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

• Small panels in doors 3mm and 4mm annealed glass is permitted to a maximum of 0.1m2 and a maximum panel width of 125mm.
• Small panels in doors 5mm and 6mm annealed glass is permitted to a maximum of 0.26 m2 with a maximum panel width of 300mm 
• Unframed doors other than those in bathrooms shall be glazed with toughened safety glass with a minimum of 10mm thickness. 

2. Side Panels (Glass which has its vertical sight line within 300mm of door opening)

• A minumum of 5mm ordinary annealed glass may be used up to a maximum area of 0.3 m2
• For decorated glass 3mm and 4mm glass shall not exceed 0.1m2 to a maximum panel width of 125mm.
• For decorated glass 5mm and 6mm glass shall not exceed 0.26m2 to a maximum panel width of 300mm.
• Grade A Safety glass to TABLE 5.1 if the panel is within 1200mm from floor or ground level and fully framed.

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:

• Opening is equal to or less than 500mm wid.
• Lowest sight line is 500mm above the floor
• The sight size height is less than 1000mm
• The glazing is opaque or patterned
• A chair rail is provided with its upper edge not less than 700mm and its top edge not more than 1000mm above the floor level.
• The panels are louvres with a blade width not greater than 230mm
• A difference in floor level of 1000mm

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.

• Partly framed glazing shall be glazed with Grade A Safety Glass with a minimum thickness of 5mm to an area not exceeding 2.2m3
• Frameless glazing in shower screen doors and returns shall be Grade A toughened or toughened laminate with a minimum thickness of 6mm.

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.

• 5mm toughened to a maximum 1000mm span
• 6mm toughened to a maximum 1200mm span
• 6.38mm laminated to a maximum 750mm span

8. Stairway Glazing

Glazing including mirrors in stairways, shall be Grade A safety glass in the following situations:

• Within 2000mm horizontally and at right angles to the bottom riser of each stair flight.
• Withing 1000mmm and parallel to any part of the stair flight or landing.
• Safety glass is not required where the glazing is protected by a solid barrier not less than 1000mm in height.

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:

• Not less than 700mm from the upper edges of the band and
• Not more than 1200mm to the lower edge of the band.

Making glass visible is not a substitute for safety glazing.

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

• This guide applies to glass that has a maximum wind load of 1.5 ULS and .80 SLS and an aspect ratio not greater than 4.
• It only applies where panels are supported on 4 sides (except where indicated)
• This guide applies to glass that is within 2000mm of ground or floor level

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 True Blue Glass expressly disclaims all and any liability to any person for anything done in reliance on this publication.

No responsibility is accepted by True Blue Glass for any mistakes, errors or omissions in this publication.

So you have just signed a contract for one of the biggest investments you will ever make in your life and now you just cannot wait to move in to the home of your dreams.

However, did you know the safety hazards that may be lurking in your dream home?

Every year a significant number of people are seriously injured in their family home.

Amazingly, many of these accidents could have been prevented with simple forethought.

Although a building inspection is not a safety audit, building inspectors often see safety issues which need to be addressed urgently. This is not an exhaustive list, but some of the more common ones are:

Inadequate pool fencing

All swimming pools or spas should be fully enclosed on all 4 sides by a compliant pool fence certified by a licensed pool fence inspector.

This fence should be at least 1.2m high with no ability to be scaled and with a self-closing, self-latching gate.

Both pool fence and gate should be regularly checked and maintained and any items that can be used to either prop the gate open or scale the fence should be removed.

There should also be a clearly visible, laminated cardio pulmonary resuscitation CPR poster within the pool or spa area. A licensed pool inspector should be consulted for advice.

See pool safety at www.hpw.qld.gov.au.

Absent smoke alarms

where smoke alarms which meet Australian Standards should be installed in all homes and units by a licensed electrician. These should be tested annually and kept dust free. See www.qld.gov.au/emergency/safety/smoke-alarms.

There should also be a fire blanket or fire extinguisher in the kitchen readily to hand near the oven and cooktop.

Safety guards

Safety guards should be attached to walls surrounding fireplaces, fuel stoves and heaters.

Excessive stored goods

An excessive build up of stored goods may not only pose a health and fire hazard but if built up against exits may also prevent escape to safety.

Unsafe lighting

Poorly installed roof batts around LED downlights may pose a fire risk in the roof cavity.

Inadequate or absent electrical

Safety switches which should be installed by a licensed electrician on each of the home’s circuits.

Where the home was built prior to 1992, it may not have any safety switches installed, so it may pay to have a licensed electrical inspection.

Otherwise, an annual safety switch check by a licensed electrician is advised. See www.worksafe.qld.gov.au.\

Hot water tempering devices

As of February 2013, all residential hot water storage systems must be heated to a minimum of 60° Celsius to prevent the growth of bacteria such as Legionella.

And a tempering device installed to ensure that hot water is delivered to taps of all sanitary fixtures including showers, baths and basins at a maximum 50° Celsius to reduce risk of scalding-related injuries.

In most homes where this device has not been installed, a licensed plumber should be consulted. See hpw.qld.gov.au.

Poorly safeguarded high risk structures

All built structures over 1 meter that pose a fall risk e.g. balconies, decks, stairs, retaining walls, should be intact, well constructed with adequate fixing, stable and well braced, and protected with appropriate balustrading.

The materials they are constructed of such as timber or concrete should be of adequate strength and weatherproof, not compromised by fungal decay, missing boards, missing fixings, or deterioration generally.

Fixings used such as nails or bolts should be of appropriate size and spacing, intact and not affected by corrosion and not missing.

Balustrades should be vertical without climbing footholds, at least 1200mm high and spaced such that a 125mm sphere cannot pass through.

Barriers or gates

Should be placed at the top and bottom of steps or stairs whenever young children are in the home.

Stairs should have a landing every 18 steps with each step of uniform height and depth to prevent tripping and falling. Where stone or rock has been used for stairs, these should be kept dry and moss free.

All high risk structures such as decks, balconies, retaining walls, stairs and landings should be checked at least annually, preferably by a licensed builder and kept well maintained, free of termite damage or fungal decay and rot.

Poorly lit stairwells

Stairwells should be kept well illuminated with lights replaced regularly as required.

Floor injury hazards

All floor nails should be punched in and stoppered with timber filler to prevent injury.

Wet Areas, Paths and driveways

All wet areas e.g. bathrooms and laundries should also have slip resistant surfaces to prevent falls.

Steep and slippery paths or driveways may expose children to traffic, pose a problem for vehicle parking or encourage falls especially in the elderly.

Window fall hazards

Upper storey windows should be fitted with safety glass and have a restricted opening of 125mm or better still, externally fitted security screens or window guards which, for fire safety, should be able to be pushed out by an adult.

Glass around the home

Sliding glass doors should meet Australian Safety Glass Standards, although most homes constructed prior to the mid 1970s will not have this installed. However a glazier can retrofit a thin sheet of polyester laminate to one side of the glass panel to make windows and doors safer.

Safety stickers should also be installed on glass at eye level for all sliding glass panels.

True Blue Glass can conduct a glass audit which will have every piece of glass checked to make sure it is up to Australian Standards.

Furnishings

Furniture, especially cots, beds and bunk beds, should be kept well away from hazards such as upper storey windows, hanging blinds and cords, and ceiling fans to prevent falls, strangling and chopping injuries, respectively.

Hot water Services and Air conditioning

Placement of hot water and air conditioning systems should not provide access to upper storey windows, balustrading, and pool fencing or proximity to hanging blinds and cords and ceiling fans.

Toilets and toiler doors

Inaccessible toilets. Toilet doors should be fitted with liftoff hinges so that an occupant can be rescued by emergency services.

Play Areas

Play areas need to be physically separated from the driveway or road by a gate or barrier and 50% of a pool or play area should be protected from sun by either natural shade or shade structures.

House numbers

House address numbers should be clearly visible from the street at all times including night, for emergency vehicles.

If a home has been built, modified or renovated without certification or compliance to the Building Code and Australian Standards,

as is often the case where it has been undertaken by the owner, it is always advisable to seek legal advice and have searches conducted as noncompliance may pose serious safety risks.

The above information is for your interest only and is limited to Queensland as it may vary for other states of Australia.

A pre-purchase building inspection is neither a safety audit nor a check for compliance to mandatory government regulations.

For advice, please seek out the appropriately licensed specialist e.g. glaziers, electrician, plumber or pool fencing inspector or your solicitor for compliance searches.

Finally, the Queensland Government provides a very handy Home Safety Checklist at health.qld.gov.au.