As a space combining health preservation and leisure functions, the selection of glass components for sauna rooms is directly related to safety and user experience. Glass thickness is not arbitrarily determined; it must comprehensively consider multiple factors such as thermal stability, mechanical strength, and safety. This article will deeply analyze the key factors affecting sauna room glass thickness, reasonable selections for different scenarios, and related precautions, providing practical references for sauna room design and renovation.
1. Core Factors Affecting Sauna Room Glass Thickness
The special usage environment of sauna rooms (high temperature, humidity changes, possible physical impacts) determines that glass thickness must meet the following core requirements:
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Thermal Stability Requirement: The internal temperature of a sauna room is usually 60-100℃, while the external room temperature is about 20-25℃, with a temperature difference of more than 80℃. Glass must withstand severe temperature changes without breaking. Too thin glass is prone to burst due to uneven thermal stress, while too thick glass may generate internal stress due to differences in thermal conductivity. Generally, the thermal stability of tempered glass is positively correlated with its thickness; for every 2mm increase in thickness, the temperature difference resistance can be improved by about 15%-20%.
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Mechanical Strength Requirement: Sauna room glass doors or partitions need to withstand external forces such as daily opening and closing and personnel collisions. According to the "Technical Specification for Application of Building Glass" JGJ113, the impact resistance of sauna room glass should reach the requirement of ≥10J impact energy. Thickness is a key indicator affecting mechanical strength; for example, the bending strength of 8mm tempered glass is about 120MPa, while that of 10mm tempered glass can reach 150MPa, which can effectively reduce the risk of damage caused by external forces.
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Safety Protection Standard: Sauna rooms are enclosed spaces used by crowds or individuals, so glass breakage should be avoided to cause serious injuries. Therefore, tempered glass (or laminated tempered glass) must be used, and its thickness should be matched with safety design - when the glass area exceeds 1.5㎡, the thickness should be increased by at least 2mm to improve explosion resistance; if the gap between the glass edge and the frame is less than 5mm, the glass should also be appropriately thickened to avoid installation stress damage.
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Design and Installation Scenario: The size and installation method of glass directly affect the thickness selection. For example, when the height of a single glass exceeds 2m or the width exceeds 1.2m, even if the area does not exceed the standard, a thickness of more than 10mm should be used to ensure stability; suspended glass doors have concentrated stress points, so their thickness is usually 2-3mm thicker than sliding doors; curved or special-shaped glass needs to be 1-2mm thicker than flat glass of the same size to maintain structural integrity.
2. Glass Thickness Selection for Different Types of Sauna Rooms
The environmental differences between dry sauna, wet sauna, and infrared sauna rooms also lead to different requirements for glass thickness:
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Sauna Room Type
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Temperature Range
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Humidity Characteristic
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Recommended Glass Thickness
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Remarks
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Dry Sauna Room
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80-100℃
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Humidity ≤60%
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8-10mm Tempered Glass
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8mm can be used for small area (≤1㎡), 10mm is recommended for large area
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Wet Sauna Room (Steam Room)
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40-60℃
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Humidity ≥80%
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10-12mm Tempered Glass
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Additional anti-fog treatment is required, and glass edges need to be sealed and moisture-proof
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Infrared Sauna Room
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45-60℃
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Low humidity (close to room temperature)
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6-8mm Tempered Glass
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Mainly thermal radiation, low thickness requirement, but light transmittance must be ensured
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Custom Large Sauna Room (≥5㎡)
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60-90℃
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Adjust according to type
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12-15mm Laminated Tempered Glass
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Double-layer laminated structure, will not scatter even if broken
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3. Common Glass Thickness Specifications and Application Scenarios
The mainstream thicknesses of sauna room glass on the market are 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, and 12mm, and their application scenarios are as follows:
6mm Tempered Glass
Application: Side windows of infrared sauna rooms, observation windows of small sauna rooms (area ≤0.5㎡). Features: Light weight, good light transmittance, but weak impact resistance and thermal stability; not recommended for door bodies or large-area partitions.
8mm Tempered Glass
Application: Side doors of dry sauna rooms (width ≤0.8m), ordinary observation windows (area ≤1㎡). Features: High cost performance, balancing safety and economy, it is a common choice for small family dry sauna rooms.
10mm Tempered Glass
Application: Main doors of dry/wet sauna rooms, large-area partitions (1-2㎡), suspended glass doors. Features: Optimal comprehensive performance, can withstand large temperature differences and external forces, and is the standard configuration for commercial sauna rooms.
12mm and Above Tempered Glass
Application: Large sauna room partitions, custom special-shaped glass, high safety requirement scenarios. Features: Need to be matched with reinforced frames, commonly used in commercial places such as hotels and hot spring clubs, and can choose lamination process to improve safety.
4. Key Precautions for Installation and Maintenance
Even if the appropriate thickness of glass is selected, improper installation and maintenance may affect the service life and safety:
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Installation Specifications: High-temperature resistant silicone sealing strips should be used between the glass and the metal frame to avoid uneven heat conduction caused by direct contact; the screws fixing the glass should be added with shock-proof gaskets, and the tightening force should be moderate to prevent internal stress of the glass due to extrusion.
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Daily Maintenance: Wipe off the water vapor and sweat on the glass surface in time after each use to avoid mineral deposition forming stubborn stains; do not hit the edges and corners of the glass (weak points of tempered glass) with sharp objects; regularly check the aging of the sealing strips and replace them in time if damage is found.
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Safety Inspection: The newly installed sauna room glass needs to undergo thermal shock test (cycling 3-5 times between room temperature and sauna room working temperature) to ensure no cracks or damage; commercial sauna rooms are recommended to conduct safety inspections on glass and fixed structures every six months.
5. Summary: Scientific Selection, Safety First
The selection of sauna room glass thickness should follow the principle of "environment adaptation, safety first" - 8-10mm tempered glass is preferred for dry sauna rooms, 10-12mm tempered glass is selected for wet sauna rooms, and 12mm and above laminated tempered glass is recommended for large commercial places. At the same time, be sure to choose tempered glass that meets national standards (with 3C certification mark) and have it installed and maintained by a professional team. Only by taking into account the triple guarantees of thickness, material, and installation can the sauna room be both comfortable and safe.
