is another term for toughened glass, they are both forms of heat treated safety glass. In the UK, the term “toughened glass” is commonly used, while  “tempered glass” is an internationally recognised term.

Whether your specification requires toughened or tempered glass, we supply toughened and tempered glass cut to size to BS EN12150..

The process of producing toughened glass involves several stages:

1. Cutting and shaping the glass first – All cutting, drilling, polishing, and shaping must be completed before the glass is toughened, because toughened glass cannot be cut or drilled after it has been heat treated.
2. Heating the glass in a furnace – The glass is heated in our Glaston toughening plant evenly to over 600°C.
3. Rapid cooling (quenching) – High-pressure air is blown onto the glass surface to cool it quickly. This heating and rapid cooling hardens the surface and creates tension inside the glass, which gives toughened glass its strength.

No. Glass that has been toughened cannot be cut, drilled or shaped once it has been through the glass toughening process. All glass processing must be completed before the glass is toughened or it will shatter. This includes:

• Cutting to size
• Drilling of holes
• Shaping by routing or waterjet
• Edge polishing and beveling

abc Glass can provide a wide range of cutting, shaping, drilling and finishing services for your toughened glass. Please contact us to discuss your requirements or send glass sizes to us for a free quote with no obligation.

We manufacture made-to-measure toughened glass in sizes from 4mm to 15mm thick and we stock the following glass thicknesses for toughening: 4mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm and 15mm glass.

Our on-site Glaston toughening plant can accommodate glass panes up to approximately 2.5m x 4m in size. The exact size depends on the thickness and weight of the glass.

For technical toughened glass certification documents and downloads, view our Declaration of Performance documents.

Our glass is toughened to BS EN12150 safety standard. Read our toughened glass safety standards guide for more information, and to find out how to ensure that your glass has been toughened correctly.

You can also view and download Declaration of Performance documents for each type and thickness of toughened glass we produce by viewing our DOP document library.

Yes. For simple square or rectangular panes, accurate finished dimensions are normally sufficient for us to manufacture your glass.

For more complex shapes, we can work from DXF CAD files or hard templates. We scan hard templates and convert them into DXF files to generate the cutting information required for glass cutting and processing. This service is particularly valuable for customers requiring accurate production of bespoke cut and toughened glass.

Yes. Much of our work is supplying trade customers with bulk glass quantities, repeat orders or regular supply.

If you are a manufacturer requiring regular set sized sheets of glass, we can hold specification and size details to simplify ordering and scheduled supply. For glass specialists such as balustrade and shower screen companies, we can hold specifications for patch fittings.

For repeat glass requirements and pricing, speak to our sales team on 023 92 678 222, email your cutting list or specification to info@abcglass.co.uk, or send glass details through our enquiry form.

Yes. We provide in-house Heat soak testing for toughened glass where the project specification requires added safety and assurance. This additional testing process, used to identify nickel sulphide inclusions that can cause glass to shatter, is commonly required for safety critical applications or where glass would be difficult to access and replace. Contact our sales team if heat soak testing is required for your toughened glass specification and they will arrange testing for you.

Toughened glass is used extensively by manufacturers, contractors and specialist glass installers for applications where safety and strength are paramount. Common use examples include:  

• Shower screens and shower doors
• Interior glass doors and partitions
• Interior glass balustrades
• Commercial interiors and fit-outs
• Glass shelving and tabletops
• Furniture manufacturing
• Display and retail fittings
• Kitchen and bathroom products

The appropriate glass specification depends on the application. Some projects require heat soak tested glass, laminated glass or toughened laminated glass rather than toughened glass alone. Our sales team will be happy to discuss your requirements with you. Alternatively view our glass products for examples of applications for our glass.

Yes. Most of our work is supplying trade customers, but we are happy to supply single panes or small orders of toughened glass to retail customers. Simply contact our sales team, or visit our factory in Portsmouth and our team will be happy to help you.

To order toughened glass from us, simply send the following details to our sales team:

• Required glass size/s
• Required thickness
• Glass type or finish (clear, ultra-clear, frosted, back painted)
• Quantity required
• Details for any holes, notches or cut-outs required
• Edge-finishing requirements (cut or polished)
• Technical drawings or DXF files where applicable (templates can be delivered or posted to abc Glass Processing)
• Where you would like your glass delivered to

For repeat manufacturing work, we can retain approved specifications to simplify subsequent orders. We can also collect hard templates from regular customers as part of our glass delivery service.

You can place your glass order or pricing request via any of these methods. Our sales team are available by telephone and email to provide technical and ordering assistance Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm.

Telephone: 023 92 678 222
Email: info@abcglass.co.uk
Online: Complete the enquiry form below

abc Glass Processing operates its own fleet of delivery vehicles with weekly deliveries serving customers throughout Hampshire, West Sussex, Dorset and Surrey, and parts of Wiltshire and Berkshire.

We can deliver single panes, bulk and repeat orders to business premises and, where required, support our customers with deliveries directly to commercial sites. Larger project deliveries outside our normal service area may also be possible by prior arrangement, please contact us to discuss your needs.

Alternatively, customers can collect completed glass orders directly from our glass processing facility in Dundas Close, Portsmouth.