Safety Glass - Wire Mesh Glass

Wire Mesh Glass

Wire mesh glass is glass that has a thin wire, usually made of metal, running through the glass. Wired glass, as it is typically described, does not perform the function most individuals associate it with. The presence of the wire mesh appears to be a strengthening component, as it is metallic, and conjures up the idea of rebar in reinforced concrete or other such examples. Despite this belief, wired glass is actually weaker than unwired glass due to the incursions of the wire into the crystalline structure of the glass. Wired glass often also causes heightened injury in comparison to unwired glass, as the wire amplifies the irregularity of the fractures. This has led to a decline in its use institutionally, particularly in schools. Wired glass instead is utilized for its fire-resistant abilities, and is well-rated to both withstand heat and a hose stream. This is why wired glass is exclusively used on service elevators to prevent fire ingress to the shaft and why it is also commonly found in institutional settings which are often well-protected and partitioned against fire. The wire prevents the glass from falling out of the frame even if it cracks under heat stress, but is far more heat-resistant than a laminating material.