AS 1288 Safety Glass Guide for Windows & Doors Melbourne

Glass selection for windows and doors is not only a question of thermal performance or appearance. Depending on the location and application, glazing may also need to satisfy safety requirements. In Australia, AS 1288 — Glass in buildings — Selection and installation is a key standard used when selecting and installing glazing in buildings.

This JL guide provides a project-planning overview only. The applicable glass type and thickness must be confirmed for the actual opening, dimensions, location and project requirements.

Why Safety Glazing Matters

Glass in doors, low-level areas and other locations where human impact is reasonably foreseeable can present a higher injury risk if inappropriate glazing is used. Safety glazing is designed to reduce that risk through suitable glass selection and installation.

Toughened and Laminated Safety Glass

Toughened glass is heat-treated to increase strength and is designed to break into relatively small fragments rather than large sharp shards. Laminated glass incorporates an interlayer that helps retain glass fragments when breakage occurs. The correct choice depends on the application and project requirements.

Safety requirements should not be confused with thermal or acoustic performance. A project may require safety glazing while also considering Low-E coatings, double glazing, laminated acoustic glass or other performance characteristics.

Doors and Glazed Door Panels

Glazed doors and panels associated with doorways require particular attention because people move directly through and around them. The door configuration, glass dimensions and location should be reviewed before the glass specification is finalised.

Windows and Human-Impact Locations

Window glazing can also require safety consideration depending on factors such as its position, dimensions and relationship to floors, circulation areas or other building elements. Do not assume that every pane in a project can use the same glass simply because the windows look similar.

Bathrooms and Privacy Glass

Obscure glass can provide privacy, but privacy and safety are separate specification questions. Where safety glazing is required, the selected obscure glass must also be suitable for the applicable safety requirement.

Double Glazing and Safety Glass

Insulated glass units can incorporate suitable toughened, laminated, Low-E, clear or obscure panes depending on the system and project specification. The complete glass makeup should be confirmed rather than describing the unit only as “double glazed”.

See JL’s double glazing Melbourne guide, glass selection guide and Low-E & Argon guide.

AS 1288 and AS 2047 Are Different

AS 1288 addresses glass selection and installation, while AS 2047 relates to windows and external glazed doorsets and their performance requirements. A compliant project can require consideration of both the glazing and the complete window or door system.

See JL window quality, standards and project checks and performance specifications for builders.

Information to Provide JL

• Architectural plans and elevations
• Window and door schedule
• Opening references and dimensions
• Energy report where applicable
• Privacy, acoustic or other glazing requirements
• Any project-specific glazing notes