{"id":8209,"date":"2023-12-14T05:40:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T05:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/safeglassforschools.com\/?post_type=fire-rated-glass&p=8209"},"modified":"2024-01-16T11:15:39","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T03:15:39","slug":"unsafe-wired-glass","status":"publish","type":"fire-rated-glass","link":"https:\/\/safeglassforschools.com\/fire-rated-glass\/unsafe-wired-glass\/","title":{"rendered":"Unsafe Wired Glass"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Traditional wired glass is NOT safety glass<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The wire actually weakens the glass and increases the likelihood of breakage even under the relatively mild force exerted by a small child. Even worse, the wire embedded in the fragile glass can snare a hand or leg that passes through the broken glass making injuries more severe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wire actually weakens the glass and increases the likelihood of breakage even under the relatively mild force exerted by a small child. Even worse, the wire embedded in the fragile glass can snare a hand or leg that passes through the broken glass making injuries more severe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2012 IBC bans unsafe traditional glass from all hazardous locations.\u00a0Click here<\/a>\u00a0to learn about what constitutes a hazardous location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the CBS Evening News video clip<\/a> (or click image) to learn more about the dangers posed by traditional wired glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consumer Product Safety Commission 16 CFR 1201<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"CPSC<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The CPSC safety glazing minimum standard was established in 1977 to protect people from injuries due to accidental impact with glazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cat I = for small glazing areas (less than 1296 sq in) to survive impact of 150 foot pounds (a small child).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cat II = for large glazing areas (more than 1296 sq in) to survive an impact of 400 foot pounds (an adult)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Code limits on Traditional Wired Glass Installations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Two decades ago, traditional wired glass was the only fire rated glass available. It never met the CPSC\u2019s safety standards. The codes exempted traditional wired glass where fire rated glazing was needed. That exemption no longer applies. Since 2003, the use of traditional wired glass in doors, sidelites, or locations where impact is a concern has been narrowed. Under the 2012 IBC, unsafe wired glass is not allowed in any hazardous location.\u00a0Click<\/a>\u00a0to learn more about where impact safety glazing is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In non-hazardous locations, traditional wired glass may be used up to 45 minutes with size limitations (because it cannot block\u00a0radiant heat<\/a>). If traditional wired glass is used in a wall where impact safety is not a concern, it may not exceed 25% of the wall area due to heat transfer concerns. Traditional wired glass is a fire protective, and not a fire resistive glazing product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Impact-Safe, Clear, Wire-Free Affordable Alternatives<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There is a range of glazing products that can be used to replace or upgrade traditional wired glass in hazardous locations. Thanks to recent advances in glazing technology, many alternatives on the market meet both fire-rated standards and<\/em> the CPSC impact safety requirements of 16 CFR 1201. Below is a gallery of clear, wire-free, affordable options for replacing unsafe wired glass in potentially hazardous locations on any school campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Liability for Unsafe Traditional Wired Glass<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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Traditional wired glass is now prohibited in hazardous locations in new construction. But, what about the dangers presented by unsafe traditional glass installed prior to 2003? Recently, the\u00a0Kent Washington Unified School District paid a $2 million settlement<\/a>\u00a0and issued an apology to a student injured when he fell into unsafe wired glass. School districts, private schools and architects are increasingly choosing to replace traditional wired glass located in hazardous locations to reduce the risk of injury. According to Kenneth Lumb, a trial attorney at Corboy & Demetrio in Chicago: \u201cIt is virtually impossible today to plausibly claim ignorance of the dangers of wired glass in impact areas in light of the information available on the internet, in trade publications, and other sources, not to mention the number of injuries and six and seven figure verdicts and settlements that have resulted from those injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experts estimate that there are at least 2,300 school injuries yearly from unsafe wired glass. In 2011, an Oregon jury found the\u00a0Portland Public School district was negligent<\/a>\u00a0for not\u00a0replacing<\/em>\u00a0a dangerous wired glass door panel. A 13-year-old student rushing to class attempted to open the door by kicking the metal crash bar. She slipped and her leg went easily through the lower wired glass pane severing two major nerves and 70% of her Achilles tendon. During the trial, it was revealed that the state superintendent had issued a 2003 memo alerting all superintendents of the dangers of wired glass, and that the Portland district had lobbied against a state bill that would have required school districts to replace all wired glass in hazardous locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schools Elect to Replace Unsafe Wired Glass<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most schools were built long ago and before the development of impact-safe, fire rated glass.\u00a0SAFTIFIRST<\/em><\/a> works with schools to replace unsafe wired glass in hazardous locations over time. As the NCIS facilities manager Daniel Klingebiel said: \u201cI sleep better at night knowing the wired glass danger has been removed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"International<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Click the image or here <\/a>to watch a video called \u201cA Fire and Impact Safety Case Study\u201d about a San Francisco high school\u2019s effort to replace unsafe wired glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"MIddlebury<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Click the image or\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0to read about a program at\u00a0Middlebury College<\/a>\u00a0to systematically replace traditional wired glass in hazardous locations throughout the campus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","fire-rated-glass-categories":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/safeglassforschools.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fire-rated-glass\/8209"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/safeglassforschools.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fire-rated-glass"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/safeglassforschools.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/fire-rated-glass"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/safeglassforschools.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fire-rated-glass\/8209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9979,"href":"https:\/\/safeglassforschools.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fire-rated-glass\/8209\/revisions\/9979"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/safeglassforschools.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"fire-rated-glass-categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/safeglassforschools.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fire-rated-glass-categories?post=8209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}