minimum height of glazing from floor

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picante544
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minimum height of glazing from floor

#1 Post by picante544 »

Hi all,

I'm trying to locate the ICC code that regulates how far a distance from the floor a window glass must be before you must use safety glass. Must I use tempered glass in the lower sash of a double-hung window when that glass is 18" from the floor? 24" from the floor? 25" from the floor? If you could refer me to the section of the ICC that regulates this, I'd me very appreciative.

Thanks in advance.

Picante

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Windows on Washington
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Re: minimum height of glazing from floor

#2 Post by Windows on Washington »


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HomeSealed
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Re: minimum height of glazing from floor

#3 Post by HomeSealed »

Image

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TheWindowNerd
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Re: minimum height of glazing from floor

#4 Post by TheWindowNerd »

was the "and greater than 9sq feet" removed from the code?

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Windows on Washington
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Re: minimum height of glazing from floor

#5 Post by Windows on Washington »

anthony wrote:was the "and greater than 9sq feet" removed from the code?
Here is the most recent reference I can find in the IRC.

http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/ ... =undefined

masterext
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Re: minimum height of glazing from floor

#6 Post by masterext »

For simplicity, here are 2 of the most common reasons for tempered in a window( in my area )

1) The bottom edge of the glazing is less than 18 inches above the floor.
2) there is a window in the shower/ tub area

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Randy
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Re: minimum height of glazing from floor

#7 Post by Randy »

1) The bottom edge of the glazing is less than 18 inches above the floor.
But only if the glass is more than 9 sq. ft.

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HomeSealed
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Re: minimum height of glazing from floor

#8 Post by HomeSealed »

Randy wrote:
1) The bottom edge of the glazing is less than 18 inches above the floor.
But only if the glass is more than 9 sq. ft.
I don't know about you guys, but I have had city inspectors go to the mat with me on this. Ultimately they can enforce stricter standards if they so choose. I generally just order it tempered unless there is a large qty of windows where it will make a huge price difference.

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Randy
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Re: minimum height of glazing from floor

#9 Post by Randy »

That may be fine up north where it's seldom an issue, but here in Texas the vast majority of homes have multiple 36 x 72 oriel single hung windows (5-8 per home is typical) and to waste money on unnecessary tempered glass in order to appease an inspector who's putting his personal interpretation of the code over what is clearly written and legislatively adopted isn't fair to my customer, since it's their money.

I do understand why contractors might prefer to do it differently in other parts of the country.

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Windows on Washington
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Re: minimum height of glazing from floor

#10 Post by Windows on Washington »

We tell the clients the code and the benefits and drawbacks. If they have some ankle biters that are running around, its usually not a bad investment.

I do agree that an inspector deciding that he or she requires it when the adopted code (unless the city or locality supersedes the IRC) is ridiculous.

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HomeSealed
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Re: minimum height of glazing from floor

#11 Post by HomeSealed »

I hear you on that Randy, I'd do the same if I were in that situation. Very rare up here. Most common window heights are 38, 46, and 54". Occasionally we get a 65" and its once in a blue moon that we see a 72"+.

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