Standards for the Use of Safety Glass

　　Glass is wind‑resistant and highly transparent, with stable performance. Depending on the application, different types exhibit distinct characteristics, making it suitable for a wide range of uses. When selecting glass, it’s important not only to consider cost but also to gain a solid understanding of its types and properties. Only by leveraging its strengths while mitigating its weaknesses can we choose the most appropriate material for each specific application. We have compiled data and prepared this article to help readers grasp the guidelines for glass selection and the safe use of safety glass.
　　I. Standards and Specifications for the Use of Safety Glass
　　The “Regulations on the Management of Safety Glass in Construction” (effective January 1, 2004) lists the following building components that require glass as a construction material; these components must be made with safety glass.
　　Standards for the Use of Safety Glass
　　(1) Install windows on the exterior of buildings that are seven stories or higher.
　　(2) Floor-to-ceiling windows with a surface area greater than 1.5 square meters, or where the bottom edge of the glass is less than 500 mm from the finished surface (the boundary between the transparent portion of the glass and the opaque portion covered by the glazing installation material, after the glass has been installed within the frame).
　　(3) Curtain walls (excluding all-glass curtain walls).
　　(4) Inclined assembly of windows, various types of roofs (including skylights and light-transmitting roofs), and ceilings.
　　(5) Sightseeing elevator and its enclosure.
　　(6) Interior partitions and screens.
　　(7) Staircases, balconies, platform corridors, and atrium railings.
　　(8) Floor slab for pedestrian loads.
　　(9) Entrances, lobbies, and other areas of public buildings (including: 1) door glass; 2) glass installed above doors; 3) glass installed on either side of doors, where the distance between the vertical edge nearest the door opening and the door opening itself is less than 300 millimeters).
　　(10) Other areas that are susceptible to impact and may result in personal injury.
　　II. Criteria for Selecting Glass Specifications
　　The selection of door glass and fixed door glass shall comply with the following requirements:
　　1. Frame glass shall be safety glass that complies with the relevant regulations; when the glass area does not exceed 0.5 m², ordinary annealed glass or laminated glass with a thickness of at least 6 mm may also be used.
　　2. Frameless glass shall be tempered glass that complies with the relevant regulations, with a nominal thickness of not less than 10 mm.
　　Interior partitions shall be made of safety glass.
　　Glass installed in public places and sports venues where large crowds gather shall comply with the following requirements:
　　1. According to the regulations, framed glass shall be tempered glass with a nominal thickness of not less than 5 mm or laminated glass with a nominal thickness of not less than 6.38 mm.
　　2. Frameless glass shall be tempered glass that complies with the relevant regulations, with a nominal thickness of not less than 10 mm.
　　Bathroom glass shall meet the following requirements:
　　1. Frame glass at the following locations shall be made of safety glass that complies with applicable regulations.
　　2. Glass used for shower enclosures and bathtub partitions;
　　3. The distance between the visible line on the inner side of the glass and the edge of the bathtub base shall not exceed 500 mm, and the distance between the visible line on the bottom side of the glass and the bathtub bottom or a height close to the floor shall be less than 1500 mm.
　　4. Except for the bathroom door, all frameless glass shall be tempered glass with a nominal thickness of not less than 5 mm and shall comply with the applicable regulations.
　　5. Frameless glass doors in bathrooms shall be made of tempered glass with a nominal thickness of not less than 10 mm.