If you ever witnessed a glass table or door shattering into many small pieces, what you observed was a tempered glass explosion. Tempered glass will explode from the slightest crack or rupture. It is not like regular glass which may crack and still stay in tact. The shattering, although highly inconvenient, is a safety feature that prevents a person from cutting themselves severely.
The process of making tempered glass involves rapid heating followed by rapid cooling. This creates a glass that has a tough surface area with a delicate pressured core. If any part of the core lacks protection, the glass is susceptible to breakage. If the core does crack, the entire piece of glass will break -- but not in a way that will cause severe injuries to the skin.
On most large pieces of tempered glass, the edges are usually the weakest area. This is where you may see an exposed core. Even if the edges have a seal, it is still the weakest area since it is the cut-off point. Whenever someone hits, shakes, or bumps the glass, it gets weaker and weaker. Eventually, the core will crack and the glass will explode. This can happen at any time, even if no one is near the glass.
So why would manufacturers sell a piece of glass that can explode at any moment? Believe it or not, this is the safest form of glass for large glass tables, shower doors, and glass cabinets. These glass pieces are very thick and if they were to break in halves or thirds, they can severely slice someone’s skin. If tempered glass explodes, it may either leave minor cuts and bruises on an individual or no injuries at all.
There is no full-proof way to keep tempered glass from exploding. It is very unpredictable and it can happen at any time. The best way to reduce the possibility is by purchasing glass tables and doors with sealed edges. Also, keep the table bumps, shakes and scratches to a minimum. This should prolong the life of the table and keep it in tact.
