The beautiful big new picture windows installed in this remodeled house “passed” the five point test to determine that they must be made with safety glass.
Safety glass is required when window meets all 5 requirements:
1) they were less than 18″ from floor
2) the top of glass was more than 36″ above floor
3) the size of the glass exceeds 9 sq feet
4) there is a walking surface within 3′
5) and yes the was structure built/ remodeled after 1968
These newly installed sashes were not made with safety glass. It is the responsibility of the installer to make sure that safety glass is used where required regardless of the homeowners wishes. In this case the buyers were not buying the home if the glass was not replaced, because of the danger posed to their grand children who spend a lot of time with them.
Large windows can be very dangerous if someone falls through a window, particularly a large one where falling glass can act like a large blade unlike safety glass which will shatter into smaller pieces reducing the likelihood or severity of injury’s.
It is illegal for a company to install regular plate glass in a window that requires tempered safety glass. If you are wondering if existing windows in your home are safety glass, look in the corners and you see etched into the glass the word “Tempered” if they are safety glass. It can be difficult sometimes to see it.
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