The International Building Code is taking another step to improve safety in schools and other public and private buildings. At the April, 2000 IBC code hearings in Alabama, the Structural Committee approved O¹Keeffe¹s Inc. code change proposal to remove the long-standing safety glazing exemption for wired glass in fire window and wall assemblies. As a result, wired glass will only be allowed in "view panels" of fire doors. The code change is subject to final action by the three-model code bodies and will become effective in the 2003 IBC.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission originally established the exemption during the late 70's when it enacted the federal safety-glazing standard, 16 CFR 1201. Because wired glass was the only fire-rated product available at the time, the CPSC temporarily exempted wired glass in fire assemblies from meeting the new minimum impact test standard of 150-ft. lbs. The CPSC intended the exemption to end after 2-1/2 years, figuring that was enough time for the industry to develop a product which could comply with both fire and impact safety requirements. However, the wired glass industry filed a lawsuit challenging the termination date, and the CPSC ended up extending the exemption indefinitely. As a result, wired glass in fire assemblies has been subject to a lower 100-ft. lb. impact standard in ANSI Z97.1, which the CPSC rejected as inadequate to protect anyone other than children under 5 years old.

Since the 70's, several new clear fire-rated glazing alternatives have been introduced which meet the highest CPSC impact requirements. All non-wired fire-rated glazing materials must comply with the CPSC standard, and wired glass is the only product subject to a lower standard. Wired glass is only half as strong as ordinary annealed glass, and when it breaks the exposed wires act like a spider web to trap the victim and increase injuries when he/she attempts to withdraw from the opening. The use of wired glass in fire assemblies in hazardous locations has proven to be dangerous, and there is no reason to continue the exemption for wired glass when safer alternatives are available.

The code committee considered evidence of serious injuries to schoolchildren caused by accidental impact with wired glass, and concluded the exemption is no longer needed since other alternatives are now available which protect children and adults against injury on full body impact. In its deliberations, the committee expressed specific concern about the use of large panels of wired glass in schools, and concluded the exemption is not justified for fire windows and wall assemblies. The committee noted there is no reason to treat wired glass differently than other products, but felt it did not pose as great a risk when used in small vision panels of fire doors limited to 100 sq. inches, and voted to eliminate the exemption for fire assemblies other than view panels in fire doors.

Wired glass has enjoyed a significant advantage over fire-rated products as a result of an exemption created over 25 years ago, when it was the only fire-rated glazing available. The code change approved by the IBC code committee reduces the risk of injury for the benefit of public safety, and puts wired glass on a level playing field with other fire-rated products. A code change ending the exemption is long overdue, and both the public and the glazing industry have good reason to welcome the IBC code committees recent action.