One of the most exciting developments as a business owner is the addition of a storefront or office location. Or, if you already have one, getting the opportunity to upgrade that storefront or office. This is where we come in. UPG has been helping customers with commercial glass installation for decades, but it’s not all about the look, it’s also about the law.
Pennsylvania building code has specific rules about where and how safety glazing must be used in commercial buildings and failing to meet those standards can mean failed inspections, costly retrofits or liability exposure if someone gets hurt.
The two most common types of safety glass for commercial buildings:
- Tempered glass
Tempered glass is heat-treated to be significantly stronger than standard glass. When it breaks, the pieces are small and blunt, not sharp.
- Laminated glass
Laminated glass is two or more glass layers bonded with an interlayer, so the glass holds together on impact.
If the building you’ve purchased, or rented, is an older Pennsylvania building, you might find wired glass or original plate glass that does not meet current impact safety standards. In many hazardous locations defined by code, these materials must be replaced with compliant safety glazing.
How do you identify safety glass?
Safety glass has a label which is either etched, sandblasted or otherwise affixed to the glass permanently. This designation must reference either CPSC 16 CFR 1201 or ANSI Z97.1. Inspectors look for these labels during a commercial building review and if your current building glass does not have these labels, they will need to be replaced.
Where is safety glass required in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania follows the International Building Code (IBC), which defines specific hazardous locations where safety glazing is mandatory in commercial buildings. Size, height and proximity to walking surfaces is taken into consideration. These include:
- Entry doors and door sidelites (narrow, vertical windows flanking an exterior door)
- Large fixed panels
- Windows
- Curtain walls and floor-to-ceiling glass
- Stairways, ramps and landings
- Commercial restrooms
- Swimming pools, hot tubs and spas
- Interior glass partitions (these are frequently overlooked but do fall under code)
Some facilities may layer additional inspection requirements on top of state code. That is typical for athletic facilities and gymnasiums; schools and educational facilities; and hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Additional layers of safety requirements from the PA Department of Health, PA Department of Labor & Industry or your local municipality are all possible. UPG’s experience means we understand these layered requirements and can help ensure your project is fully compliant from the start.
We work closely with contractors, property managers and business owners to assess existing glazing, identify any gaps, and execute installations efficiently, while minimizing disruption to your daily operations.
If you’re managing a commercial property in Pennsylvania and aren’t sure whether your glazing is up to code or are looking to upgrade, we’re happy to help. Contact the team at UPG, email us at sales@upgpa.com or call us at 570-286- 6791 to schedule a commercial glass assessment.