Where Is Safety Glass Required? A Homeowner's Guide

Safety glass isn't just for shower doors. According to the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) and the International Residential Code (IRC), numerous locations in your home require glass that won't shatter into dangerous shards.

Why Safety Glass Matters

According to CPSC data, architectural glass injuries send thousands of people to emergency rooms annually. Regular annealed glass breaks into large, sharp shards that can cause severe lacerations. Safety glass is designed to fail safely.

Hazardous Locations Defined

According to the IRC (adopted by Idaho), safety glazing is required in:

Near Doors

• Glass within 24 inches of a door edge
• Glass panels in doors
• Storm doors and screen doors with glass
• Sidelites (narrow windows beside doors)

Near Wet/Slippery Surfaces

• Shower and bathtub enclosures
• Hot tub enclosures
• Glass within 60 inches of water's edge in pools

Near Walking Surfaces

• Glass within 36 inches of a walking surface
• When bottom edge is less than 18 inches from floor
• When top edge is more than 36 inches from floor
• When panel is larger than 9 square feet

Stairs and Ramps

• Glass adjacent to stairways and landings
• Glass along ramps

The Bottom Line Checklist

According to CPSC and ICC, assume safety glass is required if glass is:

| Location | Required |
|----------|----------|
| Bathroom windows near tub/shower | Yes |
| Floor-to-ceiling windows | Yes |
| Glass doors (all types) | Yes |
| Windows beside entry doors | Yes |
| Stairway windows | Yes |
| Large picture windows (near floor) | Yes |
| Standard windows (>18" from floor) | Usually no |

Identifying Existing Safety Glass

According to ANSI Z97.1, safety glass must be permanently marked with:

• Manufacturer name
• ANSI Z97.1 or CPSC 16 CFR 1201 reference
• Glazing type (tempered, laminated, etc.)

Look in window corners for etched or sandblasted markings.

The Bottom Line

If you're replacing glass in any of these locations, safety glass is legally required. According to CPSC, this isn't just code compliance—it's injury prevention.

*For complete safety glass information, see: [Safety Glass Requirements](/guides/safety-glass-requirements)*