Safety Glazing

Safety glazing is required by the International Residential Code in a number of locations and is intended to reduce the potential for injury in the event of accidental contact with the glazing.

The two most common types of safety glazing are tempered and laminated. Each pane of safety glazing is required to be permanently labeled. The label typically consists of an etching in the corner of the window indicating if the glass is tempered or laminated.

Required locations for safety glazing

Doors and windows near doors

    illustration
  • In side-hinged doors (including storm doors)
  • In fixed and sliding panels of sliding door assemblies and panels in sliding and bifold closet door assemblies
  • In fixed or operable panels that are within 24" of either edge of a door in the closed position and the glazing is less than 60" above the adjacent floor
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Bathrooms, saunas, swimming pools, etc

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  • illustrationIn doors and enclosures for hot tubs, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, bathtubs, and showers whenever any glazing is within 60" measured vertically from any standing surface (includes windows adjacent to bathtubs)
  • In walls and fences enclosing indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas where the edge of the pool or spa within 60" above a walking surface

Large windows near walking surfaces

illustrationIn a fixed or operable panel that meets all of the following conditions:

  • the exposed area of an individual pane is more than 9 sq ft
  • the bottom edge of the pane is less than 18" above the floor
  • the top edge of the pane is more than 36" above the floor
  • there is a walking surface within 36" horizontally of the glazing

Railings & stairways

  • In railings
  • In walls enclosing stairway landings including areas within 60" of the top and bottom of the stairs whenever the glazing is less than 60" above the walking surface

Contacts

  • Inspections & Fire Secretary

    952-548-6320
sprinklers

Safety glazing is required in windows adjacent to bathtubs.