Topic overview
Safety glazing & “tempering film”
Codes require safety glazing in hazardous locations such as many doors, showers and glass near floors. Film can help hold broken glass together, but it does not temper glass or automatically meet code.
Key points
- Annealed glass with film is still annealed glass.
- Test results (e.g. ANSI Z97.1, 16 CFR 1201) apply only to the specific film, glass and configuration tested.
- Your local code official decides whether a retrofit is acceptable.
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Security film vs. laminated glass: think in complete systems
Security film helps hold broken glass together and can delay entry. Its performance depends heavily on the attachment to the frame. Laminated glass is a different product. Neither film nor typical laminated glass is bulletproof.
Read the guide →Security · 8 minSafety glazing, “tempering film” and building code questions
Film never automatically “passes code” or turns annealed glass into tempered glass. Whether a filmed opening is acceptable depends on product- and assembly-specific test documentation (such as ANSI Z97.1 or 16 CFR 1201) and on approval by your local code official.
Read the guide →From learning to a quote
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