AS1288 SUMMARY REVIEW

The following is a summary of the AS1288-2006, January 2006 Glazing code that you need to be aware of in regard to glass (please refer to the Australian Standards – AS1288-2006 for the full code) with forms part of the Building Code of Australia.

Table 5.1 referred to in below summary is the AS1288 standard that provides a guide to the selection of glass. Click here to go straight to Table 5.1

Glass within 500mm off the floor

a) Grade A safety glass must be used for any area over 1.2m²

b) Use of 5mm annealed glass for areas under 1.2m²

c) Glass used must meet criteria to withstand wind load (see “ultimate limit state design stresses for glass subjected to wind loading” table in AS1288-2006 document)

Glazing within 300mm of door

All panels within the nearest vertical sight lines less than 300mm from the nearest edge of the doorway opening must be glazed as follows:

a) Fully or partially framed within 1200mm of the floor or ground level

b) Grade A Safety Glass must be used, with these exceptions: – A minimum of 5mm ordinary annealed glass can be used up to a maximum of 0.3m2 (500mm x 600mm example size)

Areas Subject to High Risk of Human Impact

The following areas are considered to be subject to high risk of human impact:

(a) In and around doors (particularly in side panels which may be mistaken for doors).

(b) Panels mistaken for a doorway or opening.

(d) Bathrooms, spa rooms and ensuites.

(e) Buildings associated with special activities, e.g., gymnasia, enclosed swimming pools, etc,

(f) Schools and child care facilities.

(g) Nursing homes and aged care facilities.

(h) All glazing, wholly or partly within 2000 mm of the floor or ground level may be subject to the risk of human impact.

Special considerations must be made for areas subject to high risk of human impact. Grade A Safety Glass must be used in these areas according to table 5.1.

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.

DOORS

(a) Small panels in doors 3mm and 4mm annealed glass is permitted to a maximum of 0.1 m2 with a maximum panel width of 125mm.

(b) 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.

(c) Unframed doors other than those in bathrooms shall be glazed with toughened safety glass with a minimum of 10mm thickness.

ALL OTHER SITUATIONS REQUIRE

Grade A safety glass as per TABLE 5.1

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

(a) A minimum of 5mm ordinary annealed glass may be used up to a maximum area of 0.3m

(b) For decorated glass 3mm and 4mm – shall not exceed 0.1 m2 width of 125mm to a maximum panel.

Grade A safety glass to Table 5.1 if the panel is within 1200mm from floor or ground level and fully framed

Glass Which Could Be Mistaken for a Doorway or Opening

Ask yourself “could anyone mistake the panel for a doorway or opening and walk into glass”? If YES, use Grade A safety glass to TABLE 5.1

NOTE:

The panel cannot be mistaken IF:

(a) Opening is equal to or less than 500mm wide.

(b) Lowest sight line is 500mm* above floor.

(d) The glazing is opaque or patterned.

(e) 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.

(f)The panels are louvres with a blade width not greater than 230mm.

(g) A difference in floor level of 1000mm.

Windows (low lights)

(a) 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 n fully framed glazing ordinary annealed glass not less than 5mm is permitted to a maximum area of 1.2m2 . Larger areas of ordinary annealed glass are not permitted regardless of glass thickness

Two Edge Unframed Glazing (sashless windows)

Glazing with two horizontal edges unframed shall be Grade A safety glass and comply with the following:

(a) 5mm Toughened to a maximum1000mm span

(b) 6mm Toughened to a maximum1200mm span

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.

(a) Partly framed glazing shall be glazed to TABLE 5.4 with Grade A Safety Glass with a minimum thickness of 5mm to an area not exceeding 2.2m2.

(b) Frameless glazing in shower screen doors and returns shall be Grade A Toughened or Toughened Laminate with a minimum

Stairway Glazing

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

(a) Within 2000mm horizontally and at right angles to the bottom riser of each stair flight.

(b) Within 1000mm and parallel to any part of the The AGGA provides advanced AS1288 training courses and building surveyors audit programs (glass) for all building professionals including glaziers, builders, architects and building surveyors. stair flight or landing.

Safety glass is not required where the glazing is protected by a solid barrier not less than 1000mm in height.

Balustrades

(a) All balustrades require an interlinking handrail where the difference in floor level is greater than 1000mm.

(b) 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.

(d) 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.