When To Use Tempered Safety Glass

The International Residential Code sets certain building codes that specify where tempered glass should be installed in a home to prevent injury or death.

Uses Of Tempered Glass In Your Home

Here’s how you should use tempered safety glass in your home:

Glass doors

According to the IRC, all glass panels in fixed, sliding, swinging, operable, or bifold doors should have tempered glass or laminated glass installed. Any glass that is within 24 inches of a doorway must be made of tempered glass if the bottom edge of the glass is 60 inches or less above the walking surface. The rule does not apply if the glass is decorative of if the glass opening is smaller than 3 inches.  

Glass in the bathroom

All glass in any bathroom or wet area such as showers, bathtubs, hot tubs, steam rooms, whirlpools, saunas, spa decks, and swimming pools should be made of tempered glass or safety glass if the bottom edge is less than 60 inches above the walkway or standing surface and within 60 inches of the water.

Glass near stairways

Any glass in walls adjacent to stairs, landings, and ramps should be made of tempered glass if the glass is within 5 feet of the top or bottom of the stairs and the bottom edge of the glass is 60 inches or less above the walking surface. Glass stair rails and baluster panels must be made of tempered glass.

Windows

Any fixed or movable window that is bigger than 9 square feet should be made of tempered glass. This applies if the bottom edge of the glass is less than 18 inches above the floor and the top edge is over 36 inches from the floor.