Glazing Near Sliding Door

[forumadmin]

Background Info:
R308.4 Hazardous locations item #2 “Glazing, in an individual fixed or operable panel adjacent to a door where the nearest vertical edge is within a 24-inch (610 mm) arc of the door in a closed position and whose bottom edge is less than 60 inches (1524 mm) above the floor or walking surface.” Merriam-Webster defines a door: “a usually swinging or sliding barrier by which an entry is closed and opened”. A fixed panel of a sliding door is part of a door assembly, but clearly not a door.

Is any glazing whose bottom edge is less than 60 inches above the floor and within a 24-inch arc of a stationary panel of a sliding glass door assembly required by code to be safety glazed?

[Peter]

Refer to the 2006 IRC Q & A Application Guide, page 24. A drawing is shown that indiates a sliding patio door in a bay configuration, and a window is installed on each side of the sliding patio door. "Question: (paraphrased) The drawing indicates a sliding patio door with a casement window on each side of the patio door... does R308.4, item 6, apply to the casement windows in the angled portion of the bay window? Answer: (paraphrased) It is a widely held opinion that the intent of the requirement is based upon a door that opens for passage; therefore, the appropriate measurement would be taken from the nearest edge of the active panel of the patio door. Due to its spatial separation of more than 24 inches, the casement window adjacent to the fixed pane of the patio door is not considered to be in a hazardous location and thus would not require safety glazing." Peter Kulczyk

[Patrick Parsley]

According to the ICC IRC interpretations committee the answer is yes. That was based on the definition that the fixed and operable panel were both part of the door therefore the arch is from both edges of the entire unit. The committee was not unanimous. Rick Davidson proposed a code change that clarifies that glazing next to the fixed panel is exempt (RB42)and it was approved by the hearing committee. If it passes the final vote, the question will be answered. Presently I disagree with the interpretations committee and support the code change to clarify.

[larry Huff]

My thought on this is that what is called a PATIO DOOR is just a sliding window and due to it's size, it would need to be safety glazed. The smaller window next to it would not be required to be safety glazed. There is no swing in a sliding window but a door does swing and as I read in the 2006 IRC Commentary, the reason for safety glazing next to the door is so when you open it, you don't push someone through the glass next to the door that swings open. One can't do that with a sliding door/window. Also, if you look at all of the drawings in the commentary, they all refer to a swinging door. Just my thoughts.

[David Swan]

Our apologies to everyone who may have been confused by this topic. This question should refer to R308.4, Item #6 (not item #2).

Many of you apparently believe a revision to this section is necessary, or at least clarity.

R308.4, Item #6 reads: “Glazing, in an individual fixed or operable panel adjacent to a door where the nearest vertical edge is within a 24-inch (610 mm) arc of the door in a closed position and whose bottom edge is less than 60 inches…” This language would exempt any glazing outside of a 24” arc of any vertical edge of either a sliding door or a swinging door as we measure with the door in the closed position.

We have three exceptions (actually they are exemptions) to Item #6:
Exception 2 “Decorative glass in Items 1, 6 or 7”,
Exception 3 “Glazing in Section R308.4, Item 6, when there is an intervening wall or other permanent barrier between the door and the glazing”,
Exception 4 “Glazing in Section R308.4, Item 6, in walls perpendicular to the plane of the door in a closed position, other than the wall toward which the door swings when opened, or where access through the door is to a closet or storage area 3 feet (914 mm) or less in depth…”

Now we know that the glazing adjacent to the stationary panel, if greater than 24” from the vertical edge of the door in a closed position is not required to be safety glazed. And if they have a decorative glass panel on the opposite side right next to the door, it too is not required to be safety glazed as this would not be hazardous. Cool.