Safety glass needed?

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by rmaday

Here’s why I asked…



My mother used to live in the St. Louis area and had windows very similar to those in her living room (upstairs of a split level). We were visiting at a time when my oldest first started walking. I was moving her glass coffee table (her home wasn’t very baby friendly) to the garage - attached, accessible only from the exterior - and walked past these windows, which were open.

I heard my son say Dada-dada and my mother, seeing me out the window, pointed to me. My son ran to the window, through the screen and landed on his back in the bushes, about 6 inches from some landscaping bricks. Yes, I dropped (and broke) the table, but was not quick enough to catch him.

Lucky for us, he only had a scratch, but it could have been much worse. My mother didn’t think to stop him, because she didn’t think the screen would give.

Are the windows inherently dangerous? No, but we can’t protect people from themselves.

If the window shown was on the second floor I would point it out to the client and suggest they consider a barrier of some kind.

I have in the past.

[rmaday]

Originally Posted by jpope

Would tempered glass have made any difference to the outcome of this event?

I'm happy to hear that everyone is okay. . .

Thanks, it was 6 years ago or so (even though I remember it like it was yesterday).

The reason I asked wasn't about the glass, but recomendations in general. I haven't seen that style window here, yet. When I do, I'm sure I'll relay my story mainly as a common sense type of precaution, but I don't think it'll go in the report.

My mom's inspector certainly couldn't know that someday her grandson would visit, as he was just learning to walk, see his father outside, run to the open window and fall out. If he could, his crystal ball is better than mine.

There's really only so much we can do - we can't prevent accidents and we can't stop people from doing stupid things.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Tempered glass is required in some locations. The following list is not all-inclusive.
(1) Glazing in doors and enclosures for hot tubs (both inside and outside), whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, bathtubs and showers or any part of a wall enclosing these areas where the bottom of the glass is 60 inches or less off the drain, needs to have tempered glass.
(2) If a window meets all four of the following criteria the glass needs to be tempered.
a. Exposed area of an individual pane is greater than 9 sq. ft.
b. The bottom edge is less than 18” above the floor.
c. The top edge of the same piece of glass is 36” or more above the floor.
d. If one or more walking surfaces are within 36” horizontally of the glazing.
For further information consult the 2000 edition of the International Residential Code or consult the Building Permits Office.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

I found the above information. i still would point out windows under FYI that close to the floor

[dbucknavich]

Originally Posted by bkelly2

Tritto.

I have found children to be quite problematic to the general welfare and upkeep of the standard residential home. Thus, I pretty much recommend this as a safety upgrade every-time I come across the little bastards.

I smell a new vendor