Cost lever Sold under many names
Tempered glass
Glass heat-treated to be roughly 4–5× stronger than ordinary glass; when it does break it crumbles into small blunt pebbles instead of sharp shards.
What it means for you
A safety feature required by code in “hazardous locations” — doors, big low windows near the floor, and bathrooms. It's about breakage safety, not energy or storm protection: tempered alone is NOT impact or hurricane glass.
Where you'll see it
A line item where code forces it (near floors, doors, tubs); on the spec as “tempered.”
Also sold as: toughened glass
Related terms
Defined by Marc Hanley
Verified against NC Residential Code (safety glazing)
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