Glass Thickness Requirements
This article discusses Glass Thickness Minimum Requirements according to Australian standards.
Glass thickness requirements are set out by Australian Standards AS1288-2006 to ensure safety and durability for building materials. The information below was
Table of Contents
Doors
- Small panels of 3mm or 4mm annealed glass are permissible in doors up to 0.1m2 in area and 125mm in width.
- Door panels of varying sizes A maximum of 0.26 m2 of 5mm or 6mm annealed glass is authorised, with a maximum panel width of 300mm.
- Except for those in bathrooms, unframed doors shall be glazed with toughened safety glass with a minimum thickness of 10mm.
Side Panels
- A minimum of 5mm ordinary annealed glass may be used up to a maximum area of 0.3m2
- For decorated glass 5mm and 6mm glass shall not exceed 0.26m2 to a maximum panel width of 300mm
- Grade A safety glass must be used if the panel is within 1200mm from floor or ground level and fully framed.
Windows
All low level glazing must be Grade A safety glass. Except where the lowest sight line is less than 500mm from the ground or floor level.
Ordinary annealed glass with a thickness of no less than 5mm is permitted in fully framed glazing up to a maximum area of 1.2 m2. Larger areas of ordinary annealed glass, regardless of thickness, are not permitted.
Glass Which Could Be Mistaken for an 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 wide.
- 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
Bathrooms
All glass in bathrooms should use Grade A or B safety glass to TABLE 5.1 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.
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.
Two Edge Unframed Glazing
Glazing with two horizontal edges that are not framed must be Grade A safety glass and meet the requirements listed below-
- 5mm toughened to a maximum 1000mm span
- 6mm toughened to a maximum 1200mm span
- 6.38mm laminated to a maximum 750mm span
Glass Balustrades & Stairways
In the following circumstances, all glazing, including mirrors in stairwells, shall be Grade A safety glass:
- Within 2000mm horizontally and perpendicular to each stair flight’s bottom riser.
- Within 1000mm of any part of the stair flight or landing and parallel to it.
Safety glass is not required where the glazing is protected by a solid barrier not less than 1000mm in height.
Making Glass Visible
If glass is not visible in a door, side panel, or panel that could be mistaken for a doorway or opening, it must be marked to be visible. Marking shall be in the form of an opaque band not less than 20mm in height and positioned so that:
• 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
Table 5.1
| GRADE A SAFETY GLASS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminated Glass | Toughened Glass & Toughened Laminate | ||
| Area m² | Thickness (mm) | Area m² | Thickness (mm) |
| 2.2 | 5mm | 2.2 | 4mm |
| 3 | 6mm | 3 | 5mm |
| 5 | 8mm | 4 | 6mm |
| 7 | 10mm | 6 | 8mm |
| 9 | 12mm | 8 | 10mm |
| GRADE B SAFETY GLASS | |||
| Wired Glass | |||
| Area m² | Thickness (mm) | ||
| 2.5 | >6mm | ||
NOTE: This guide was created as a general guideline only and should be used as such. The writer has used their best efforts to ensure all information contained on article is correct and according to AS1288-2006.
Elias is the director of Gusto Emergency Glass Replacement and has many years in the glass repair and construction industry