However you use our glass it is essential that it is correctly specified and installed. A number of British Standards and Building Regulation Documents, e.g. in England and Wales Approved Document N, gives guidelines for the safe use of glass. Copies of these are available at your local town centre library.

The following comprises the five most common areas of risk, along with the Documents to which they're related. All these documents refer to safety glazing materials as glass which meets BS 6206, (the British Standard which tests the safety characteristics of the glass).

All 4mm and 6mm glasses can be toughened to Category A of BS 6206. The glass can also be laminated for added security, although the method of lamination will dictate which level of safety classification is achieved.

1. GLAZED DOORS AND GLAZING ADJACENT TO DOORS

British Standard BS 6262; Code of Practice for Glazing for Buildings; PART 4 - SAFETY recommends the use of safety glass:

• In doors where the glass comes within I 5OOmm from floor level.
• In panes which are within 300mm from the door edge and I500mm from floor level. 6mm ordinary (annealed) glass can be used in small panes. A small pane has one dimension which does not exceed 250mm and has an area less than 0.5ml.

2. LOW LEVEL GLAZING

BS 6262 PART 4 also recommends the use of a safety glass in glazing below 800mm from floor level. 6mm ordinary (annealed) glass can be used in small panes. These have short dimension less than 250mm and area less than 0.5m2.

3. BATHROOM AREAS

BS 6262 PART 4 recommends that safety glass should always be used for bath or shower screens, or wherever there is any risk of slipping on wet surfaces.

4. PROTECTIVE BARRIERS

In addition, the use of glass in protective barriers, such as balconies and balustrades on stairways and landings, is covered by British Standard BS 6180.

5. FURNITURE AND CABINETS

Recommendations on the types of glass to use in furniture are given in BS 7449 'Specification for inclusion of glass in the construction of furniture, other than tables or trolleys, including cabinets, shelving systems and wall-hung or freestanding mirrors'.
1991 and BS 7376 'Specification for inclusion of glass in the construction of tables or trolleys', 1990.

If you are unsure about any glazing situation, please contact us to ensure that the correct type of glass is used.