Factory Acceptance Tests for a Flat Glass Tempering Furnace: Defining Useful Pass/Fail Checks
A buyer's guide to setting practical pass/fail criteria for a flat glass tempering furnace FAT, using the stated size, thickness and power ranges as reference points for RFQ and acceptance discussions.
Before signing off a flat glass tempering furnace, decide which pass/fail checks will be witnessed at the factory and which will wait for site installation. A practical starting point is to require the acceptance plan to state the glass sizes and thicknesses used for each check, because a furnace rated for 2,440 × 4,200 mm maximum and 150 × 350 mm minimum glass, with a 4–19 mm thickness range, may behave differently across that envelope.
Ask the supplier to define measurable criteria rather than subjective descriptions. For each test piece, agree who measures, with what instrument, and what result counts as pass. Consider whether checks should cover the smallest and largest stated sizes, a mid-range thickness, and repeatability across consecutive runs. Clarify how the 1,000 kVA installed electrical capacity is treated during testing and whether it limits simultaneous checks.
In the RFQ, request a draft FAT protocol listing each check, its acceptance criterion, the glass used, and the record retained. In a demonstration, confirm that the pieces tested match the protocol. For acceptance, agree in advance how disputed results are re-tested.
Before requesting a quote, confirm with the supplier which pass/fail checks they propose, the exact glass sizes and thicknesses used, the measurement methods and tolerances, and how results will be documented and witnessed.