Thermal Stress Glass Breakage
Increasing demand for thermally efficient options, it is crucial to understand the common terminology associated with energy efficiency. “Thermal Stress Glass Breakage” is a phenomenon where glass spontaneously cracks. It should be noted straight away that such an occurrence is very rare. It is not caused by a fault within the glass, rather it is induced by the external conditions the glass pane is exposed to. This type of breakage is not covered under the glass supplier’s warranty, so it is important to learn a bit about this.
Thermal stress glass breakage typically happens when there is uneven heating on the glass. When areas of the glass are exposed to more sunlight or direct artificial cooling or heating from inside, then the exposed areas of the glass expand or contract while the other areas of the glass resist because of less exposure. When the stress becomes greater than the strength of the glass, a thermal break will occur.
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Glass types that aim to retain heat are the most affected, so low-e glass tends to have more breakages. Due to the way toughened glass is manufactured, it is immune to thermal stress breakage which is why we use this glass type as a standard in our double-glazed glass units. Glass edges also play an important role in thermal stress breakages. However, Nuline reduces this risk by ensuring that all glass is machine cut to ensure that the edges are straight and thus stronger.
Thermal stress breakage is uncommon, but if you are worried about your windows, please get in touch to discuss your concerns with our team.