Code question - safety glazing - InspectionNews

Eric Shuman · #1 (**permalink**) 07-25-2007, 07:31 AM

New home built under 2006 IRC.

Can anyone see where any of the windows adjacent to the stairs in the photos below would fall under any of the exception rules for IRC 2006 R.308.4 Hazardous locations. I am having a hard time with the reading of exception 9-9.3 of this section. Any input would be appreciated.

Also, the flashlight in the photo is 10 inches long for some idea of scale.

Thanks

Richard Rushing · #2 (**permalink**) 07-25-2007, 08:19 AM

2000 IRC §RR308.4 Hazardous locations. The following shall be considered specifichazardous locations for the purposes of glazing:
10. Glazing adjacent to stairways, landings and ramps within 36 inches (914 mm) horizontally of a walking surface when the exposed surface of the glass is less than 60 inches (1524 mm) above the plane of the adjacent walking surface.11. Glazing adjacent to stairways within 60 inches (1524 mm) horizontally of the bottom tread of a stairway in any direction when the exposed surface of the glass is less than 60 inches (1524 mm) above the nose of the tread.

Looks like it should be safety glazed to me.

RR

Eric Shuman · #3 (**permalink**) 07-25-2007, 10:33 AM

Thanks Richard,

The issue I am having trouble with is the exceptions to the requirements (In IRC 2006) which are as follows:

"9. Safety glazing in Section R308.4 , Items 10 and 11, is not required
where:

9.1. The side of a stairway, landing or ramp has a guardrail or handrail,
including balusters or in-fill panels, complying with the provisions of
Sections 1013 and 1607.7 of the International Building Code ; and

9.2. The plane of the glass is more than 18 inches (457 mm) from the
railing; or

9.3. When a solid wall or panel extends from the plane of the adjacent
walking surface to 34 inches (863 mm) to 36 inches (914 mm) above the
floor and the construction at the top of that wall or panel is capable of
withstanding the same horizontal load as the protective bar."

I do not think any of the exceptions apply to the window in the first photo, but exception 9.3 may apply to the window facing the stair head (right side window) in the second photo, as the wall from the stair step to the bottom of the window sill appears to be 34 inches or greater.

The left hand windows in the second photo do not appear to meet the requirements of the exceptions.

Thanks,

Eric

Jerry Peck · #4 (**permalink**) 07-25-2007, 02:08 PM

Let's put it all together so we can follow what it is saying.
(bold is mine, my notes/explanations are underlined)
R308.4 Hazardous locations.

The following shall be considered specific hazardous locations for the purposes of glazing:
- 1. Glazing in swinging doors except jalousies.
- 2. Glazing in fixed and sliding panels of sliding door assemblies and panels in sliding and bifold closet door assemblies.
- 3. Glazing in storm doors.
- 4. Glazing in all unframed swinging doors.
- 5. Glazing in doors and enclosures for hot tubs, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, bathtubs and showers. Glazing in any part of a building wall enclosing these compartments where the bottom exposed edge of the glazing is less than 60 inches (1524 mm) measured vertically above any standing or walking surface.
- 6. Glazing, in an individual fixed or operable panel adjacent to a door where the nearest vertical edge is within a 24-inch (610 mm) arc of the door in a closed position and whose bottom edge is less than 60 inches (1524 mm) above the floor or walking surface.
- 7. Glazing in an individual fixed or operable panel, other than those locations described in Items 5 and 6 above, that meets all of the following conditions:
- - 7.1. Exposed area of an individual pane larger than 9 square feet (0.836 m2).
- - 7.2. Bottom edge less than 18 inches (457 mm) above the floor.
- - 7.3. Top edge more than 36 inches (914 mm) above the floor.
- - 7.4. One or more walking surfaces within 36 inches (914 mm) horizontally of the glazing.
- 8. All glazing in railings regardless of an area or height above a walking surface. Included are structural baluster panels and nonstructural infill panels.
- 9. Glazing in walls and fences enclosing indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs and spas where the bottom edge of the glazing is less than 60 inches (1524 mm) above a walking surface and within 60 inches (1524 mm) horizontally of the water’s edge. This shall apply to single glazing and all panes in multiple glazing.
- 10. Glazing adjacent to stairways, landings and ramps within 36 inches (914 mm) horizontally of a walking surface when the exposed surface of the glass is less than 60 inches (1524 mm) above the plane of the adjacent walking surface. (Jerry's note: "Glazing adjacent to stairways ... within 36" horizontally of the walking surface and where less than 60" high above the tread". That glazing in your stairway photo meets that, safety glazing is required.)
- 11. Glazing adjacent to stairways within 60 inches (1524 mm) horizontally of the bottom tread of a stairway in any direction when the exposed surface of the glass is less than 60 inches (1524 mm) above the nose of the tread.
- Exception: The following products, materials and uses are exempt from the above hazardous locations: (Jerry's note: The above do not apply *IF* the following are met.)
- - 1. Openings in doors through which a 3-inch (76 mm) sphere is unable to pass.
- - 2. Decorative glass in Items 1, 6 or 7.
- - 3. Glazing in Section R308.4, Item 6, when there is an intervening wall or other permanent barrier between the door and the glazing.
- - 4. Glazing in Section R308.4, Item 6, in walls perpendicular to the plane of the door in a closed position, other than the wall toward which the door swings when opened, or where access through the door is to a closet or storage area 3 feet (914 mm) or less in depth. Glazing in these applications shall comply with Section R308.4, Item 7.
- - 5. Glazing in Section R308.4, Items 7 and 10, when a protective bar is installed on the accessible side(s) of the glazing 36 inches ± 2 inches (914 mm ± 51 mm) above the floor. The bar shall be capable of withstanding a horizontal load of 50 pounds per linear foot (730 N/m) without contacting the glass and be a minimum of 11/2 inches (38 mm) in height.
- - 6. Outboard panes in insulating glass units and other multiple glazed panels in Section R308.4, Item 7, when the bottom edge of the glass is 25 feet (7620 mm) or more above grade, a roof, walking surfaces, or other horizontal [within 45 degrees (0.79 rad) of horizontal] surface adjacent to the glass exterior.
- - 7. Louvered windows and jalousies complying with the requirements of Section R308.2.
- - 8. Mirrors and other glass panels mounted or hung on a surface that provides a continuous backing support.
- - 9. Safety glazing in Section R308.4, Items 10 and 11, is not required where: (Jerry's note: Section 9 above does not apply *IF* ... the following are met.)
- - 9.1. The side of a stairway, landing or ramp has a guardrail or handrail, including balusters or in-fill panels, complying with the provisions of Sections 1013 and 1607.7 of the International Building Code; and (Jerry's note: I.e., there is a guardrail separating the stair from the glass, if you can't fall through the guardrail, don't worry about the glass - that's all that is saying. Don't forget the "AND" right there.)

- - 9.2. The plane of the glass is more than 18 inches (457 mm) from the railing; or (Jerry's note: This one is an "OR", if this one is met instead, it's okay.)

- - 9.3. When a solid wall or panel extends from the plane of the adjacent walking surface to 34 inches (863 mm)to 36 inches (914 mm)above the floor and the construction at the top of that wall or panel is capable of withstanding the same horizontal load as the protective bar. (Jerry's note: I.e., instead of the guardrail in 9.1 and 9.2, you can build a solid wall 34" -36" high there where the top of the wall is as strong as the guardrail. Makes sense, right? Either the solid wall or the guardrail - either will separate the person on the stairs from the glass adjacent to the stairs.)
- - 10. Glass block panels complying with Section R610.

Those above exceptions only make sense - no need to provide safety glazing as you have now taken that safety glazing and removed it from a hazardous location. Kind of like taking a shower enclosure door and building a wall separating it from the shower - it is no longer a hazard ... right? (Of course, though, that is a bad example, because, how would you use the shower with a wall there?

)

Rick Hurst · #5 (**permalink**) 07-25-2007, 04:07 PM

How about this window? More than 9, less than 18 from floor and deck on opposite side.

Eric Shuman · #6 (**permalink**) 07-25-2007, 04:29 PM

Jerry, thanks for the notes. The last exception was the one I was having trouble with. I felt that it was intending a "guard wall" instead of a guard rail as you noted, but the wording, as it often is, was a little vague to me.

So in my opinion based on the applied code, safety glazing is required in all of these windows pictured as long as the less than 60 inch vertical and 36 inch horizontal measurements are accurate for this situation, and as there are no guard rails or "guard walls" in place.

Do you agree?

Thanks, Eric

Jerry Peck · #7 (**permalink**) 07-25-2007, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Shuman

Do you agree?

Yes. 5

(Dang error message said I had to have at least 5 characters.)

Jerry McCarthy · #8 (**permalink**) 07-26-2007, 04:22 PM

Eric
May I assume you wrote up the lack of a safety handrail serving that stairway and the 45 degree step (tread) as a hazardous to foot traffic?
But I'm sure you did. Safety glazing adjacent stairs is often missed by designers, architects, builders, and plans examiners and may be one of the most common safety items overlooked?

Eric Shuman · #9 (**permalink**) 07-27-2007, 07:06 AM

Jerry M,

Sure did. I also wrote up the lack of a handrail at some exterior stone stairs by the porch that had 6 risers.

And your right about the designers not including that stuff, the builders agent said (about the exterior steps handrail) "But there was no hand rail incoroporated into the design, where should we put it?" To which my reply was "Adjacent to the stairs as required by current building standards"

Eric

Bruce Ramsey · #10 (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 04:52 PM

The window in the picture is less than 12 inches above the floor and roughly 36-40 inches from the bottom of the stair case. There was no acid etch marking or sticker on the window of a 7 year old home.

Is there some method of determining it is safety glass if there is not acid etch or sticker? I could break the window and check the size of the remenents but not sure if the seller would approve .

Jerry Peck · #11 (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Ramsey

Is there some method of determining it is safety glass if there is not acid etch or sticker?

Yes.

Quote:

I could break the window and check the size of the remenents but not sure if the seller would approve .

You had the answer.

Quote:

The window in the picture is less than 12 inches above the floor and roughly 36-40 inches from the bottom of the stair case.

What you describe *does require* safety glazing. (underlining is mine)

10. Glazing adjacent to stairways, landings and ramps within 36 inches (914 mm) horizontally of a walking surface when the exposed surface of the glass is less than 60 inches (1524 mm) above the plane of the adjacent walking surface.

At 36-40 inches from the bottom of the stair, it *does not* clear the walking surface (the landing) by 36 inches.

Stairways are required to have landings at their top and bottom, and the depth of the landing (in the direction of travel) is required to be at least the width of the stairway. If the stairway is 36" wide, the landing need only be 36" deep. If the stairway is 38" wide, the landing needs to be 38" deep.

With the window being within 36" of the bottom landing, the window needs to be safety glazing.

I always told my clients, and wrote it up in the report as, 'safety glazing is *REQUIRED* to have the safety glazing mark visible after glazing, and, when the mark is not visible, a ball peen hammer will quickly determine if it *WAS* safety glazing or *WAS* not' ... with "was" being past tense and the key word in there.

Never had anyone tell me to go ahead and test one, but the point was not lost on my clients - that it needs replacing *regardless*.

Michael Thomas · #12 (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 06:24 PM

Posted before, but IMO worth posing again for it's excellent diagram of safety glazing requirements at stairs: http://www.deckmagazine.com/pdf/2007/0707/0707stru.pdf

Jerry McCarthy · #13 (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 06:37 PM

In my attached photo are the glass blocks OK? Art glass in tub area OK, or not OK? (the art glass is attached to a tempered/safety glazed window)
Yes, this is a test………… read the applicable codes very carefully before answering.

Billy Stephens · #14 (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry McCarthy

In my attached photo are the glass blocks OK? Art glass in tub area OK, or not OK? (the art glass is attached to a tempered/safety glazed window)
Yes, this is a test…………

From the hip.

Blocks Yes, Considered Structural.

Glass No [ attached to whatever ] It needs to be Safety Glass.

Jerry Peck · #15 (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 07:00 PM

Michael,

That drawing has three errors, all related to each other but located in different places.

Starting at the bottom landing: The 36" shown is the minimum for a 36" minimum width stairway. However, if the stairway is wider than 36", the depth of the landing in the direction of travel (the 36" shown) must be at least that of the stairway.

As an example, let us presume that the width of the stair is 38". In that case, that 36" shown must now be 38", not 36".

Now go up to the 36" shown under the right window at the intermediate landing. The same thing I just stated above applies to that 36" dimension.

Now go up to the upper landing. The same thing applies there too.

Thus, at the upper landing, the area shown as 36" + 36" would be (for a stairway which is 38" wide) 36" + 38".

The limitation on the depth of a landing being the width of the stairs is for straight stairs, and the depth of a landing for a straight stair need not exceed 48". That straight stair exception means, to me, that for the stairway shown, the bottom landing (and all landings) would not need to exceed 48" even if that stair was 60" wide. This is because it is separated into two flights of stairs and each flight of stairs is a "straight stair".

If that were a curving stair (winders all the way), then the depth of the landing is the width of the stair, no maximum depth limitation. 60" wide curving stair requires a 60" deep landing.

Jerry Peck · #16 (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry McCarthy

In my attached photo are the glass blocks OK?

Not as installed.

Glass blocks are exempt if (*IF*) installed in accordance with R610 and R610.5.2 requires lateral support for the sides and tops. That glass block wall does not have lateral support either at the top or the sides.

Thus, as installed in that photo, the glass block is not exempt from the hazardous locations requiring safety glazing.

Quote:

Art glass in tub area OK, or not OK? (the art glass is attached to a tempered/safety glazed window)

The art glass falls within the requirements for hazardous locations, for some hazardous location, art glass which meets specified size requirements are exempt, that does not appear to meet the size requirements, however, be that as it may be ... the art glass (decorative glass) exemption ONLY APPLIES TO locations 1, 6, and 7, and bathtubs are under location 5.

Thus, the answer is: both are required to be safety glazing.

Okay, tell me what I missed and where I screwed up.