Always ensure that the glass you select complies with the National Building Regulations, which set out stringent safety standards governing the installation of glass in buildings. Failure to comply with these regulations could have serious legal implications.

In terms of the National Building Regulations, glazing material must provide an appropriate level of protection in the case of human impact. For example, safety glazing is required in doors and entrances, windows, bath enclosures, balustrades, shop fronts, stairways and other areas.

IDENTIFICATION OF SAFETY GLASS

• All safety glazing materials must be permanently and indelibly marked, and the marking must be visible on each individual pane after glazing. If it is not marked, it is not safety glass.
• Wired glass is not regarded as safety glazing material, unless it conforms to SABS 1263.

SUMMARY OF SAFETY GLAZING REQUIREMENTS

Safety glazing material must be used in the following applications:

• entrance doors or door sidelights
• windows with a sill height less than 500 mm
• windows with a sill height of less than 800 mm positioned where people are likely to move towards such windows
• bath enclosures or shower cubicles
• balustrades (minimum height 1000 mm)
• within 1800 mm of the pitch line of any stairway, ramp, landing or balcony
• any horizontal or sloped glazing tilted more than 15° from the vertical
• mirrors used as facing to cupboard doors less than 800 mm above floor level, where there is no solid backing.

DETAILED REGULATIONS

The following sections summarize where safety glazing should be used. For more details refer to Section 3, Part N of SABS 0400-1990

DOORS AND ENTRANCES

Any pane of glass installed in any entrance door or door sidelight shall be glazed with safety glazing material.

WINDOWS

Any window with a sill height less than 500 mm shall be glazed in safety glazing material. In addition, any window positioned where persons are likely, on normal traffic routes, to move towards such window, shall either have a sill height not less than 800 mm or shall be glazed with safety glazing material.

BATH ENCLOSURES

Any glass used in any bath enclosure or shower cubicle shall be glazed with safety glazing material.

SHOP FRONTS

Any glass used in any shop front within 2100 mm from the floor shall be glazed with safety glazing materials.

BALUSTRADES

All glazing to balustrades must be of safety glazing material. NB: The minimum height for balustrades is 1000 mm and 1200 mm around swimming pools.

STAIRS

Safety glass is required in any wall or balustrade to a stairway, ramp, landing or balcony, within 1800 mm of the pitch line of such stairway.

HORIZONTAL AND SLOPED GLAZING

Any glass used in any horizontal or sloped glazing, including skylights and enclosures, which is tilted more than 15° from the vertical, shall be safety glass.

MIRROR DOORS

When a mirror is used as a facing to a cupboard door less than 800 mm above floor level, and there is no solid backing, ensure that the mirror is of safety glazing material.

RECOMMENDED GLAZING THICKNESSES

Internationally, annealed glass is controlled by Building Regulations, as to the thickness of glass relative to the size of a pane.