Made in China

[ICE]

My first time there was for a final inspection. The house was a huge mansion. There was a correction slip from the last attempt at a final inspection. The only corrections were related to GFCI/AFCI for kitchen counter receptacles. The stairs and glass enclosure were already approved ... in writing. The glass came from China. There is no way to know if the glass is safety glazing but given that it survived the trip there is hope. The handrail might have come with the glass.

The workmanship was excellent. That raises the question of how they became so proficient in execution yet so deficient in design.

This happened shortly after a group of permit technicians were promoted to building inspectors. I handed this off to the office manager. He sent the new lady inspector back after she returned from a vacation. I am sure that she approved it as is. She must have thought that the job of inspector is not that important because they send her. It is seven years later and she is slated for promotion to management as an assistant office manager.

The hand basket has arrived at Hell's doorstep.

 

[steveray]

I clicked on this right away because I thought it was going to pictures of your wife...

 

[Sifu]

Second story in five minutes...

I once failed a contractor for a whole house of glazing on the first floor that was not marked as safety glazing. He swore up and down it was. I said I couldn't verify it without a label. I KID YOU NOT.....next inspection there were labels, from an Office Depot label-maker. I explained I couldn't accept that. I even called the manufacturer, who put me in touch with the glass supplier for the factory, who said if it's not etched, its not tempered, hard stop. Guy still insisted, but so did I. Homeowner was getting upset...not with me, the contractor. So he made him order all new windows. Contractor was not happy, but even less happy when the homeowner invited me to bring a hammer and prove the contractor was wrong. Which I did.

BTW, same AHJ as the story I just told in the other thread about the expandable foam and anchor bolts.

 

[Joe.B]

I came across a situation that required safety glazed but did not have it. They proposed this, and I accepted it.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/building-window-solutions-us/solutions/safety/?utm_term=tebg-cbtd-winbus-en_us-lead-us_windowfilm-cpc-google-pfx-wtb-ad3-mar25-66520&ef_id=EAIaIQobChMIubHa9dy4kAMVOSetBh0BPzMdEAAYAiAAEgLB9vD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!5261!3!692121854836!b!!g!!3m%2520security%2520film&WT.source=google&WT.medium=cpc&WT.term=3m%2520security%2520film&WT.campaign=Safety+&+Security+(West,+exclude+Florida)&WT.adgroup=&WT.creative=&WT.content=text&WT.srch=1&utm_medium=redirect&utm_source=vanity-url&utm_campaign=17_Adb_3MWindowFilms_Paid_Search&gad_source=1

 

[e hilton]

. There is no way to know if the glass is safety glazing but given that it survived the trip there is hope. The handrail might have come with the glass.

Looks like the glass is laminated … is that acceptable? Does the top edge need a graspable profile, more than the 1/2” of the glass?

 

[steveray]

I came across a situation that required safety glazed but did not have it. They proposed this, and I accepted it.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/building-window-solutions-us/solutions/safety/?utm_term=tebg-cbtd-winbus-en_us-lead-us_windowfilm-cpc-google-pfx-wtb-ad3-mar25-66520&ef_id=EAIaIQobChMIubHa9dy4kAMVOSetBh0BPzMdEAAYAiAAEgLB9vD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!5261!3!692121854836!b!!g!!3m%2520security%2520film&WT.source=google&WT.medium=cpc&WT.term=3m%2520security%2520film&WT.campaign=Safety+&+Security+(West,+exclude+Florida)&WT.adgroup=&WT.creative=&WT.content=text&WT.srch=1&utm_medium=redirect&utm_source=vanity-url&utm_campaign=17_Adb_3MWindowFilms_Paid_Search&gad_source=1

That stuff is really picky on the installation, but we do accept it too at times...

 

[jar546]

Uh, no.

CAUTION: While 3M™ Window Films, when applied in accordance with 3M instructions, may help reduce the impact of flying glass shards under certain conditions and potentially delay intruders, THESE FILMS DO NOT PREVENT PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY, OR DEATH. WINDOW FILMS ARE NOT BULLETPROOF AND NOT DESIGNED TO STOP INTRUDERS.

 

[wwhitney]

Uh, no.

This document from 3M: https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1511872O/product-bulletin-ultra-s800-window-film.pdf says that this particular product, when applied to 1/8" or 1/4" annealed glass, has past testing to both 16 CFR 1201 for a Category 2 Rating and ANSI Z97.1 for a Class A rating. And those are the ratings required (either one in most cases) by IRC R308.3.1 for glazing in hazardous locations.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[wwhitney]

Looks like the glass is laminated … is that acceptable?

Should be, although documentation from the manufacturer that it passes the applicable safety standard in R308.3.1 is required. Per R308.1, that could be on a label, or per the exception, just on a certificate or affidavit, if the building official approves.

Does the top edge need a graspable profile, more than the 1/2” of the glass?

IRC R308.4.4.1 Exception: "An attached top rail or handrail is not required where the glass baluster panels are laminated glass with two or more glass plies of equal thickness and of the same glass type."

Cheers, Wayne