What are most windows (for homes and businesses to be specific) made of? It's not just regular glass (or just glass) is it?

I hope this section will do. Thanks, guys.

Depending on size and use of glass will determine if it is regular glass or Tempered Glass.

For instance, sliding doors, shower doors, and pane glass windows (for stores lets say) and sky scraper glass facades are made of tempered glass.

House windows (aside from those near ground level or large picture windows) are made of regular glass.

Regular glass is used for windows because not all windows are the same size. Tempered glass can not be cut, regular glass can be cut to size. If you ever have to replace a tempered pane glass window it has to be measured for size then manufactured, cut then tempered. Recently my Partner's office had to replace one at the tune of $1400.00 - ouch.

Hopes this helps.

Cheers

Tempered glass is used mostly because of its safety feature. It is stronger so office buildings use it for wind resistance. When the glass breaks, it shatters into millions of tiny little pieces. It is called dicing since it is actually diced into tiny pieces instead of long jagged edges. (I'm sure you have seen this before. ) It is now building code to use this in specific areas.

My coffee table top was made of tempered glass. When it broke, there were a million little diced pieces to clean up. There was no jagged edges or sharp corners to cut me. There are so many other uses for tempered glass. Skylights, stoves, coffee tables, side and rear windows of cars, your fridge, etc... Just think that anywhere you could get really hurt if the glass broke- it is probably tempered glass. Its truly amazing stuff.

more on tempered glass

Yay. Thanks David and Clare. I think that helped my curiosity. Yeah, I actually did just see some tempered glass break yesterday while watching the movie Collateral. That's what prompted the question actually.