You asked (1) if any law requires safety glass to be used in low tables (e. g. , coffee tables), (2) for the safety glass requirements for shower doors and windows close to the ground, and (3) if there is any available data on accidents related to glass-top tables.

SUMMARY

We did not find any federal or state law that sets standards for the use of glass in tables of any height.

The state building code requires glass used architecturally in specified hazardous locations to meet certain federal safety standards. The locations include shower doors, storm and sliding doors, and windows less than 18” from the floor. Federal glass safety standards were established by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). They set requirements for glass used in doors, including shower doors. They require the glass to pass certain impact, heat, and simulated weathering tests. A copy is enclosed.

We are checking federal injury data to determine the frequency of accidents associated with glass in tables and treated in emergency rooms and will send a report as soon as it is completed.

We are enclosing some related documents. The first is a presentation prepared by the Consumer's Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, which argues that there should be a glass safety standard. The others are recent articles describing glass-top tables “exploding” in sunlight.

SHOWER DOORS

State Building Code

The building code establishes certain safety standards applying to glass installed in hazardous locations. A “hazardous location” is defined as glazing in:

1. swinging doors other than jalousies;

2. fixed or sliding panels of sliding or bifold doors;

3. storm doors;

4. unframed swinging doors;

5. enclosures for hot tubs, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, bathtubs, showers, and in the enclosure's walls if the bottom exposed edge is less than 60” above the floor;

6. panels within 24” of the arc of a door in the closed position if it is less than 60” from the floor;

7. other panels that (a) are larger than nine square feet, (b) have a bottom edge less than 18” above the floor, (c) have a top edge more than 36” from the floor, and (d) are within 36” of a horizontal walking surface;

8. railings;

9. walls and fences enclosing swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas if the bottom of the glazing is less than 60” from the floor and within 60” horizontally of the water's edge;

10. areas next to stairways, landings, and ramps within 36” horizontally of a floor if the exposed surface of the glass is less than 60” above the plane of the floor; and

11. areas next to stairways within 60” horizontally of the bottom tread of a staircase if the exposed surface of the glass is less than 60” above the nose (the front) of the tread.

The building code specifies certain exceptions. (2003 International Residential Code, Section R308)

Glass installed in a hazardous location must be labeled to state its type, thickness, and safety standard.

Federal Glass Safety Standards

CPSC regulations require glass in doors (including storm doors), bathtub and shower doors and enclosures, and sliding doors to meet its safety standards (16 CFR Part 1201). They state that they are intended to eliminate or reduce lacerations, contusions, abrasions, and other injury or death (1) from walking or running into glazed or sliding glass doors believed to be open or from pushing a door to open it, (2) from accidental falls, or (3) incurred during installation or replacement. At the time the regulations were adopted in 1977, the CPSC estimated that there were 73,000 injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms associated with architectural glazing materials used in these locations. About 2,400 injuries caused hospitalization. About half involved children aged 14 and under.

The regulations require the glass to pass impact, heat, and simulated weathering tests and prescribe the test equipment, methodology, and result interpretation.

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