Glazing
Glazing and the Glass You Use for It-Part N
Part N is the section on glazing in the National Building Regulations & Building Standards Act and is short and reasonably sweet.
Essentially you need to be sure that any material used for glazing in buildings is secure and durable and that it is fixed so that it:
- safely sustains wind actions that one would normally expect wherever you live in South Africa (but not necessarily major hurricanes or tornadoes that might be experienced in other parts of the world),
- does not allow water to penetrate the interior of the building, and
- is obvious to anyone who approaches it (if it isn’t, people could walk right into the glass and be injured, particularly if it is completely transparent and not made of “safety glass”).
Of course it isn’t only glass that we use for glazing. There are also a number of plastic and polycarbonate materials, as well as organically-coated glass, which can be used.
When it comes to choosing the best type of glazing for the job, the essential aspect is to make sure that if someone (or an animal) does impact the glazing – or collide with it, they won’t be seriously hurt. Factors to take into account include:
- the position of the glazing,
- the number of people who are likely to be able to access the glazed door or window, and
- the probably behaviour patterns of anyone (or anything) that is likely to get close to the glazed area.
And ultimately, as long as the glazing material is selected, fixed and marked in accordance with SABS 10400-N, all should be well and legal… and safe for all concerned.
NBR Changes that Relate to Glazing
The “new” National Building Regulations are a lot more specific in terms of glazing installations than they were previously. Not only is the maximum pane area and glass thickness specified, but so too are the different types of glass. These are:
- monolithic annealed glass,
- patterned annealed and wired glass,
- laminated annealed safety glass,
- toughened safety glass.
In addition to this, glass must also comply with the relevant SANS, as must the method of fitting the glass or alternative material used for glazing.
Just be aware that whether you are glazing doors, windows, shower cubicles, shop-fronts or anything else, glazing MUST comply with SANS 10400-N as well as other standards that relate to the manufacture of glazing materials.
Construction Standards of Glazing
The SABS also has a strategic policy that relates to glazing in buildings. The reason for this is to standardize glazing in buildings in terms of:
- terminology (so that we all understand exactly what the regulations mean and relate to),
- performance requirements,
- various methods of calculation,
- design and construction guidelines,
- the classification and specification of materials (including dimensional properties).
To this end, the SABS has a sub-committee that specifically develops, maintains and co-ordinates standards in the field of glazing materials that are used in buildings. The committee’s responsibility is to:
- develop national standards,
- participate in the development of standards (getting votes, comment and so on),
- develop and review the programme of work,
- recommend what else needs to be done to ensure that the South African standards stay on track with international standards.
At the end of the day, the safety of users and installers is paramount.
Here is a drawing from the Standard that provides guidance
This exerpt is from Wikipedia about Glazing
Glazing, which derives from the Middle English for ‘glass’, is a part of a wall or window, made of glass.[1][2] Glazing also describes the work done by a professional “glazier“. Glazing is also less commonly used to describe the insertion of ophthalmic lenses into an eyeglass frame.[3]
Common types of glazing that are used in architectural applications include clear and tinted float glass, tempered glass, and laminated glass as well as a variety of coated glasses, all of which can be glazed singly or as double, or even triple, glazing units. Ordinary clear glass has a slight green tinge[4] but special colorless glasses are offered by several manufacturers.[5]
Glazing can be mounted on the surface of a window sash or door stile, usually made of wood, aluminium or PVC. The glass is fixed into a rabbet (rebate) in the frame in a number of ways including triangular glazing points, putty, etc. Toughened and laminated glass can be glazed by bolting panes directly to a metal framework by bolts passing through drilled holes.
Glazing is commonly used in low temperature solar thermal collectors because it helps retain the collected heat.
Thank you Wikipedia
>
Lighting and Ventilation
No idea about cost – but another company should be able to assist.
I imagine that the person/company that did the glazing has a moral responsibility at very least to supply you with the certificate required. Any glazing company would be able to verify the materials etc but I think they would want to be paid to do this.
Carel this section of the regs doesn’t take the new energy requirements into account. Both are relevant.
Carel, Following my email sent to you earlier, I have been chatting to an architect in Jhb who confirms my thoughts that both SANS 10400 XA and SANS 204 are both very difficult to implement. Just a thought – he said in conversation that you can only determine which glass is required once you do the fenestration calculations. Whoever drew up your plans should have done these so that the correct glass could be specified in terms of the new energy regulations. He also said that they generally considered low e glass to be the minimum spec to be used; but he was unable to say where this is stated in the NBR (I know that it isn’t). I’ll do a bit more digging and maybe do an article on low e glass for the web site.
I am in desperate need of assistance. K am building in the roodepoort area. I am rold that I have to use low e glass on all windows and doors being fitted. Can someone please assist wether or not if there is a definite ruling on low e glass and wether or not I can use normal glass
I am building a new house in yhe roodepoort district. We are forced to do low e glass. Is this regulation or can we just comply with the normal requirements set out above ?
As you say it is a legal matter, if anyone were to be injured for any reason or of the glass were to accidentally break the as it is not legal then the insurance you have might not cover your damages. The best would be to contact your insurance.
Eugene, thanks for the input it is appreciated.
We need advice please! We are building a 2 bedroom cottage, extending the garage with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom. Our plans has been approved by council and received from architect but it states that all windows to be installed must be low e. Do we have to install all of the windows low e as it turns out to be very expensive. There is going to be a gas stove and gas heaters installed. Please help.
Hi,
We recently built a house however during the construction the 1st glazier when bust and closed down, we then appointed another company to fix the work and complete remaining. Guess what they also went bust !!!
So whilst our lawyers are busy suing these companies (KIC glass and Urban Aluminium) we need a glazing certificate for our CoC.
IS there anyway we can get this from anther company? And what would the cost be?
Could someone confirm whether glass windows that are under-spec for their size in an office environment need to be replaced with legal spec glass automatically or only when replacing the glass if broken.
Hi Wayne
6.38 will normally fit in wooden frames if the rebate allows you to do so.
The low-E should be on the inside and not on the outside.
The glass suppliers normally indicate the non-coated side with a sticker.
There are testers to check the coated side of the Low-E.
Hi
Our window installer for our new house has finished his work. He sent the glazing cerrtificate to the builder who has left site. For some reason the glazer refuses to issue us a second one (or even a copy!).
It seems I will need someone else to verify his work but lots of glazers aren’t willing to do so. Is there a way to compel the original glazer to issue or failing that, who would be able to verify other peoples work?
Thanks
Mark
Wayne I suggest you contact a reputable company like PG Glass and ask them, and/or contact the SABS.
Good day
Please can you confirm whether a coated low e 6.38mm laminated safety glass can be glazed into a standard wooden frame with the the coated side facing inside or facing outside,are both options compliant? There is a sticker currently stating which side is the coated side but asking to confirm with the architect as to which way it must be fitted
Nick the specifications for balustrades are detail in Part M of SANS 10400, Stairways. It is fairly comprehensively covered in the link given here. Glazing requirements are specified in Part N of SANS 10400, Glazing. In terms of balustrades, the latter states that “Safety glazing materials that comply with SANS 1263-1 shall be used where … f) glazing is used in any wall or balustrade to (or immediately adjacent to) a stairway, ramp, landing, pathway, patio, veranda or balcony;”
“4.4.4 Glass in balustrades shall be toughened safety glass unless rigidly supported on all sides. Glazing material in balustrades is subject to the impact and line loads determined in accordance with the requirements of SANS 10160-2.”
If you are supplying balustrades for clients, I suggest you buy both these parts of SANS 10400.
Hi could someone please assist me, a client of ours requires stainless steel and glass balustrades for ther balconies,indoor staircase etc. Please could you let me know what the exact requirements are for the thickness of toughened glass, height etc?
They are also looking at the stainless steel with horizontal cross bars option. How many cross bars are required and what is the maximum gap allowed between these bars?
I have contacted balustrade specialists but have had very different answers. Any input would be greatly appreciated?
Rudi that’s just plain bad workmanship. They should have used a silicone or some other kind of sealer in the gaps before fixing the strips. Tell them to come back and redo it – and give them seven days to do so. Put it in writing. Say otherwise they must refund your money. While you probably don’t want to get nasty, explain that you can’t continue to pay for shoddy workmanship – you could threaten legal action or going to Hellopeter if they don’t oblige.
In terms of standards, SABS standards generally cover products rather than procedure when it comes to minor things like this. There may though be a standard. Call an SABS library and ask them to check for you. It is not part of the NBR.
Andy my guess is that because the plans are “new” they consider that they must comply with certain things, including the new XA regulations. Which in turns makes me think that somebody is being stupid! I suggest you go into your local council and discuss the problem and insist that they waive this requirement. Clearly your glazing is not going to comply! Good luck, let us know what happens.
I have recently updated my building plans to an As Built status and have had them approved. I then receive a letter informing me that I have to produce a glazing certificate and a soil certificate for a house which is 30 years old and has not had a single structural change or addition. Please advise
Hi Peter, Correct, it is the new SANS 10400X & XA. We have given a brief rundown to help explain the situation on this page here: energy-usage Since 2011 when the new regulation was set, architects have been attending courses to get to understand the new regulations, most by now will have applications that do the calculations for them as well. If there is a specific problem that you have then you should get your local building inspector to give a ruling so that plans are not rejected when you submit them.
In terms of the new Energy Requirements for Residential Buildings in South Africa, is their a regulation in the National Building Regs that says that if you design a Residential Building your Glazing section, ie Windows and Glass doors where the total area of glass must not exceed 15% of the nett floor area of the building, if not it does not meet the Energy code?
Regards
Peter
My house has cottage pane glass windows. The putty was falling out and I asked the local glazing company to fix. They elected not to use putty again but used wooden strips, the job took 4 instead of 2 weeks, I had contacted them as the work was done vey poorly, the owner apologised and sent other workers to fix. The work looks much better, but I now find that in most places they did not seal the windows and when sprinkling the garden the water enters the house. Is there a standard that has to be adhered to regarding sealing the windows?
Hi John, We would love to help you but I think we are a bit out of your area here in South Africa. I am sorry to hear of your dilemma and hope you find a solution.