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Glass in the House

By
Home Inspector with The House Whisperer

When ordinary window plate glass is broken, it breaks into angular shards which are very sharp, and can seriously injury someone… not so good.

Safety Glass

 

One of the major disadvantages of plate glass is that it can be very brittle. For this reason, safety glass is used in situations where glass might be broken.

 

When safety window glass is struck, it breaks into small pebble-like pieces, without sharp edges as shown in the photo… a good thing.

 

Tempered (safety) glass is now required in specified locations including all door glass, most large windows which have their bottom edge less than 18 inches above the floor or ground, windows near doors and floors, and glass in showers and bathtub enclosures.

 

The home inspectors at Pacific Coast Inspections know where safety glass can make a difference throughout the house. There is no requirement to retrofit these locations, but a greater margin of safety would be achieved by upgrading and installing safety glazing in these areas.

 

 

Kim & Kristine Halverson
Sotheby's & Knipe ERA - Bend, OR
Sisters, Realtors

True it breaks into small pebble pieces that you find months after it breaks.  Still better than shards of cut glass.  Kristine

Oct 06, 2011 12:35 PM