Are Curved Glass Corners the Right Choice for Your Facility’s Board System?
The last thing an arena owner wants—the last thing you want— is someone injured during an event.
Dasher board systems made from curved tempered glass are an effective way to protect spectators from whatever may fly their way while maintaining the beauty of your facility.
How is Curved Tempered Glass Made?
The whole process of making curved tempered glass is thrilling to watch. First, flat panels of glass are custom made to fit your needs. This glass is then heated in a furnace up to 630o C.
Glass bends easily at such high temperatures. Once it reaches the right temperature, the glass is moved from the furnace and bent to the target curvature, and then it is tempered through a cooling process that traps high energy forces within the glass, making harder and stronger.
Given this process, curved tempered glass can adapt to virtually any angle creating smooth, jointless corners with an elegance you just can’t get from other material choices. It’s also more affordable than alternatives, such as laminated glass.
Is Tempered Glass Safe?
We know safety is your utmost concern, and of course, glass isn’t the first thing that comes to mind as safe.
This is a critical question for many sports facility managers and administrators considering the installation of dasher board systems in their venues—and the answer is yes! Tempered glass is safe.
The process involved in making tempered glass ensures that it is hardened and very difficult to break.
If hit with a ball or any other object, for the most part, the glass will remain intact. It is possible to break tempered glass if it’s hit very hard with a blunt object, but this is extremely rare.
In the unlikely event the glass does break, its internal structure ensures that the particles that fall from it are not sharp. It’s a mess, but it’s a safe mess.
What is the Difference between Tempered Glass and Regular Glass?
Several distinguishing factors make regular glass different from tempered glass. Some of those differences are:
- Manufacturing – The process of annealing in the making of regular glass products involves quick cooling of the glass. For tempered glass, the process is much slower and thus creates stronger bonds.
- Reworking – Regular glass can easily be reworked without breaking the glass. Reworking tempered glass is not easy without damaging it.
- Strength – Tempered glass is about four times stronger and more durable than regular glass.
- Fracturing – On breaking, regular glass breaks into large irregularly-shaped pieces. Tempered glass breaks into small regular shapes with blunt edges.
Getting started
If you think curved tempered glass may be the right fit for your sports arena, we’d love to hear from you. Our custom sports dasher board systems are among the best in the world.
Visit our Downloads page for more information on the types of dasher board systems available and what goes into making them or contact our office to set-up a consultation.
