The Consumer Products Safety Commission establishes the federal standards and requirements for safety architectural glass. Federal safety glazing law requires the use of safety glass in defined hazardous locations, designated by the Model Building Codes. Generally, these include:

• Bath and shower enclosures
• All doors, including storm doors, sliding doors, and combination doors
• Sidelites, including and any glazing next to a door or an opening for human passage, if the nearest exposed edge is within 24” (0.6 m) of the vertical edge of the door or the bottom exposed edge is less than 60” (1.5 m) above the walking surface
• Areas where the glass is adjacent to walking surfaces and the bottom edge of the glass is within 18” of the floor
• Areas where the top edge of the glass is more than 36” above the floor
• Glazed panels greater than 9 ft.² (0.8 m²)

Local building code authorities may have additional safety glazing requirements, which can vary by state, county, city, town, or borough. Because each state has either adopted the model federal safety building code, modified it in some sections, or written completely new sections, it is imperative to be guided by the particular state or local building code where the glass is to be installed. For detailed information, please contact your local code officials.