Tempered glass is a type of safety glass that is manufactured through a process of controlled thermal and chemical treatments. The purpose of tempering is to increase the strength and safety properties of the glass. Modern building standards require safety glass to be installed in multiple locations around a home or building where personal injury may be likely or where the glass is vulnerable to damage from occupant activity. A home may predate the time of implementation of these modern standards for placement of safety glass in homes. In that case, the home would not be required to have safety glass installed in these areas, yet adhering to these standards is recommended and would help protect the occupants of the home. It is important for occupants of a home to be able to identify the markers and labels to correctly identify the presence of tempered glass. We encourage all home owners and occupants to identify the designated locations required for tempered glass in their home, and to confirm whether the glass or windows installed in these areas are comprised of safety glass.
The first step in ensuring that your home is adequately protected with tempered glass is the ability to correctly identify whether a piece of glass is tempered. Tempered glass windows often have a label or marking indicating that they are tempered. The label may be located in one of the corners of the glass or along the window frame. Look for terms like “tempered” or “safety glass” on the label. Multiple pane windows may only have one label for the entire window, and this label is typically located in the outer corners of the entire window system.
The next step is to locate all areas within your home that should have safety glass installed. Modern building standards require safety glass to be installed in the following locations:
-Glass in swinging, bi-fold, or sliding doors
- Exception: Decorative glazing with less than 3 inches measured at the shortest dimensional side.
-Glass installed adjacent to doors where glass is less than 24 inches from the outer edges of the swinging (hinge) side of the door and any part of glass that is less than 60 inches above a walking surface.
- Exceptions: glass located on non-swinging side of door, decorative glass, where separated by an intervening barrier, in places where the door accesses a closet or alcove that is less than 3 feet deep, or the glass is adjacent to a fixed door.
-Windows that meet all 4 of the following conditions: Bottom edge is less than 18 inches above floor and top edge is greater than 36 inches above floor, window glazing is greater than 9 square feet and less than 36 inches from walking surface.
- Exceptions: Decorative glass and glass that is protected with a railing on side with walking surface.
– All glass in guards or within railings.
-Glass within areas of bathing or other water related activities where the lower edge of glass is less than 60 inches above the adjacent walking surface.
- Exceptions: Glass that is located a distance greater than 60 inches horizontally in a straight line from the water’s edge.
Glass that is less than 3 feet above the walking surface of stairs, landings, or ramps.
- Exceptions: If glass is protected by an intervening guardrail that is 34-38 inches in height and capable of withstanding a minimum of 50 pounds per linear feet load.
Where the glass is greater than 36 inches horizontally from walking surface.
Glass that is less than 60 inches horizontally from the bottom of a stair landing measured in a 180-degree arc from the lowest tread and is less than 36 inches above the adjacent landing.
- Exceptions: Glass that is protected by an intervening guardrail system that is a minimum distance of 18 inches from this glass.
Once these areas have been properly evaluated, and if safety glass markings are not identified, we recommend contacting a qualified window contractor to discuss options for replacement of these unprotected glass features. As previously stated, the home may pre-date these safety requirements, but it is in the best interest of the occupants and guests of the home to have modern safety measures in place to help mitigate potential safety hazards and personal injury.