Tempered vs laminated glass: what's required where, and why

Short answer: tempered glass breaks into small, blunt pieces for safety and is required near doors, low windows, and wet areas. Laminated glass holds together when broken, and is required or preferred where noise, security, or fall-through risk matters more.

Where tempered is required

Glass near doors, close to the floor, or in showers and tubs is almost universally required to be tempered under residential building codes, since it shatters into small pieces rather than sharp shards.

Where laminated makes more sense

Laminated glass stays in place even when cracked, thanks to an inner plastic layer — that makes it a better choice for skylights, high windows, or areas where a broken pane falling out entirely would be dangerous.