All glass installed in buildings shall comply with relevant Australian Standards. It is strongly recommended that builders, architects, building designers and building surveyors ensure evidence is provided. Marking of glass to ensure compliance to AS2208 is mandatory.
The use of monolithic toughened glass more than 5000mm above finished floor height may be at risk of spontaneous breakage. Toughened glass glazed monolithically should be heat soaked unless a barrier exists which will revert the fragments from falling and reduce the risk of injury.
An awning or a balcony would be considered a barrier which suits this purpose. Please refer to AS1288 for further clarification.
1. Doors
2. Side Panels (Glass which has its vertical sight line within 300mm of door opening)
3. Windows (Low Lights)
All low level glazing where the lowest sight line is less than 500mm from the ground or floor level shall be Grade A safety glass to Table 5.1 except:
in fully framed glazing ordinary annealled glass not less than 5mm is permitted to a maximum area of 1.2 m2. Larger areas of ordinary annealed glass are not permitted regardless of glass thickness.
4. Glass which could be mistaken for a doorway or opening.
Ask yourself “could anyone mistake the panel for a doorway or opening ans potentially walk into the glass”?
If yes, use Grade A safety glass
***NOTE: The panel cannot be mistaken IF:
5. Bathrooms
All Glass in bathrooms should use Grade A or B safety glass for fully framed glazing. The only exception being a mirror, which is either fully adhered to the wall or fully protected by a vanity or bench with a minimum height of 760mm and a minimum depth of 300mm.
6. Louvre blades subject to risk of human impact
Where Grade A safety glass is required and louvres are used, those louvres shall be Grade A toughened safety glass. A nominal thickness of 5mm up to 230mm in blade width and 1000mm in blade length ie: bathrooms, side panels, aged care and schools.
7. Two Edge Unframed Glazing
Glazing with two horizontal edges unframed shall be Grade A safety glass and comply with the following.
8. Stairway Glazing
Glazing including mirrors in stairways, shall be Grade A safety glass in the following situations:
9. Making Glass Visible
If the presence of glass is not made visible in a door, side panel or a panel capable of being mistaken for a doorway or opening and is not made apparent by other means, the glass shall be marked to make it visible.
Marking shall be in the form of an opaque band not less than 20mm in height and located so that the vertical height from the floor level is:
Making glass visible is not a substitute for safety glazing.
Maximum Areas of Safety Glass
NOTE: Toughened laminate can be substituted where toughened is required.
10. Balustrades
All balustrades require an interlinking hand rail where the difference in floor level is greater than 1000mm.
Glass in balustrades which have a load supporting handrail and use glass infill panels at 1.0kPa and 0.50kN, which are framed on two opposite sides or are fully framed on all four edges, shall be a minimum of 8mm toughened to a maximum span of 1070mm between supports.
10mm toughened to a maiximum span of 1650mm supports. 12mm toughened to a maximum span of 1930mm between supports.
Span is defined as the distance between supports. For glass supported on all four edges, span is the smaller dimension.
PLEASE NOTE
PLEASE NOTE
Disclaimer: This post has been developed to provide general guidance, awareness and education. It should not be viewed as a definitive guide. While every effort has been made to ensure all information is accurate Victoria Glass Projects expressly disclaims all and any liability to any person for anything done in reliance on this publication.
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