Walking surface - Definition

[jlaw]

Section 2406.4.3 Glazing in Windows - My question is this I have an older building early 1900's storefront. The store front has a city sidewalk running in front of the business. From the exterior the glass meets 3 out of 4 requirements to be tempered. The only criteria it doesn't meet is it's slightly higher than 18" above the floor.

However the twist is, if you apply the same parameters from the inside it now meets all 4 requirements. Imagine an older building, a bicycle shop where the front windows are used for display. The display area is elevated by one step and is 4' deep and flat covered with floor covering material. Is this display area considered a walking surface. The term walking surface is not defined.

Thoughts???

 

[e hilton]

So you’re saying for pedestrians on the sidewalk, the glass falls in the range that should be tempered?

 

[classicT]

I think he is saying for the pedestrians on the sidewalk, it does not meet all 4 requirements for safety glazing. However, on the inside of the window, the floor is raised at a windowfront display area. Within this display area, all conditions are met if the raised area is considered a walking surface.

So the question comes down to if the raised display area is a walking surface or not.

Do you have a picture or plan that shows the area? How wide and deep is it? Any rail or walls that separate it from the sales floor? Can people step up and walk through this display area?

 

[jlaw]

classicT you are correct! From a pedestrian standpoint the glass does not need to be tempered. However if you define the 4'platform on the inside of the building as a walking surface it meets all 4 requirements and the display area would need to be tempered. The code needs to define walking surfaces. I'd love to attach a picture but it requires a URL to post...which seems odd. I'll try and upload a photo.

 

[mtlogcabin]

The display area is elevated by one step and is 4' deep and flat covered with floor covering material

I would say if the area is still a display area then you do not meet item number 4 because your "walking surface" is more than 36" horizontally from the glazing

2406.4.3 Glazing in windows.
Glazing in an individual fixed or operable panel that meets all of the following conditions shall be considered to be a hazardous location:

1. The exposed area of an individual pane is greater than 9 square feet (0.84 m2).

2. The bottom edge of the glazing is less than 18 inches (457 mm) above the floor.

3. The top edge of the glazing is greater than 36 inches (914 mm) above the floor.

4. One or more walking surface(s) are within 36 inches (914 mm), measured horizontally and in a straight line, of the plane of the glazing.

 

[tmurray]

I think I would have a hard time calling it a walking surface. Is the purpose of the area to have people walking through it? No. Will someone walk in there on occasion? Probably when switching out displays.

I would recommend tempered glass, but I it may be a little heavy handed to require it. Ultimately a judgement call by the official, taking into account all the information at hand.

 

[classicT]

classicT you are correct! From a pedestrian standpoint the glass does not need to be tempered. However if you define the 4'platform on the inside of the building as a walking surface it meets all 4 requirements and the display area would need to be tempered. The code needs to define walking surfaces. I'd love to attach a picture but it requires a URL to post...which seems odd. I'll try and upload a photo.

Yes, to post photos directly, you must be a paying member (a Sawhorse). Being a paid member is incredibly affordable, and helps keep the lights on around here.

 

[e hilton]

You could add a clear ballistic film on the glass.

 

[ICE]

The less than 18" dimension makes no sense..

2406.4.2 Glazing adjacent to doors. Glazing in an individual fixed or operable panel adjacent to a door where the nearest vertical edge of the glazing is within a 24-inch arc of either vertical edge of the door in a closed position and where the bottom exposed edge of the glazing is less than 60 inches above the walking surface shall be considered to be a hazardous location.

 

[mtlogcabin]

In order to avoid the safety glazing requirements most store fronts will look like this with a lower mullion

 

[Joe.B]

I've heard that most storefronts like that also have a film on the glass for security, but also covers the safety glazing requirements as well. Don't know when that practice may have become more common or if it's location specific though...

 

[ADAguy]

Comes down to a "risk Management" issue, what does your insurance carrier recommend/not cover?