Replies

1. 
   jberks | Sep 30, 2024 03:03pm | #1

   Can you make your question and your supporting info a little more clear? I'm up in Canada, so our code language is a little different. But I read the attached IBC screenshot and I'm not sure why you're asking about tempered glass.

   Tempered glass is a process iny the manufacturing to which the end result is it makes it stronger in general but if you break the glass it breaks into tiny particles instead of very sharp shards. This is safer I'm the sense that you don't get major cuts or any sever any major arteries. It doesn't stop you from falling through the glass, say from a 3rd storey.

   When you say safety glass, and give a bunch of measurements to the bottom of sills, I think you are referring to laminated glass, to which it'll stop you from fallening through the glass.

   Moreover, in my land of code, non-laminated glass is ok to be used when the sill is under 36", however you have to limit the operation of the window range of motion to prevent any accidental falling. Window manufacturers have a metal string mechanism that they can provide to meet this. Basically the window only opens a crack. Unless you use a double action to disable it.

   I hope this helps.

1. Expert Member
   Deleted | Sep 30, 2024 05:42pm | #3

   Deleted

2. Expert Member
   MALCOLM TAYLOR | Sep 30, 2024 05:57pm | #4

   jberks,

   From what I can see in the BC building code, laminated and tempered are both approved as safety glass where it is required.

1. 
   paulmagnuscalabro | Sep 30, 2024 07:33pm | #5

   Malcolm,

   I had this conversation recently with a rep for a high-end European window brand. He confirmed that both laminated and tempered could work as safety glass.

   I don't recall all the ins and outs of why he recommended tempered instead of laminated in our case (triple pane steel windows), but he did caution that there was a slight, if barely perceptible, difference in how light moved through and reflected off of laminated or tempered compared to non-safety glass. For that reason, we went with laminated throughout the house, so all the window glass would look the same.
   Might be something to consider, idahobuild - unfortunately, I don't have the numbers to know what going all-tempered added to the order's cost.

2. 
   paulmagnuscalabro | Sep 30, 2024 04:30pm | #2

   Here's my take, though as always it's the AHJ's opinion that matters:

   Great Room Window:
   Doesn't meet ALL the criteria for "hazardous location," R308.4.3 IRC / 2406.4.3 IBC Glazing in Windows
   So, you should be good here without safety glazing.

   Master Shower Window:
   Looks to me like the window is not actually in the shower? It's a bit hard to tell from the plan screenshot. It's adjacent to and within 60" horizontally of the shower, but the bottom of glazing is 66" above the floor, so according to R308.4.5 IRC / 2406.4.5 IBC Glazing & Wet Surfaces, it's NOT considered to be in a wet location, so also not a hazardous location, so does NOT require safety glazing.
   I can't tell if you have a door on that shower, but if you do, then that window is within 24" of the door (IBC 2406.4.2), however the code says that to require safety glazing the window must be within 24" of a door AND have the bottom edge of glass less than 60" above the floor. So because you don't meet both criteria, you should be okay.

   Master Tub Window:
   Unlike above for the master shower, must be safety glazing because it's adjacent to a wet location, AND the bottom of glass is less than 60" above the floor. So, safety glazing required here (for every pane of the window).

   You have some options for "safety glazing," namely laminated glass or tempered glass. If I'm incorrect there, someone please jump in. Oberon recently wrote a great Part One article about laminated glass:
   https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/laminated-glass-part-1

   I'm not sure what you meant by "All 3040 Window Sills – 2′ 9″ above floor"?

3. Expert Member
   MALCOLM TAYLOR | Sep 30, 2024 08:01pm | #6

   Well worth a look:
   https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/what-to-know-about-tempered-glass
   https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/laminated-glass-part-1