On June 10, the Washington State Building Code Council adopted an emergency rule regulating the use of wired glass in hazardous locations in all new and remodeled buildings in the state.  Wired glass installed in these locations must now meet “Category 1” impact safety standards. Council member Steve Nuttall, Fire Marshal for the city of Bellevue, said, “I feel that as a Council this is a rare opportunity to perform the duties we are enlisted to do, that is to protect the life safety of the public.”

The emergency rule is effective July 1, 2005. The Council will hold a public hearing on the issue on October 14, 2005, at the Renton Holiday Inn Select, to consider making the rule permanent.

Polished wire glass has long been used in buildings to retard the passage of fire and smoke.  The state building code has exempted wired glass from impact standards required for safety glazing, with the exception of school locations.  The emergency rule eliminates that exemption. ”Category 1″ glass meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard under 16 CFR part 1201.

Based on testimony from Advocates for Safe Glass at the June 10 meeting in Spokane, the Council found that wired glass installed in hazardous locations where it may be subject to human impact poses a significant threat to public safety.  When broken, the exposed wire mesh poses a serious risk and can cause severe injury to entrapped limbs or impacted body parts.  Consumer Products Safety Commission surveillance data show over 2,500 glass door injuries per year in the United States. Advocates estimate that up to 90 per cent of these injuries involved wired glass.

The Washington State Building Code Council is made up of 15 members appointed by the Governor to represent public and private interests in the adoption of the building, mechanical, fire, plumbing, energy and ventilation codes for the state.  The State Legislature appoints four legislators as ex-officio Council members, and the Department of Labor and Industries appoints an ex-officio member representing the electrical code section.  The Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development provides administrative and clerical support to the Council.  

For more information, please visit http://www.sbcc.wa.gov.