AS1288-2006 – Selection and Installation Standard for the Glass and Glazing Industry in Australia

The AGGA Technical Fact Sheet: Glass in Residential Buildings

The AGGA has come up with a summary of the main details of the AS1288:2006 standards on glass selection and installation. The fact sheet is intended to offer an easy and quick guide for on-site reference.

Glass installations in buildings have to comply with these Australian standards. Builders, designers, surveyors, and architects are advised to ensure they provide evidence and compliance to these standards is mandatory.

 

Doors

Small panels are permitted on doors and they should measure 3-4mm and have a maximum width of 125mm and annealed glass to a maximum of 0.1m2. Panels measuring 5-6mm are permitted to a maximum width of 300mm and annealed glass to a maximum of 0.26m2. Unframed doors, apart from bathroom doors, should be glazed with toughed glass to a maximum of 10mm in thickness.

 

Side Panels

Ordinary annealed glass should measure a minimum of 5mm and cover a maximum area of 0.3m2. Decorated glass should be 3-4mm and not exceed 0.1m2 and not exceed 122mm in width. Decorated glass measuring 0.2m2 should not exceed 300mm in width.

 

Windows

Fully framed and ordinary annealed glass of not less than 5mm is permitted to an area of up to 1.2m2. Larger areas will not be allowed no matter the glass thickness.

 

Glass Mistaken for an Opening or Doorway

A panel cannot be mistaken for a doorway if:

  • The opening is less than or equal to 500mm wide
  • The lowest sight line is 500m above the floor
  • The glazing is patterned or opaque
  • The height is less than 1000mm

 

Bathrooms

Glass in bathrooms should use Grade A or Grade B safety glass. A mirror is the only exception but should be fully adhered on the wall. Safety glass should have a thickness of at least 5mm and not exceed an area of 2.2m2. Shower screen doors should have the Grade A toughened glass.

 

Louvre Blades

Louvers should use Grade A toughened glass. The blade width should be 5mm to 230mm while the length should be 1000mm in side panels, schools, bathrooms, and aged care.

 

Sashless Windows (Two-Edge Unframed Glazing)

Glazing using two horizontal edges that are unframed should use the Grade A safety glass and adhere to:

  • 38-750mm span of laminated glass
  • 6-1200mm span of toughened glass
  • 5-1000 mm span of toughened glass

 

Stairway Glazing

Stairway glazing including mirrors should use the Grade A toughened glass in these situations:

  • Within 1000mm and is parallel to landing or stair flight
  • Within 2000mm and is horizontal and at right angles to the stair flight

Safety glass will not be required where glazing is protected using solid barriers of a height of at least 1000mm.

 

Making Glass Visible

Glass that is not visible in a side panel or a door and mistaken for an opening or doorway should be marked to ensure it is visible. Marking should be done using an opaque band that is not less than 200mm in height. The band should be located vertically from the floor level and:

  • Should not exceed 1200mm to the band’s lower edge
  • Should be at least 700mm from the band’s upper edge

 

Balustrades

Balustrades will require an interlinking handrail wherever the floor level difference exceeds 1000mm. The glass should be fully framed on all the four edges with a minimum of 8mm to 1077mm maximum toughened glass between the supports, 10-1650mm span, and 12-1930mm span. Span is the distance between supports.

 

Resources

Australian Glass Standards

Glass In Buildings AS1288 2006 Residential – Oct 2011[PDF]