What type of glass is common in high-rise buildings?

• A. Laminated
• B. Heat-strengthened
• C. Tempered
• D. Annealed

Answer: (C)

Tempered glass is designed to be much stronger than ordinary glass by a treatment that puts compression into the surface layers. That surface compression lets tall façades handle higher wind loads, impact, and thermal stresses typical of high‑rise environments. If tempered glass does fail, it breaks into small, dull particles rather than sharp, jagged shards, which greatly reduces injury risk for occupants and passersby. This combination of high strength, safer breakage pattern, and cost‑effectiveness makes tempered glass a common choice for exterior glazing in tall buildings. (Laminate-glass offers added safety by staying bonded when broken, but tempered glass is the standard go‑to for many high‑rise applications due to its balance of performance and practicality.)