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Glass in Schools

• Overview

• Where Glass is Likely to be Subjected to Human Impact

• General Glass Replacement

Overview

The following information is provided to assist schools in ensuring adherence to required standards and that correct glazing materials are used during the replacement of all glazing panels.

The current Australian Standard AS 1288-1994 "Glass in Buildings" specifies procedures for the selection of glass in buildings.  For school facilities occupied by children below 16 years of age, safety glass is specified in areas that are less than one metre above floor level, and higher in areas where there is a pronounced risk such as in gymnasiums, enclosed swimming pools and other activity areas.  

Where glass is being replaced due to works or breakage, it should comply with current standards and be installed by a qualified glazier who will be aware of the relevant standards.

The Department has a duty of care to the occupants of the buildings it manages and continues to progressively upgrade glazing to comply with contemporary standards.

Where Glass is Likely to be Subjected to Human Impact

1.  General

Low Level Glass:

Low level glass in schools and child care buildings, and glass for buildings for special activities (eg gymnasiums), are among the special requirements in the Standard.

Identification of Safety Glazing Materials:

Each original panel of safety glazing shall be legibly marked in accordance with AS 2208.  Where safety glass is cut by the distributor or glazier and installed, there are requirements for these sections to be appropriately labelled and compliance certificates issued for retention by the schools.

2.  Glass doors

Glass in unframed doors shall be Grade A toughened safety glass with standard nominal thickness of not less than 10mm.  Fully framed doors above 0.5m² shall be Grade A toughened safety glass (in accordance with Table 5.2, AS 1288).

3.  Glass side panels

All framed glass in side panels with their nearest vertical sight line less than 300mm from the nearest edge of the doorway opening, shall be of Grade A safety glass (in accordance with Table 5.1, AS 1288).

Unframed glass in side panels shall be glazed with Grade A safety glass (in accordance with the more stringent requirements of Table 5.1, AS 1288 - 1994 or Table 5.5, AS 1288) except panels with any edge exposed shall not have a standard nominal thickness of less than 10mm.

4.  Glazed panels not defined as a door or side panel, but which are capable of being mistaken for a doorway or an unimpeded path of travel

Framed glass panels shall be glazed with Grade A safety glass (in accordance with Table 5.1, AS 1288).

Unframed glass panels shall be glazed with Grade A safety glass (in accordance with Table 5.5, AS 1288).

5.  Low level glass

Where glass used in school and child care buildings, which are primarily occupied by children under 16 years of age, is situated so that the lowest sight line of the glass is less than 1000mm above the highest abutting finished floor level, Grade A safety glass shall be used for fully framed panels (in accordance with Table 5.1, AS 1288), and Grade A safety glass shall be used for unframed panels (in accordance with the more stringent requirements of Table 5.5 AS 1288).  (Refer Table F8, AS 1288 - 1994.)

6.  Shower doors, shower screens and bath enclosures

All glass in shower doors, shower screens and bath enclosures, and associated windows, the lowest sight line of which is less than 1500mm above the highest abutting finished level of the floor, bottom of the bath or shower base shall be glazed with Grade A safety glass (in accordance with Table 5.1 AS 1288), or Grade B safety glass material (in accordance with Table 5.3, AS 1288), except that, for panels or doors with any edge exposed, toughened safety glass shall be used with a minimum glass thickness of 5mm (in accordance with Table 5.1 AS 1288).  (Refer Figure F8 and Table F7, AS 1288.)

7.  Transparent glass

Where transparent glass is used in doors and side panels, or is located so that it may be mistaken for a doorway or unimpeded path of travel, it is recommended that it be marked by means of a motif or other decorative treatment to indicate its presence.  However, such marking shall not be used as a substitute for the use of safety glass.

General Glass Replacement

1.  Wind loading

Minimum thickness or maximum area of various types of glass to be used is calculated in compliance with relative design wind pressures and regional wind zones as determined by Australian Standard AS 1170.2.  For this purpose, Tasmania is classified as Wind Zone A (Normal).  Glass size is then determined in accordance with the individual school location, ie sheltered suburban, exposed suburban, or open rural.

2.  Requirements for louvres and sloped overhead glazing

Louvres:

Where either fixed or operable louvre windows are installed, the blade length for ordinary annealed glass shall not exceed the values as given in Table 6.1, AS 1288 - 1994, provided that the design wind pressure does not exceed 0.9kpa.

Sloped Overhead Glazing (Including Roof Lights):

Where glazing is inclined at slopes less than 30 degrees to the horizontal, Grade A safety glass shall be used.  Where the glazing is inclined at slopes of 30 degrees or greater to the horizontal, Grade A or Grade B safety glass shall be used.  Where the highest part of the glazed panel is more than 5.0m above the finished floor level, toughened safety glass shall not be used except when the slope of the glazing is 70 degrees or greater from the horizontal, or where a safety screen is fitted below the glass to prevent glass fragments falling in the event of glass breakage.

Maximum allowable spans for sloped glazing for non-trafficable roofs are as shown on Table 6.2, AS 1288 - 1994.

Information on selection of glass for sloped overhead glazing is as shown on Appendix G, AS 1288 - 1994.

Note:  As any re-glazing to any glass to sloped overhead roof lights, etc must now comply with Table 6.2, AS 1288 - 1994, difficulty may arise with existing glazing bars unable to accept thicker glass.

3.  Glass replacement in steel framed windows

A current problem exists in schools where broken window panes are often replaced with glass that is held by a bead of silicone into the frame or sash.  This allows water to lay on the horizontal members and speeds up the rusting process.

Schools are advised that this practice is unacceptable and that thorough preparation of rebates followed by conventional putty fixing is the correct method to be used by the glazier.

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