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Health and Safety Transparent or Transluscent Windows, Doors, Gates, Walls and Partitions

Windows and Transparent or Translucent Doors, Gate

Windows, doors, gates, walls and partitions glazed wholly or partly so that they are transparent or translucent must, where necessary for health and safety, be of a safe material or be protected against breakage, and be appropriately marked or incorporate features to warn of the presence of glazing.

Where Safety Material Or Other Protection Is Needed

Except for narrow panes up to 250mm wide between glazing beads, a safety material, or adequate protection against breakage (such as a screen or barrier), should be used where the glazing is:

  • at shoulder level or below in doors, gates and side panels. This provision applies even to glasshouses;
  • at waist level or below in windows, walls and partitions. This provision may be relaxed for glasshouses where people are aware of the presence of glazing.

    Safety Material

    A safety material is any of the following:

  • 1. polycarbonates, glass blocks or other inherently robust material;
    2. glass which, if it breaks, breaks safely; or
    3. ordinary annealed glass which meets the following thickness criteria:

  • 8mm thick for up to 1.1m x up to 1.1m;
  • 10mm thick for up to 2.25m x up to 2.25m;
  • 12mm thick for up to 3m x up to 4.5m;
  • 15mm thick for any size.

    Other Protection

    A screen, barrier or other means of protection should be able to withstand a person falling against it. The fixture should also be difficult to climb where someone could fall from a height if they were to go through the glass.

    Hazard Marking

    To help prevent accidental collision with ordinary glass, safety glass or other material used for glazing, the surface needs to be marked where someone could mistake it for an unrestricted opening. Examples of such dangerous mistakes include people walking into glass doors which they thought were open, or into glass walls or partitions in the belief that the location was open-plan.

    Marking is not essential where such a mistake is unlikely, for example where people are aware of the glazing due to heavy tinting or features such as mullions, transoms, handles, etc. Where marking is used it should be conspicuous, such as coloured lines or patterns.

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