---
title: "Uses of plate glass"
subject: "Civil Engineering Materials"
chapter: 10
key: "semester_3/civil_engineering_materials:plate-glass-uses"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/plate-glass-uses
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Uses of plate glass

Civil Engineering Materials · Chapter 10: Asphalt, Bitumen, Tar and Miscellaneous Materials

- Asked in: 2065 Shrawan (old course), 4 marks
- Video: [Glass and Its Constituents | Composition, Properties & Uses | Building Materials | Civil Engineering](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-h7z5jw_a8) — Polytechnic Class (READBY) 
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/plate-glass-uses
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/chapter-10

## Question

List the uses of plate glass.

## Short answer

Plate glass has ground and polished surfaces for clear, distortion-free vision. Uses include large windows, shop fronts, mirrors, glass doors, curtain walls, glazing, furniture tops, and safety glass for railings.

## Answer

**Plate glass** is flat glass with a ground and polished surface on both sides, giving clear, distortion-free vision. Uses:

- Large windows and shop fronts (show windows) of buildings.
- Glass doors, partitions and curtain walls of offices and malls.
- Mirrors (silvered plate glass) and furniture glass tops.
- Glazing of high quality in vehicles, display cabinets and counters.
- Glass shelves, table tops and interior decorative work.
- Toughened or laminated plate glass for railings, stair treads and safety glazing.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What characterises plate glass?
   A. Flat glass ground and polished on both sides, giving distortion-free vision
   B. Glass containing 13% boron trioxide
   C. Rough cast glass that diffuses light
   D. Glass that is coloured with pigments
   Answer: A. Plate glass is flat glass with ground and polished surfaces, giving clear distortion-free vision. (Key point: What plate glass is)

2. Which is a typical use of plate glass in buildings?
   A. Structural beams
   B. Large windows, shop fronts, glass doors, partitions and curtain walls
   C. Water supply pipes
   D. Thermal insulation panels
   Answer: B. Its clarity makes it suitable for show windows, shop fronts, doors, partitions and curtain walls. (Key point: Building uses)

3. How is plate glass used for mirrors and safety glazing?
   A. Silvered plate glass makes mirrors; toughened or laminated plate glass is used for railings and stair treads
   B. Coated with bitumen for mirrors; annealed for stair treads
   C. Mirrors need no coating; safety glazing uses ordinary thin sheet
   D. Only used for lamps
   Answer: A. Silvered plate glass forms mirrors and toughened or laminated plate glass gives safety glazing. (Key point: Safety and mirror uses)

## Related in Civil Engineering Materials

- [Types of glass and their uses](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Atypes-of-glass-uses) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 10, asked 4×
- [Properties and uses of glass](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aproperties-uses-of-glass) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 10, asked 3×

## Related in other subjects

- [Surface plate: materials, grades and use](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fmetrology%3Asurface-plate-materials-and-uses) — Metrology, chapter 6