I’m fixing up a rental for a customer. Basic painting, plaster repair, door re-hanging, etc. It’s an old cape cod style. On the 2nd floor, there are 2 replacement windows that are about 1 foot from the floor. Neither one is stamped as safety glass. Does that mean that they are not?
I thought code required safety glass when glass is too low, but I don’t know the height. I suggested that we could add safety bars across the windows. Are there code requirements for safety bars such as spacing? And where could I get them?
The customer is not concerned because he is renting to someone he knows, but that could change in the future and now’s the time to do the right thing. I know that he won’t pop for new windows even if that truly would be the right thing to do.
-Don
Replies
Code requires tempered glass if window is adjacent to a door where the nearest vertical edge is within 24" arc of the door in a closed position and whose bottom edge is less than 60" above the floor.
Tempered glass is also required when the window meets all of the following conditions:
1. Exposed area of individual pane greater than 9 sq. ft.
2. Bottom edge is less than 18" above the floor.
3. Top edge is greater than 36" above the floor.
4. One of more walking surfaces within 36" horizontally of the glazing.
The above is from the 2003 IRC One and Two Family Dwelling. Check your local county - they may deviate from this.