Automobile windshields always are made of safety glass.
Most occupants don't give the safety glass in their homes a second thought. But it's likely that your home has the two types of safety glass -- laminated and tempered.
Laminated Glass
When shattered, laminated glass sticks to a thin plastic sheet in the glass. Pieces won't fly around or land on the floor in sharp shards. And you wouldn't put your hand through it by accident. During manufacturing, a thin see- through plastic film is embedded in between sheets of glass.
Tempered Glass
Upon breaking, tempered glass forms small rounded pieces that don't pose the same hazards as sharp shards of plain glass. Skylights contain this type of glass as well as computer monitors, rear car windows and side car windows.
Considerations
You will find safety glass in locations where falls or other accidents are possible. Bathroom windows should consist of safety glass since the bathroom can easily become a slip hazard. Glass doors are required to be safety glass since they often are walked into by unsuspecting children or visitors when the clear glass gives an illusion that the door is open.
Strength
Laminated glass does not break easily because of the plastic layer in the middle. In an attempted break-in, an intruder would have to use at least two hammer blows to penetrate laminated glass. The flip side of this benefit is during a fire, it would be harder to break the glass to escape. Tempered glass is heated to high temperatures then cooled rapidly, producing invisible fractures on the surface yet remaining strong in the middle. This process makes the glass much stronger than ordinary glass.
