How can I tell if this glass is safe ?

[Gary111]

Hi, I have a 1930-40s terrace with glass panels in the vestibule,with a small section of glazing going down to the floor, can I tell whether it’s safe ?

Also a half glazed internal door with a leaded pattern on it, looks fairly modern.

Thanks

 

[ronniecabers]

Well the glass in the picture is Florielle and is relatively modern. Ideally as it's above your head it should be toughened . To tell in one of the corners should be a ' Stamp ' showing the tough mark . With either be en12150 or bs6206.

Again the same for the vestibule, if it needs replacing it will have to be a safety glass but if it's original it may very well not be a safety glass currently

 

[Gazman16]

Above doors does not need to be safety glass, Although if you plan to change it for the extra £10 to get it toughened I personally would

 

[ronniecabers]

Very true Gazman. I should have said , under duty of care , we always fit tgh/safety glass when it is above a doorway. Never understood why it's not included the regs to be honest

 

[Notch7]

Very true Gazman. I should have said , under duty of care , we always fit tgh/safety glass when it is above a doorway. Never understood why it's not included the regs to be honest

out of interest regarding the 800mm from floor level rule on windows -do you measure from floor to bottom of window or from floor to start of glass?

Where Ive found the windowboard to be around about 800mm above the floor Ive always specified toughened in the window......

 

[ronniecabers]

Honestly, we always err on the side of caution, So would fit toughened

 

[Tigercubrider]

if the glass is smooth on one side then you might be able to add safety film.
They did this at my place of work, quite simple but tricky the first time.
Just cut to size, spray water & washing up liquid on and squeegee

 

[JohnD]

In some cases, I have started using laminate, where burglary might occur. But I am not familiar with glazing regulations, so I have to check. When I looked it up, I think the requirement was for safety glass in glazed doors but there are rules about height and size.

 

[Gazman16]

out of interest regarding the 800mm from floor level rule on windows -do you measure from floor to bottom of window or from floor to start of glass?

Where Ive found the windowboard to be around about 800mm above the floor Ive always specified toughened in the window......

Always best to be overly cautious if its close. If someone fitted thicker flooring (solid Oak or something) at a later date it would fall back on the installer if anything happened.

On that point I have always been curious if someone installed insulation and under floor heating at a later date bringing the floor up 50-100mm, That could be an interesting court case for someone one day.

 

[Gary111]

Thanks guys, I didn’t notice any markings , but it sounds like it may still possibly be safety glass ?

If I crack the bottom one would it shatter into lots of small pieces if it’s safety glass ?

 

[crank39]

Toughened glass shatters into tiny pieces like car glass and will also withstand a greater impact before it breaks unlike laminated glass however laminated cracks but stays intact like a windscreen, both are classed as a safety glass

I'm currently part of a team of 8 carrying out reg 14 surveys and installing safety film to near on 8000 buildings belonging to one contract, been doing it 3 years and probably got another 4 years left, it's relentless

 

[Gary111]

Thanks I guess you can only fit safety film if its flat on one side,
Out of interest I also have a glass fronted cupboard, it sounds like I can assume it’s safety glass unless it’s stamped.
Also would the leaded glass need replacing as it’s in much smaller sections so stronger ?
Thanks everyone for their advice.

 

[crank39]

Generally the flatter the better but you can just about get it to stick to a slightly bumpy surface (not the deep patterned side) if you use less water.

Glass fronted cupboard, no assume its NOT certainly without a kite mark.

Leaded glass, if its the traditional kane lead with individual pieces of glass then they are exempt from document K or reg 14. If you have stick on lead so the glass has to be safety glass if it falls within the 'critical location as defined by document K or reg 14 i.e. any glass lower than 800mm from the floor, any glass panel within 300mm of a door upto a height of 1500mm, any glass within a door upto 1500mm. However if the glass within a door is less than 250mm wide and no more than 0.5m2 in a area then 6mm annealed glass will suffice

Your 'fanlight/toplight' although within 300mm of the door is well above the 1500mm mark so by regulation does not fall within the 'critical location' but as has been said for the few quid difference between float glass and toughened you play it safe and spec toughened glass, the side panel is within 300mm obviously and because it goes right to the floor it has to be safety glass

Heres a handy guide showing critical locations, if any of the glass falls in the shaded area then it needs to be safety glass......

 

[ronniecabers]

The cabinet doors maybe tough. They may have a ' small line stamp ' . Very close to the edge of the glass. It's used because people didn't like the big tough mark on furniture.
IF you can't see either mark , always best to assume it isn't toughened ( but it should be as it falls under the regs as a door)

 

[Gazman16]

Toughened glass shatters into tiny pieces like car glass and will also withstand a greater impact before it breaks unlike laminated glass however laminated cracks but stays intact like a windscreen, both are classed as a safety glass

I'm currently part of a team of 8 carrying out reg 14 surveys and installing safety film to near on 8000 buildings belonging to one contract, been doing it 3 years and probably got another 4 years left, it's relentless

Is that for rental property's mate? I was asking on the Facebook forum recently if there was a requirement to upgrade glass in old doors in houses that are rentals.
Are you on the Facebook window fitters forum?