by David Swan » Fri May 16, 2008 12:33 am
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.
DSwan