Safety glass needs a mark

The Department of Building and Housing is concerned about reports that some glass installed in buildings, and purporting to be safety glass, does not carry an appropriate mark.

Acceptable Solution F2/AS1 specifies the use of safety glass in certain building locations, such as doors, balustrades and bathrooms. The Acceptable Solution references NZS 4223: 1999 Glazing in Buildings – Human Impact Safety Requirements (Part 3).

The Standard requires all safety glass to be permanently marked. Each panel must carry:

• the identity of the manufacturer
• the type of glazing material
• the Standard to which the material has been tested
• the impact test classification
• any additional markings required by the test Standard.

The marking is traditionally found at the corner of the panel, with an inscription about 25 mm across.

A further Standard, AS/NZS 2208: 1996, specifies procedures for the verification of glass markings. Safety glass is normally tested by controlled breaking of a sample panel.

The Department encourages glass users to ensure all building glass products meet the marking requirements of NZS 4223: 1999, and that the verification of such markings can be established under AS/NZS 2208: 1996.