Safety Glazing for Safer Decks Alexandria VA

Insight on engineering and codes

by Glenn Mathewson

The completed deck is beautiful and your client loves it. It just needs to pass inspection, then you can move on to the next job. No worries — it's a simple deck and there shouldn't be any problems. But when the inspector does the final inspection, he tells you it looks great — except you must "safety glaze" a window on the house.

What? You didn't do anything to that window, so how are you responsible? I can tell you that you're not the only deck builder to be surprised by this code requirement. As an inspector, I often see designs that don't account for the locations of the existing windows.

Windows are typically made from glass, or what the building codes call glazing, which is dangerous when broken. Thus, Section R308 of the 2006 International Residential Code calls for safety glazing in locations it deems hazardous.

The safety glazing must display a manufacturer's designation, commonly called a "tempering bug," that specifies who applied the designation, what type of glazing was used, and which safety standard was met. Further, the tempering bug must be acid- or laser-etched, sandblasted, ceramic-fired, embossed, or otherwise applied so it can't be removed without being destroyed in the process; and it must be visible at final inspection.

The most common safety glazing is tempered glass, like that used in the side and rear windows of your truck.

Click here to read full article from Deck Magaziner