Glass Safety Standards in Australia - AS1288 & AS2208

Using glass as a building material requires safety standards that are strictly enforced. In Australia, the Safety Standards for Glass is set out by Standards Australia. These standards ensure compliance with relevant technical details necessary for Glaziers when installing and using glazing materials. The objective of these rules is to provide uniformity in the use and installation of glazing throughout the country.

AS 1288-2021 Glass in Buildings

The Australian Standard AS 1288-2021 outlines the procedures for selecting and installing glass in houses and commercial buildings. This standard recommends to builders, architects, building designers, surveyors that they not only meet compliance but also provide evidence through marking glass to declare compliance with mandatory requirements.

Variables such as thickness requirements, wind loading, size requirements, human impact safety needs along with special applications like overhead glazing and balustrades are taken into consideration during the selection process of glass materials. Glass strength is measured based on tensile stress resistance which has been set out in the standard for different types of uses such as doors and side panels, low-level glazing, bathrooms/ensuites/spa rooms and schools/childcare centres/retirement homes etc.

Standard Published: AS 1288:2021 – Glass in Buildings (agwa.com.au)

AS 2208-1996 – Safety Glazing Materials in Buildings

The Australian Standard AS 2208-1996 specifically looks at test requirements for classifying safety glazing materials used inside buildings along with performance standards for materials construction, installation and glazing for windows/sliding doors/adjustable glass louvres/shopfronts and window walls with one piece framing elements.

This standard covers testing of material density plus exposure under extreme temperature conditions such as fire or other heat sources while assessing drop height performance as well as heat strengthened glass surfaces among other aspects such as laminated safety glass/liquid laminated safety glasses etc. Specialty types of glasses like toughened glass or heat strengthened ones are monitored under this standard including patterned glasses too.

AS/NZS 2208-1996 – Standards Australia

What is Standards Australia?

By following both AS 1288-2021 & AS 2208-1996 guidelines, quality assurance can be achieved regarding health & safety standards when using glass components within any domestic or commercial setting throughout Australia. The regulations are also representative of International Organization for Standardization (ISO); International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Standards Australia is a leading independent non-governmental not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing these high quality safety guidelines that people must follow when dealing with all aspects concerning the use of glass inside buildings whether residential or commercial settings across Australia .